Do you remember the good old, bad old days, when a floppy disk was seen as the ideal solution to the problem of transporting data manually from computer to computer? Since then we've seen the rise and fall of the Zip disk and the coming of CD-R, DVD-R and the memory stick. The consistent aim has been to create a memory storage unit that is relatively compact, looks stylish, doesn't weigh a ton and has a respectably large capacity.

In a sense the MP3 player has answered that question, except most owners have curiously chosen to keep hordes of music files on them rather than use them for data storage. So now Verbatim has risen to the challenge with two USB HD drives (4GB and 8GB) to enhance its Store 'n' Go series.

A mere 2.1 x 2.8 inches square, in fetching white with a glowing blue centre, the drives have a built in USB 2.0 cable attached that slots easily into the side of a laptop or desktop. The drives come with a handy soft carry case for added protection. They are PC and Mac compatible and work with the most popular operating systems: Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition, Microsoft Windows CE 3.0, Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition, Microsoft Windows XP, Apple MacOS 9.x or later.

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For most of these operating systems, it's simply a case of plug 'n' play, as no additional software is required. With a data transfer rate of 480Mbps, these lightweight drives have the capacity to meet the needs of people who want to carry volumes of digital data, video, and audio with them, or keep key information such as e-mails, photos, or personal calendars available at any time.

As soon as the drive is recognised by your computer, you can then load up the provided Ceedo program which allows you to carry your programs, documents, e-mails and browser favourites, accessing them through a quick and convenient easy-access menu.

A toolbar sits at the bottom of your screen or can be minimised to your system tray and there are Quick Start guides in 11 languages, plus the option to pay for updates if you want to extend your download and operating possibilities.

The drives have low power consumption and can store nearly eight hours of MPEG-1 video, about 2,000 hours of MP3 music, around 4,000 colour photos at 300dpi or 8GB of personal and business files. As such, a drive like this is a useful addition to any business person's, student's or traveller's PC armoury.

Lightweight, attractive and easy to use, this is a perfect solution for anyone needing a quick and convenient method of transporting large amounts of data, as long as you have a minimum of £100 to spend.