Take Your Backup With You

Want to take your smaller backups with you, or perform them on the go? Consider using a high-capacity USB flash-memory drive or a miniature hard drive.

A capacious external hard drive is great for system backups, but it's overkill if all you want to safeguard is a critical folder of files and some e-mail. Even DVDs and CDs aren't foolproof--you must take care to store such discs in a case, so that you're less likely to scratch or break them.

We tried four of the latest USB 2.0-based devices. None shipped with a backup utility, but you can use any backup program that recognizes a USB mass-storage device.

Memorex's 2GB M-Flyer USB 2.0 Travel Drive flash-memory device sells for $180. The M-Flyer is distinctive in that it has no cap to misplace. The USB connector is spring-loaded; click a button, and it retracts inside the protective aluminum housing.

Archos's $150 ArcDisk Hard Drive USB Key offers 4GB of storage, while taking up about the same pocket space as the M-Flyer. The unit is square because it uses a Hitachi Microdrive, not flash memory. You use a fingernail to pull its USB connector out from inside its case.

Sony's $199 Micro Vault Pro USD-5G uses a 5GB Hitachi Microdrive and a swivel-out USB connector. What's unique about the Micro Vault, aside from its snazzy brushed-aluminum case, is that Sony throws in automatic-syncing software.

CMS Products' $179 ABSmini is physically much larger than the other three products --about the size of a small PDA--but it holds 20GB (a 40GB version is available, too) and it comes with CMS's BounceBack Express 6.1 backup software. It doesn't require AC power, but you must remember to carry around the tiny, proprietary USB cable.