Equipped with multi-channel parallel technology

Jan 30, 2010 11:24 GMT  ·  By
Walton Chaintech launches low-cost but strong and versatile USB 2.0 flash drive
   Walton Chaintech launches low-cost but strong and versatile USB 2.0 flash drive

Fast, reliable and versatile, the Apogee Astro Drive 266X from Walton Chaintech promises to play the part of a speedy but affordable flash storage solution. The drive is described as having specifications that “far exceed the performance of all existing USB2.0 flash drives currently available in the market” and has a number of design and technological features that decrease its price while increasing its speed beyond what high-capacity USB drives can normally achieve.

The Astro Drive 266X has read speeds of 40.9 MB/s and writing speeds of up to 25.2MB/s. This data rate will make itself noticeable as the PC accesses the stored video, audio and multimedia files more quickly. The drive is based on the latest quad-channel MLC (multi-level cell) technology which, assisted by the Turbo speed accelerator, boosts the reading and writing speeds to the aforementioned theoretical limits for USB 2.0 flash drives. Those speeds are more easily reachable through use of SLC (single-level cell), but implementing such memory would have led to increased product prices, whereas the company strove to dramatically improve the product's C/P value.

Of course, a low price is not the only thing that the Apogee Astro Drive 266X can brag about. The USB flash drive also boasts sophisticated wear-leveling, inserting and dynamic distribution technology. This feature reduced the wearing of the chipset, increasing product life. The device is also shock resistant thanks to its case constructed based on aluminum injected material.

Finally, all of the products released by Walton Chaintech are subject to in-house QC testing. The devices come in capacities ranging between 16GB and 64GB and are compatible with the latest operating systems from Microsoft, Apple and Linux. Unfortunately, they are not available in the United States or Europe. Currently, the Apogee Astro Drive 266X USB 2.0 flash drives are being distributed only in Syria, Taiwan and South Africa.