by Grigoriy Gubankov
07/18/2003 | 02:49 AM
VisionTek, a division of Hartford Computer Group and a supplier of PC graphics cards and memory solutions, today introduced a line of Full-Speed and Hi-Speed USB 2.0 portable storage drives. The GO product line of portable storage solutions includes full-speed (USB 1.1) devices with capacities of 64MB, 128MB, 256MB and 512MB. The GO XTREME series features Hi-Speed (USB 2.0) performance and capacities of 64MB, 128MB, 256MB, 512MB, and 1GB.
<%BANNER[article]%>VisionTek opted to go with the new Hi-Speed USB 2.0 interface for the GO XTREME series because of its significantly higher data transfer rate, up to forty times faster than standard USB 1.1 portable drives. VisionTek remarked that faster interface becomes necessary with the raising capacity of portable USB drives.
The popularity of these tiny portable storage devices continues to rise. USB flash drive revenues nearly quadrupled last year, increasing from $36.3 million in 2001 to $135.6 million in 2002 according to research produced by Gartner Dataquest’s Semiconductors Worldwide group. The market for these devices is being driven by consumers’ increasing demand for digital cameras, low cost multimedia devices, and also by the growing presence of PC’s and laptops without floppy drives.
The GO XTREME series features a 64MB model for $39.99, a128MB model for $59.99, a 256MB model for $99.99, a 512MB model for $169.99, and a 1GB model for $329.99. VisionTek’s GO family of products is available now at Fry’s Electronics and will be available soon at additional resellers.