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PNY Attaché Optima 8 GB
| Caractéristiques | |||
| Memory Size | 8 GB | ||
| USB | USB 2.0 | ||
| Write speed | N.C. | ||
| Read speed | N.C. | ||
| Extra features | None | ||
 Show all specifications
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| Accessories | N.A. |
 Hide specifications | |
Vincent Lheur
Translator: Catherine Barraclough
Test date: December 6, 2010
Translator: Catherine Barraclough
Test date: December 6, 2010
Software
Carry it Easy Plus data-encryption software comes pre-loaded on the Attaché Optima flash drive. This allows you to protect data stored on the drive easily and effectively by encrypting anything from personal files and Outlook or Windows Mail messages to bookmarks from Internet Explorer or Firefox. It's very easy to use but it will make file copying times longer, as the drive has to copy, paste and encrypt the data. Although this extra time is barely noticeable when copying smaller files, large volumes of data can take over an hour to copy in an encrypted format.
The PNY Attaché Optima is a USB 2.0 flash drive with data protection capabilities. PNY promises high performance with this drive, available with a capacity of 4 GB, 8 GB, 16 GB or 32 GB. Let's see if the 8 GB version lives up to expectations.
Performance is one thing, but it's a good job PNY hasn't made any claims about this product's design, as the Attaché Optima resembles the first ever USB flash drives released back in the day—as much in its out-sized dimensions (7 x 1.9 x 1.2 cm and 14 g) as its out-dated design. Part of this chunky flash drive is almost certainly taken up with the 128-bit AES encryption chip that's needed to keep your data safe from prying eyes (see sidebar).
The connection cover is built into the drive itself, as the USB connecter swivels out from the side of the cover. There's also a little loop for attaching a wrist strap or lanyard (not supplied).
Performances
The performances measured with the CrystalDiskMark test were really quite good:
This usually means the drive will behave well during our practical tests too. We double-check the CrystalDiskMark test by measuring read and write speeds with a large 4.5 GB file and with several files ranging from 1 MB to 20 MB. Here's what we found:
This test confirms that the drive's write performances aren't quite as good as they could be—the best USB 2.0 flash drives out there can write data at over 18 MBps.
Pluses
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Good overall performance
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Built-in connector cover
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Data encryption
Minuses
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Write performances could be better
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Design isn't particularly attractive
Although its write performances can't quite match its read speeds, the PNY Attaché Optima is still a good flash drive with decent overall performances. However, its main selling point is the data encryption function, which also pushes up the price.
