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Traxdata EZ Drive Yego
Price: £19.99 inc VAT

Features
Performance
Ease of use
Value for money
Overall

Reviewed By: Andy Shaw

This review updated: 22/09/2007
Featured in magazine:
Issue 167
Manufacturer Contacts:
Supplier: Traxdata
Web Address: www.traxdata.com


Many of us have taken to carrying USB memory around with us. If you work on more than one computer, want to keep certain files personal or need to transfer information such as browser bookmarks or email settings from one place to another, a USB device is the most straightforward way to go.

Features
This natty little device adds an extra option, however. While the bottom of the Y-shaped unit plugs into a USB port as normal, the top prongs house USB ports of their own, allowing two further devices to be plugged in at the same time. The device comes with some simple software for locking your computer and creating password-protected partitions, as well as Webaroo, which you can use to download websites for viewing offline. Like most current USB memory devices, it can also be used as ReadyBoost memory to improve the performance of Windows Vista.

Performance
We tested the speed of the device by pitting it against the current Gold Award-winning model from rival Corsair (see the review at http://tinyurl.com/3xy6e2), which is blisteringly fast. Disappointingly it was considerably slower, taking more than eight times as long to transfer a 250MB file. The problems, however, were limited to slow memory speed – plugging the Corsair device into the Yego caused no decrease in the Corsair's performance, proving that the Yego works perfectly well as a hub.

Ease of use
Using the device couldn't be simpler – just plug it in and off you go. The supplied software is pre-installed on the device so there are no CDs to worry about and, as long as you're using Windows Me or later, there's no issue with drivers for either the memory or the hub elements of the device. The only downside is that once you've attached something else to it, you may not want to swap it about as much, because you'll have to disconnect your other devices to get to it.

Value for money
The price is one of the best things about this device. For 2GB of memory and the added function of the USB hub, we rate the £19.99 price tag as very good value for money.

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