LaCie XtremKey Survives Being Run Over by a 10 Ton Truck

LaCie may already be known for its passion for ruggedness, but the latest device it came up with may actually give the phrase 'over the top' a whole new meaning. The company launched multiple sturdy USB flash driver so far, but this newest model, by the name of XtremKey, comes as close to being indestructible as such an electronic can get. To be more specific, the storage device is enclosed inside a 2mm metal pipe casing that can withstand quite a level of abuse.

The XtremKey is built with zamac, a metal alloy composed of zinc, aluminum, copper and magnesium. Basically, it is strong enough to get away unscathed after being run over by a 10 ton truck. This isn't the only benefit that this casing brings, however, For one, the wear-resistant screw threads and rubber O-ring let the flash drive survive being submerged in water at up to 100 meters. The drive can also effortlessly shrug off five meter drops and temperatures between +200 / -50 degrees Celsius. All in all, it should be able to survive any sort of environment, even if its owner does not.

"The XtremKey offers extreme durability and capacity in a convenient, well-protected and fun form factor," said Alexis Kobassian, Product Manager, LaCie. "Despite the robust, industrial-strength protection we've added, it's still a LaCie key that brings ease-of-use and reliability to customers looking to keep their data secure while on the go."

The XtremKey operates on the Hi-Speed USB 2.0 interface and is compatible with practically all PCs and Mac systems. It has a maximum reading speed of 40 MB/s and a writing speed of 30 MB/s. As for the actual capacity, its maker offers models of 8 GB to 64 GB, all of which should start shipping in August. Unfortunately, the hardware maker did not disclose any pricing details.