14 DAY TRIAL // Though it seemed to have no qualms with taking its time, Kingston Digital has finally begun to offer USB 3.0 flash drive units, the newcomer going by the name of DataTraveler Ultimate 3.0 and intended for enthusiasts.
As end-users probably know by now, the USB 3.0 interface has a very high maximum theoretical data transfer rate, of 4.8 Gbps (5Gbps) to be exact, or ten times faster than what USB 2.0 ports allow.
This speed is the reason why various storage solutions developers have already released products based on the standard, despite the relatively scarce platform support for it.
Now, with more and more next-generation motherboards shaping up to have USB 3.0 ports, whether thanks to the chipset itself or a controller chip, more companies are joining in.
Thus it came to pass that Kingston developed the DataTraveler Ultimate 3.0 series, available in multiple, albeit high, capacities, though the read/write speeds are most telling.
Simply put, the units are fast, capable of reading data at 80 MB/s, while writing tasks are accomplished at 60 MB/s.
Needless to say, USB 2.0 ports are also backwards compatible, though read/write speeds will be limited to 30 MB/s and 20 MB/s, respectively.
As for the design, the devices measure 73.70 x 22.20 x 16.10 mm, have a durable enclosure and can survive temperatures of 0 to 60 degrees Celsius during operation.
"USB 3.0 is the next major milestone in Flash memory for USB products and Kingston wants to have a solution in the marketplace for early adopters," said Andrew Ewing, USB business manager, Kingston.
"The DataTraveler Ultimate 3.0 is our first USB 3.0 Flash drive offering and is designed for enthusiasts who like to embrace new technology before it goes mainstream."
The Kingston DataTraveler Ultimate 3.0 is accompanied by a five-year warranty and cost $89 (16GB), $138 (32GB) and $270 (64GB).