Monday, May 7, 2012

SanDisk Cruzer Profile 512MB USB Flash Drive (SDCZ5-512-A10, Retail Package)


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SanDisk's Cruzer Profile is a unique, biometric USB flash drive that provides the ultimate in portable data security. This high-security product stores all your data and passwords, accessible only with the swipe of your fingerprint. Just plug in the drive, swipe your finger, and you can log-on to any of your stored protected areas in a snap. You can use any Windows PC with your Profile without having to install any cumbersome software or leave any trace on that PC.

This review is from : SanDisk Cruzer Profile 512MB USB Flash Drive (SDCZ5-512-A10, Retail Package)
Good (not great) for PCs but not compatible with Macintosh . I purchased the Cruzer so I could transfer files between computers quickly and easily. I have a PC and a Mac and was hoping this would make transferring files quicker. Despite what Amazon says, this drive will not work on a Mac. The software that automatically runs when the drive is plugged into the USB port that allows your fingerprint to unlock the drive is Windows only. The Sandisk website lists the drive as compatible with XP/2000/ME only.

I found the ads for this drive to be misleading. When it said "no software to be installed" I took it to mean that no software was needed at all. When you insert the flash drive in your USB port it auto-runs a program called "Cruzer Profile" that handles the locking and unlocking of the drive. Therefore the entire time this drive is plugged into your computer you will need this application running, but it is not technically installed on your computer (it is on the drive itself). I was hoping this was a purely hardware solution to biometrically secured flash (no software required for the computer).

The design is a bit awkward. The cable between the two parts is quite stiff and therefore as soon as you let go of the finger scanner it will again point away from you in just about every USB port imaginable. If you're incredibly unlucky like me your from USB port will leave the finger scanner both upside down and facing away from you. I was ready to make this tradeoff for a pure hardware approach to biometric secured flash. Seeing how this is a software approach like everyone else I cannot figure out why they went out of their way to design it different, but no better.

The CruzerPass application was a dissapointment for me. It is obviously PC only. It only works with Internet Explorer, but I almost exclusively use FireFox. Besides being a bit awkward to set up my biggest problem with it is that it cannot be activated once you surf to the website you want to use it for. I envisioned myself surfing around and when I got somewhere like my bank website, I'd swipe my finger and be instantly logged in. Unfortunately this is not how it works. You have click the system tray icon and select from a list of sites you previously set up. Upon selecting one, it launches Internet Explorer, asks you to swipe your finger and logs you in. So my complaint is that I have to totally change the way I browse now. Instead of launching IE and going to the website I want, I have to use this little application to launch IE for me.

The CruzerSync application (available from their website) also requires a PC to run, but resides on the flash drive. It works surprisingly well and I was impressed with it. It will cause Outlook 2003 and later to complain and stop letting you access your email until you relaunch Outlook. If you're a techie then you'll be interested to know the reason it causes a problem is that it accesses the personal folder file directly instead of using the outlook API. Outlook detects the application accessing the personal file directly and refuses to let you view your email anymore until you restart it.

What's missing?

Many of the biometric flash drives on the market today offer an application that will log you into your PC by swiping your finger. That would be a neat feature for those of us who have to change our passwords monthly. My guess why this feature was omitted: it would require installing a program on the PC.
SanDisk Cruzer Profile 512MB USB Flash Drive (SDCZ5-512-A10, Retail Package) Reviews
Awsome product . I recived the product yesterday! It is a verry good item. but I read a review.."Its not a good product for moving music and videos" When you plug in the pendrive you have to swipe ur finger inorder to unlock the pendrive contents it is a verry good pendrive and it doesn't leave any trace on another computer. It is kinda bigger then the micro; But thats ok. I am also submitting some user photos so be shure to check them out!
SanDisk Cruzer Profile 512MB USB Flash Drive (SDCZ5-512-A10, Retail Package) Opinions
My new Cruzer Profile . I just recieved my Profile in the mail, and I couldn't be more happy. It reads your finger print with a swipe of your finger, and it often errs on the side of caution: if your finger is close, but not quite right, it denies you access. I don't have enough time to write a full review, but basically, I like it, alot.
drive has some compatibility issues between XP > vista .. . other reviewers are correct in that this drive does have compatibility issues between Windows XP and Windows Vista.

Pros:
- the drive can not be accessed without swiping a finger on the scanner, which unlocks the drive. attempts to format the drive will not work, even though it appears to be formatting. a error message will pop up and say it cannot be completed.

- although the drives software cannot be run, the drive still works the same way as in XP. (IE: is secure unless swiped with a finger)

Cons:
- in order to register your fingerprints you need windows XP because of the cruzer-profile wizard software. I am assuming because of vista's security settings some programs cant be run, (even though I have tried administrator mode)

- login software is not compatible with Windows Vista

just a reminder:
the drive can be used for both vista and XP systems, only after fingerprints are registered on XP first!!

Fingerprint sign-on works pretty well! . I have been using the Sandisk Cruzer Profile 512MB for about 2 months and have to say that it has not given me any problems with Windows XP and Winfdows 2000 machines. I use fingers on both hands and all swipe easily. It allows for single-handed swipes although the connection cord between the two parts (functions as a cap as well as a print reader)is a little stiff and can be tricky to hold. It is best to hold the cap/reader down with one hand and swipe the finger on the other.
Depending on how accessible the USB port is this is either easy or hard to do. Also, the speed of the Cruzer is good. I keep large files on it and use it with Roboform and it works great. Have't looked up the mbps but it is very rapid. About 1 sec for a 4 mb file.
The only real downside, if it is one, is that the Cruzer only uses software fingerprint recognition. It does not replace the PW and UID for windows' logon.
The software for site logons is crappy at best, but hey, they can't be scoring oin every category for that price.

Note that this does not work on MAC (clearly stated in manual, so read up before you buy!).
SanDisk Cruzer 512MB Flash drive . This flash drive is not compatible with Mac although it is advertised as being compatible with windows and Mac.
The ring that holds the the chain/loop is very weak and hence the flash drive constantly falls with the slightest hooks it gets,with 3 or more fall and the flash drive is unable to store information, the shock resistant is very low.
Besides the flaws it provide to be a good drive, can be a bit more handy,too bulky.
Good item but not convenient. . Good item but not convenient. After restart my comp, big banner shows up top of the login window. It is looking for usb flash drive. The banner message should pop up when I want to use usb drive.

Cons Review
Does not work with Windows 7 . I guess I should have read the reviews a little closer, I would think a company such as SanDisk would support thier products a little better.
Sandisk products NOT VISTA COMPATIBLE . Do not buy any Sandisk Products if your computer is running Vista.... You would think they have had enough time to get their drivers up to date..... So if you have Windows VISTA don't buy any of their products!!!!!!!!!!


Feature SanDisk Cruzer Profile 512MB USB Flash Drive (SDCZ5-512-A10, Retail Package)

  • High Security Protection where Data is Accessible by Fingerprint Recognition
  • Distinctive Ergonomic Design for easy access and swiping
  • Cruzer Profile authenticates users when a finger is swiped across the device
  • An embedded identification sensor reads the fingerprint
  • Gives approval & activates the drive




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Product Details

EAN : 0619659023058
UPC : 619659023058
MPN : G53085
Brand : SanDisk
Color : White
Weight : 1 pounds
Height : 2 inches
Length : 7 inches
Width : 5 inches
Binding : Personal Computers
Manufacturer : SanDisk
Model : SDCZ5-512-A10
Platform : Not Machine Specific
Publisher : SanDisk
SKU : DHSDCZ5512A10
Studio : SanDisk

Where To Buy


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