When it comes to external storage we tend to want it all; low cost, high performance and massive capacity.  Oh, and can you make it portable too?  But sometimes having a dependable way to tote your files in the smallest package possible is the goal.  Power Quotient International Co., Ltd. (PQI) is well known for their performance memory but today we are going small, very small, with the new Intelligent Drive i810.  Lets take a closer look!

     PQI has been around for a while and it shows in the packaging.  The familiar blister pack provides a clear look at the i810 and both the front and back offer plenty of information to help you make a smart purchase in several languages.  Though the performance specs are missing from the packaging, we have them for you in a moment.

     Taking a closer look reveals a slick polished aluminum look and two different removable tethers.  One is designed in a keychain style, the other to attach to a mobile device or phone.  The i810 is also offered in a slick pink, green, blue purple and black to match your individual style.

Features:

• Plug and play through USB 1.1 or 2.0 port

• Smallest USB flash drive in the world

• Mobile phone decoration, easy to carry

• Store and transport data, music, pictures and videos

• Support Windows Vista Ready Boost

Specifications:

     There is no doubt the primary reason to buy a USB drive like this is the size.  PQI markets this drive as the worlds smallest and I find that easy to believe.  Without the tether this drive will get lost in your pocket change!

     The actual storage slides out of the protective case easily from the back.  With no other moving parts a drive should last you till they get the terabyte to this size!

     The actual USB 2.0 interface is a completely new design offering greater durability and reduced weight.  Thanks to the movie, I think it reminds me of a Transformers face.

Testing:

     For benchmarking the 7200.2 drive I will be using HDTach 3 from SimpliSoftware.  For comparison, I will also be using Sisoft's Sandra XI SP3.  HDTach is a great free utility that allows benchmarking and drive comparisons.  Sandra is an industry leader in performance tuning and benchmarking.  A free Lite version can be found on their website.

     With an advertised speed of up to 27MB/sec the i810 isn't going to win any speed records but its really not designed to.  Still it clocks a respectable average read of 19.4 MB/s and bursts up to 20.6 MB/s.  The average write of 6.1 MB/s is the only major slowdown.  Still, it hasn't been so long since these were the high performance numbers and for most users (and even Vista ready Boost) this should be plenty of speed to keep you from waiting for your data.

     Sandra gives us a easy way to compare the i810 to some of the competition and even the PQI Intelligent Stick2 on USB 1.0.  As you can see here the i810 performs pretty solidly in the middle of the pack on overall performance. 

Conclusion:

     I just cant get over how small these drives are getting!  PQI is currently offering the i810 model in sizes up to 2GB and the promise of faster drives is just around the corner.  If size is your primary motivator you simply cannot do any better than the PQI Intelligent Drive i810.  In fact at this price point, I would even suggest the performance is more than I would have ever expected form a device this tiny.  PQI also offers data security, my favorite and PC lock applications for the i810 but they do not come with the unit and must be downloaded separately.  From the get go, my Wife has made it clear that if another pink model doesn't materialize around the house soon there will be consequences!  That sounds like a good enough recommend to me!

Innovation:	9.0 out of 10
Performance:	7.0 out of 10
Quality:	9.0 out of 10
Stability:	N/A
Overclocking:	N/A
Software/Drivers Pack:	Optional
Value:	9.0 out of 10
Overall Rating 8.5
Project Skill Level (10 being most difficult)	1 out of 10