Seagate 5GB Pocket Hard Drive

Flash memory is superb - compact, stable, not power-dependent - but still very expensive compared to hard disks.

For now, the best combination of size and capacity may be this new pocket hard drive from Seagate.

Costs about $160, and has garnered good reviews from the techie types.

The device comes with a retractable U.S.B. 2.0 cable that stores within the housing.

Backward-compatible with U.S.B. 1.0 and 1.1 interfaces.

Works with PC or Mac.

Allows you to partition the memory so users can cordon off and password protect one or more sections of the drive to store sensitive information.

The housing, vaguely U.F.O.-like, measures 2.5" across and houses a 1.0" hard disk drive.

Weighs 2.3 ounces.

Powered by your computer, so you never have to worry about losing data because of battery failure.

There's also a 2.5 GB model, identical in appearance: about $125.

For comparison, consider that the largest capacity commercially available flash memory card has a 3 GB capacity and costs $306.

But the price differential is narrowing, and eventually everything will be flash.

No moving parts is very compelling technology.

[via Adam Baer and the New York Times]