I recently came across a fantastic but simple gizmo that exploits the tiny dimensions of the microSD card. US-based manufacturer PNY (with headquarters in Parsippany, New York – hence the name) noticed that a microSD card is pretty much the same size as the inner works of a USB plug.
In fact, I’m sure there must be many cases of inexperienced users trying to insert a microSD card straight into a USB port, because it looks like it might fit! PNY has reduced the interface electronics that normally connect an SD card to a USB port down to an incredibly small size, so it can be incorporated along with a microSD slot into a normal USB plug.
The result is the wonderful Attaché Evolutive, the picture of which will give you a clear idea of just how small the overall package is. It’s no exaggeration to say that with the Evolutive inserted into a USB port on your laptop you won’t even notice it’s there, so you can use it as probably the world’s most convenient USB flash drive.
There’s no chunky, sticky-out housing to get knocked or damaged as you carry the laptop around, and the machine will still fit into its normal laptop case with the drive in place. And, of course, since it’s based on a microSD card you can upgrade to a faster or bigger card whenever you need to. It offers such a simple way to transfer files to and from a phone or tablet that you’ll see why I think this is a great product. It isn’t even that expensive: at the time of writing, we saw an online listing for a 4GB version for around US$30, or US16GB for US$50 (both including a microSD card).
Those of you who have bought netbooks or low-end ultraportables – with stingy SSD drives that are barely big enough to hold a copy of Windows – may even see the Attaché Evolutive as a cheap, quick and easy way to add additional storage to your machine. I wonder what people will do next with microSD cards? So much storage in such a small package and for relatively little money opens up all manner of possibilities.
