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IronKey Releases Windows 8 Certified Bootable Flash Drive

Posted by timothy on from the who-needs-a-hard-drive-anyhow dept.

Lucas123 writes "IronKey has released a thumb drive certified to be used as a bootable Windows 8 device, enabling users to use Windows To Go — an enterprise feature of Windows 8 — to deliver a fully portable desktop. While Imation doesn't promote this feature, users can also boot up this USB on any Intel-based Apple computer. The flash drive has its drawbacks. It's not yet FIPS certified, it can't be provisioned as storage, and it lacks admin management features. The IronKey Workspace drive comes in 32GB, 64GB and 128GB capacities. It offers either 128-bit or 256-bit full disk encryption. Users must purchase the Windows 8 software separately. According to Imation's specifications, the IronKey Workspace has a maximum average read speed of 300MB/sec. and an average write speed of 100MB/sec. to 200MB/sec. When I timed the boot-up times, the initial boot-up from the USB drive was slow — 3 minutes and 40 seconds — but the drive was configuring itself. Subsequent boot-ups took a mere 35 seconds. Shutdown is near instantaneous — about 2 seconds. The flash drive is priced from $129 to $389 depending on capacity."

6 of 66 comments (clear)

  1. What a non-story by KillDaBOB · · Score: 5, Funny

    So they made a USB 3.0 flash drive that has a decent amount of space on it, priced it at a multiple more than the competition, and that's it? It doesn't even come with Windows 8, which is the purpose of buying this product. Great story brought to you by /., now advertising products that many will never, ever need (or want)!

    1. Re:What a non-story by camperdave · · Score: 5, Funny

      It doesn't even come with Windows 8, which is the purpose of buying this product.

      No, this device is designed to enable users "to use Windows To Go — an enterprise feature of Windows 8 — to deliver a fully portable desktop". Obviously this device has some sort of cable management and advanced transdimentional physics capabilities. Imagine it! You plug this device into your desktop... and it becomes portable!

      --
      When our name is on the back of your car, we're behind you all the way!
  2. They don't really try to hide it anymore, do they? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    These Slashvertisements are getting so blatant that it's not even funny anymore.

  3. Slashvertisementitis by Adambomb · · Score: 5, Informative

    I know it's pretty cliche to scream slashvertisement whenever there's an article involving a purchasable gadget, but jebus tapdancing christ guys when you advertise the price including a link to their store for something like this it really is getting sad.

    If it ISN'T intentional you sure are letting submissions take you for a ride.

    --
    Ice Cream has no bones.
  4. Re:drawbacks for $129-$389? by camperdave · · Score: 4, Funny

    Do they really think people are so stupid to spend $129 for a 32gb thumb drive? With drawbacks?

    Why not? People buy Windows 8.

    --
    When our name is on the back of your car, we're behind you all the way!
  5. Re:drawbacks for $129-$389? by datajack · · Score: 4, Informative

    It's an Ironkey. The encryption is in hardware. The quoted speed is with the encryption.