[Web4lib] U3 Devices: was IE7 security settings

[Darryl Friesen]

> I recently purchased a Memorex U3 keydrive, not knowing quite how it 
> worked.  When I first plugged it in, it started installing various  things 
> which, to me, is a very bad thing to do.

Every USB device you plug into a computer requires some configuration 
changes to the system (drivers etc etc).  I don't think it actually installs 
any software onto the machine though.

> Second, when I brought it home and plugged it into my Mac, it
> mounted as TWO drives, both of which had to be ejected in order
> for me to unplug the device.

Yes the first ic a CD-ROM drive containg the U3 Launch software.  The 2nd is 
the rest of the USB device, mounted lilke any other removable drive.

> I couldn't format the U3 partition without downloading a Windows-only 
> uninstaller, which had to be run with administrator privileges (!) in 
> order to wipe out the U3 partition.

I think I remember reading something similar on the U3 site.  They don't 
make it easy, but then again they assume you don't want to remove that 
partition.

> So, overall, I'm not impressed with how U3 works, and certainly  wouldn't 
> recommend it to anyone who 1) doesn't want to install things  on every 
> computer they visit and/or 2) doesn't use Windows.

There was some discussion about these U3 devices a while back.  Opinions 
were mixed as I recall.  I love mine.

> I've also been wondering what the difference is between a U3 device  and 
> 'portable applications.'  It seems like all U3 does is provide a  'start' 
> menu for any applications on your drive, but again, I didn't  get much of 
> an opportunity to use it.

That's pretty much it really.  All the apps reside on the U3 device, as does 
their configuration information.  The U3 site is convenient, one-stop place 
for downloading new apps.

Non-U3 devices can get the same functionallity easily enough.  Windows users 
can try portableapps.com.  Not sure about Mac users.  A little Googling 
should turn something up though.


- Darryl

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  Darryl Friesen, B.Sc., Programmer/Analyst    Darryl.Friesen at usask.ca
  Information Technology Services Division,     http://gollum.usask.ca/
  University of Saskatchewan Library
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  "Go not to the Elves for counsel, for they will say both no and yes"