Developer: Kingston Technology
Publisher: Kingston Technology
Platform: PC
Kingston DataTraveler 2000 – Hardware Review
USB flash drives have become somewhat of an indispensable tool in today’s life, be it to safeguard files, transfer them from one device to another or simply to take with you to important meetings, school and other activities. Nonetheless, conventional flash drives allow everyone to access them, which might turn out bad for you if the device falls into the wrong hands. Perhaps sensitive information gets spread, concerning one of your projects or presentations (or other personal stuff), without you wanting other eyes to see it. That being said, it seems that Kingston might have the solution that offers the practicalities of regular drives, yet with proper protection thanks to encrypting the data which only opens up via the input of a password. Intrigued? We were too.
Design
The DataTraveler 2000 comes in a fairly simple looking aluminum case that encloses the entire device. Outside of the brand name and the model type there isn’t that much going on here, even though the matte blue color does look rather elegant and qualitative.
When removing the case, you’ll be treated to the same blue matte finish, be it with ten small buttons neatly aligned on the device, together with three small LED indicators. The buttons and led lights are rather simple looking, but they suit the overall classy design the device has.
Comfort
Since comfort in a simple USB flash drive would imply questions such as whether it is small enough to bring with you, it worked properly or the case was neatly done, we can easily say that this device is very comfortable. Seeing the DataTraveler 2000 works with encryption and a keypad, the comfort features shift somewhat to the area of how to work with the device.
First of all, the case has been made so that the device is actually a snug fit, which makes sure the case stays on, and makes it harder to wear off anytime soon. Thanks to this, you’ll be able to enjoy the device longer, without having to toss away the case, which would eventually end up in getting the keys dirty without their protection.
Secondly, the buttons on the device are made of a soft rubber and feel rather durable, which is important if you use the device often. Other than that, there’s not that much to handling the device, except for how the device actually works.
Specs
- USB 3.1 Gen. 1 (USB 3.0)
- Superior password protection (PIN)
- 16GB, 32GB or 64GB models available
- USB 3.1 Speed
- 16GB: 120MB/s read, 20MB/s write
- 32GB: 135MB/s read, 40MB/s write
- 64GB: 135MB/s read, 40MB/s write
- USB 2.0 speed
- 16GB: 30MB/s read, 20MB/s write
- 32GB: 30MB/s read, 20MB/s write
- 64GB: 30MB/s read, 20MB/s write
- 80mm x 20mm x 10.5mm (with case)
- 78mm x 18mm x 8 mm (without case)
- Waterproof/dustproof
Overview
Just like any other USB flash drive, the DataTraveler 2000 is still a matter of plug and play, at least if you successfully unlock the device. This means you’ll have to input the correct PIN code before your PC will actually recognize the device, and this can be done, either by unlocking the device before putting it in the USB port, or when it has already been inserted. To do so, you’ll have to press the lock button, type in the PIN and press the lock button again. A fun feature the hardware has is that when you remove the device from the USB port, it will lock itself automatically again.
Setting up a new PIN other than the standard one on the device might take a few steps, the in-depth manual is present on the device itself, giving you full access once you entered the factory set PIN. While the manual itself is normally of no concern to us, this one has been handled particularly well, with everything being displayed to the point, making it very easy to accomplish what you were planning to do with the device.
Those who have trust issues if they should ever leave their PC behind unmonitored with their DataTraveler 2000 still attached to it can sleep rather soundly, as you can also add a timeout lock to the device. This means you can set up a specific time frame that the DataTraveler 2000 can remain inactive and unmonitored, before it locks itself, making sure nobody can access it behind your back.
The developers made sure that the device can be reset in case you should ever lose your PIN code, but this comes at the cost of whatever’s on the flash drive itself. This means that thieves will never be able to access your private files, but they can reset the device if needed and use it as their own. While some might argue that a reset function should be omitted from this piece of hardware, it would also be a costly affair if you should ever forget your PIN, yet still want to recover the device itself.
Something many of you might not expect is that the DataTraveler 2000 has a battery, which means it will charge itself when you plug it into a powered USB port. While it’s unsure how long the battery will last precisely, be sure to plug it in from time to time, to keep the device charged, as it runs its own operating system, to keep your files safe from prying eyes.
Conclusion
The DataTraveler 2000 offers a very secure option of storing data, while never leaving the comfort of a simple USB flash drive behind. While the price might not be that attractive for those who would only store simple items on a drive such as this, those who want to keep certain files, projects or documents safe, while still being able to access them easily themselves, might just want to look into this small, yet powerful safe haven.
Kingston DataTraveler 2000 - Hardware Review,
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