14 DAY TRIAL // Just a week ago, Transcend came forth and left consumers more or less stunned with its 4GB and 6GB aXeRam Memory Kits, designed to be used with high-end Intel X58 motherboards. Now that the RAM field is covered, the hardware maker has turned its attention towards its other business segment, that of flash storage. Eager to appease the ever-high demand for data-carrying solutions, the company has added a new flash drive “for users with active lifestyles” to the JetFlash V series.
The new unit is known as JetFlash 530 and, since it comes in multiple capacities, is practically a flash-drive line in itself. Its maker decided to stay with current times instead of looking too far into the future, which is why it settled for the USB 2.0 interface instead of trying its luck with the SuperSpeed USB 3.0 standard. On the other hand, Transcend managed to make the drives quite small (63.1 x 21 x 8.8 mm) and lightweight (ten grams).
The JetFlash 530, when plugged into a USB 2.0 port, can read and write data at up to 32MB/s and 18MB/s, respectively. They are also backwards compatible with USB 1.1 ports, though speeds will fall significantly in such scenarios. Furthermore, the electronics need no external power source to run (are USB powered) and come with a free download of JetFlash Elite data-management tools. As for appearance, the drives employ a capless design with a sliding USB connector.
The Transcend JetFlash 530 USB flash drive is available in storage capacities of 2GB, 4GB, 8GB, 16GB and 32GB, each with their slider colored orange, red, blue, green and purple, respectively. The rest of the rugged enclosure is glossy white. Finally, the products are priced at 8.41 Euro, 11.17 Euro, 18.62 Euro, 34.69 Euro and 68.40 Euro, respectively, and are accompanied by a lifetime warranty.