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SanDisk Cruzer Titanium Plus (4GB)

Manufacturer: SanDisk Corp. Part number: SDCZ28-004G-A11

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CNET Editor rating:
3.5 stars Very good
Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 2 reviews

More product information:: Editors' review; User reviews; Specifications; Manufacturer info

Bottom Line:: SanDisk Cruzer Titanium Plus boasts an innovative set of features, fast data transfers, and a complimentary six-month online backup subscription, but we're put off by the subsequent annual service fee and the expensive retail price, especially when other drives at equal capacity cost much less.
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CNET editors' review

SanDisk Cruzer Titanium Plus (4GB)

price range: $12.49 - $49.99

Reviewed by: Justin Yu
Edited by: Rich Brown
Reviewed on: 08/18/2008
Released on: 06/16/2008

The good: Free six-month online backup subscription; fast transfer speeds; sturdy metal casing; innovative features; excellent warranty service.

The bad: Expensive; backup software only works with Windows.

The bottom line: SanDisk Cruzer Titanium Plus boasts an innovative set of features, fast data transfers, and a complimentary six-month online backup subscription, but we're put off by the subsequent annual service fee and the expensive retail price, especially when other drives at equal capacity cost much less.

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The 4GB SanDisk Cruzer Titanium ($50) is a new kind of flash drive that offers an automated online backup each time it's attached to a computer with an Internet connection. This model looks almost exactly the same as the original SanDisk Cruzer Titanium, but this one lets you perform automatic online backups using the BeInSync software. Unfortunately, the drive is expensive and requires a yearly fee to continue the backup service. The competition offers the same capacity in a single fee for half the cost.

The Cruzer Titanium features the same design as the original, with a small notch that pushes the USB in and out of the crush-resistant titanium coated metal casing, only this time the entire key is bronze, not silver. The package also includes a small silver key ring and lanyard for safe travel. It's not the tiniest USB drive we've seen, measuring 2.3 inches long by 0.8 inch wide by 0.3 inch deep, but it's definitely small enough to easily sit in the narrow USB port behind your PC. The Cruzer is compatible with all up-to-date Windows operating systems and will work with Mac OS as a storage device. The backup software only runs on Windows.

Drive type	External USB Flash Hard Drive
Connector options	USB 2.0
Available capacities	4GB
Product dimensions	2.3x0.8x0.3 inches (HWD)
Capacity of test unit	4GB
Supported operating systems	Windows 2000 Service Pack 4, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Macintosh OS 10+ (Storage only), Linux (Storage only)
Software included	Cruzer Online Backup Service

The Cruzer ships with SanDisk's BeInSync software and is unique to this model. The price tag includes a free six-month subscription to BeInSync with the opportunity to extend another year for $29.95. After a quick registration that requires you to choose a username and password, the software is verified and ready to store data. From here, each time you connect the Cruzer to a computer with Internet access, the BeInSync software will scan the drive and update your online account to reflect any changes since the last backup. All files transferred to the Cruzer are protected using 256-bit SSL encryption with mandatory user authentication, and the data is available at any time at the BeInSync Web site, even if the drive isn't plugged into the computer. We tested the service with a number of different file types and all of our data popped up on the server, ready to be downloaded in the ZIP format. Unlike other hard drives, unplugging the drive in midbackup won't wipe out all the data; the backup will simply continue the next time the key is inserted into a computer.

SanDisk also includes two innovative features with the Cruzer. The first is that deleted files on the drive will remain available for download from the Web site until the entire drive is filled to capacity, in which case the deleted files are removed on a first in, first out basis. The second is a precautionary measure: if you lose the drive and report it to SanDisk, the company will disable further backups and effectively freeze all data associated with the username. If you happen to find the device afterward, SanDisk will reactive the service for no cost to the user.

Cost per gigabyte
The 4GB Cruzer drive sells for $50 on the SanDisk Web site, while other USB drives such as the Kingston DataTraveler 100 only cost $40 for double the space. Granted, the Cruzer can access your backups anywhere with an Internet connection, but the convenience comes at a premium. Even worse, once your complimentary six-month subscription is over, the service costs $30 per year. Instead of paying SanDisk's compounded fees, we recommend alternative USB drives like the SanDisk Cruzer Micro. Take the extra cash you'll save and spend it on Web space and a FTP client for online backups.

Performance

Performance (in megabits per second)
(Longer bars indicate better performance)

Read

Write

SanDisk Cruzer Titanium Plus

13.98

14.57

OWC Mercury On-The-Go

20.32

17.31

Maxtor Black Armor (USB 2.0)

17.4

17.37

The Cruzer Titanium Plus impressed us by actually surpassing the read and write speeds advertised by SanDisk. We copied 886.15 megabytes of random documents, MP3s, and photos; the Cruzer transferred the files at an impressive 14 megabytes per second, fast enough to keep up with standalone external hard drives such as the Maxtor Black Armor and the OWC Mercury On-The-Go.

Service and support
SanDisk protects the Cruzer Titanium Plus with a five-year hardware warranty. SanDisk will repair or replace the drive, or even refund the purchase price depending on availability at the time of warranty. Unfortunately, the warranty doesn't cover the SanDisk backup software, so we suggest backing up your data to another hardware source, as SanDisk can't be held responsible for lost data in any product once it's sent in. In addition, the Cruzer Titanium Plus comes with a two-year lost-and-found return program courtesy of BoomerangIt, a service that lets you keep track of your valuables through an online database. The Cruzer comes with a BoomerangIt label with a unique ID number in case you lose the drive. After two years, you can renew the subscription with a variety of package options on the BoomerangIt Web site.

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User reviews

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Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 2 reviews
My rating: 0 stars

Showing opinion 1 to 2 out of 2

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5 stars

Warning - Do NOT Use the Backup SW.

by MHeying on August 15, 2008

Pros: As a storage device, it's perfect. No complaints. Fast & accurate

Cons: The backukp SW is uncontrollable and it interfere's with my work and you can't remove it without removing the U3 software.

Summary: Do not install the "BeInSynch" backup software unless you want loads of trouble. It's wasted gobs of my valuable time. While it's backing up, and that's automatic/...

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Summary: Do not install the "BeInSynch" backup software unless you want loads of trouble. It's wasted gobs of my valuable time. While it's backing up, and that's automatic/involuntary (you aren't allowed to control it), you can't perform other file operations. You can stop it, but if you've tried to open a file, it locks that file, even after you've stopped the backup, and you don't get to save the file you opened under it's name. Blah, blah, blah.

Tech support said I can't remove BeInSych without removing all the U3 software.

What a waste of my time!

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1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
10 stars

It does as advertised. Solid, quality, and sleek.

by Gkinght on December 3, 2008

Pros: Fast.
Sleek.
The U3 software, beInSync online update software, and BoomerangIT Tag.

Cons: The boomerangit tag number is wearing off.

Summary: I have used it for over thirty days and it works like it is supposed to. It store it backs-up. It looks good and seams tough. It comes with a ...

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Summary: I have used it for over thirty days and it works like it is supposed to. It store it backs-up. It looks good and seams tough. It comes with a BoomerangIT program, it?s a tag that if found then my thumb drive will be returned to me. Cool!

If you plan to constantly change massive amount of data then you may find the online backup a bit cumbersome.

The Boomerang It tag ID had began to rub off. I hope the will identify it by the Cruzer serial number.

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Specifications

Manufacturer: SanDisk Corp.
Part number: SDCZ28-004G-A11
Description: The Cruzer Titanium Plus USB flash drive offers an automatic and seamless online back up option with device password protection and hardware AES encryption so you can easily access your files on the device or online. You can confidently store all your sensitive, important data without the fear of losing the device or accidentally deleting the files. Cruzer Titanium Plus is not only packaged in a rugged, crush resistant metal case, but also it provides you with added security by keeping the files on your device also backed up online, in case you ever need them.

General
Product Type USB flash drive
Storage Capacity 4 GB
Compatibility Non-specific
Memory
Interface Type Hi-Speed USB
Features Encryption support, U3 Smart capable, Password protection, Windows ReadyBoost capable
Expansion / Connectivity
Compatible Slots None
Interfaces 1 x Hi-Speed USB - 4 pin USB Type A
Miscellaneous
Included Accessories Key chain
Compliant Standards AES

Software / System Requirements
OS Required Microsoft Windows XP, Linux, Microsoft Windows 2000 SP4, Microsoft Windows Vista, Apple MacOS X 10.0 or later
Manufacturer Warranty
Service & Support 5 years warranty
Service & Support Details Limited warranty - 5 years
Expansion / Port(s) Required
Required slot None
Warranty
Service & support type 5 years warranty

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SanDisk Cruzer Titanium Plus (4GB)

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