Last week presented my inbox with a bunch of emails about thumb drives.  (See last week’s column for more details.) 

At that time, I wrote about the Flash Padlock (www.corsair.com) which has a great security feature.  I was asked what thumb drive I use and about software for security when you already have a thumb drive.  So this week I will start there.

I will take the shortest answer first dealing with software for thumb drive security.  I have no idea which one is best.  Up to this point I have only seen security software that has a cost associated with it.  Since I don’t have tons of money to spend on testing all of them I have no idea which one is best or their individual features.  So you will have to Google on your own for that one.  Wow, that was easy.

Next, what thumb drive do I use?  This answer has changed over the years.

When I started out with them several years ago I had a PNY, 256mb model (www.pny.com).  I believe it cost about $60.  It lasted several years and made it through several clothes washes, from being left in my pants pockets.  By-the-way, after the washings it was in perfect “data” shape.  The only problems were the silver covering started peeling off…no biggie to me.

Next, I advanced to the Kingston with 2GB (www.kingston.com).  There was a significant increase in the amount of data it could hold and decrease in the price about $30.  It also suffered through several washings and was left in the car in extreme heat and cold.  It also survived perfectly (ok, other than exterior coloring).

NOTE:  Just because I have washed and abused mine, doesn’t mean that you should try it.  I blundered using mine but those qualifications are not part of their guarantees.

I currently use a Yego (www.ritekusa.com) which looks and operates quite differently from other thumbs. 

I like this one because it is twice the size of my previous device at 4GB.  When plugged into a USB port it provides you with two additional USB ports.  If you haven’t used USB devices before you would see why that is good.  When you normally plug something into a USB port it gives you one less port to plug something else into.  With the Yego, shaped like a “Y”, you get an additional USB port on each of the points on the top of the “Y”.

Of course if you read last week’s column you will realize why I might be switching to the Flash Padlock by Corsair.  Although, I think I have enough for now.  Is there ever enough?

I have discovered, or maybe I should say it discovered me, a neat little tech gadget that is in reality a really good one. 

Before I get started, I want to disclose a couple of things.  First is that I was contacted by a marketing person to take a look at this product, they sent me the product and I examined it.  This happens to me occasionally but not as often as I would like.  Second, some of the products I get to review are junk so I don’t write about them.  I am always open to suggestions for products and services that may benefit you readers.  If you know of something you would like to learn about let me know and I will at least take a look.

Now, let’s get on with the review.

I have been thinking for a while about security and thumb drives since I have gotten many emails about them.  Basically memory sticks, thumb drives, key-chain drives, etc. are all the same.  They act as a hard drive when inserted into your computer.  You can save data on them for portability and/or backup and they come in a variety of storage sizes.

Why security?  For instance, if my memory stick falls out of my pocket while doing my daily calisthenics in the park (not), I could be in trouble.  Someone finds it and then they have all of my data.  This could include my last 10 years worth of tax returns, my bank account info, love letters to my wife, business files, etc.  The finder would have full access to all of that information to do with as they choose.  I don’t put vital data on my thumb drive for that very reason.

In steps Flash Padlock a hardware solution (www.corsair.com).  I find this a bit more comforting.

There is information galore on the Corsair site but here is my quick take on the padlock.

You can physically key in your own numeric password on the device.  Once this is entered the only way to get to the data stored in the drive is to reenter that password.  Slick!

You can change the password to shorten or lengthen it as long as it is 10 digits or less.

When removed from your computer the Flash Padlock will relock itself in 15 seconds so that you will have to reenter your password to use the drive again.  The padlock is slightly larger than some other thumb drives at 3 3/8″ x 7/8″ x 9/16″, but not large enough to make much of a difference to me.  It will still easily fit in my pocket.

The MSRP is 1GB for $29.99 and the 2GB size for $39.99.  If you are considering the purchase of a thumb drive I suggest you take a look at the Flash Padlock.

It has been quite some time since I have written about my favorite web site so I figured it was time to let you know what Google has now.  I am referring to Google Documents.

I signed up for Google Docs (for short) a year or so ago and didn’t use them for much.  Since I am also a Microsoft Office lover I thought, “Hmm, why switch?” and just kept enjoying Office.

One day I forgot to email a column to the DNR. I decided I needed to have a place to store files that would be easily obtainable if I left home without a much needed file. So I actually started using Google Docs.

Here is what I found out.  I will let you check out the details if this sounds interesting to you.

If you don’t already have a Google account head on over to Google.com and get one. An account is free, as is Goggle Docs. Once you have your account you can log in to a plethora of Google “stuff” which can be very useful depending on your needs.

Find your way to the Google Docs page and check it out (http://docs.google.com). You can create, edit or save previously produced Documents, Spreadsheets and Presentations. I don’t know how Google gets away with it but these are very, very similar to Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint files, without some of the higher-end features. The Presentation feature is a very recent addition to the group.

Google Docs are totally compatible with their Microsoft counterparts. In other words you can create a Word, Excel or PowerPoint file and then open, edit and save it online with Google Docs, and then visa-versa. Then the files can be saved to your local hard drive or back online with Google and then edited there.

What a deal in that you can now have access to your documents – no matter where you are as long as you have an internet connection.  Once again let me mention that it is free.

Now if I forget to send a column in and my editor, Katheryn Huff kindly reminds me—I just go to Google and email it from there to her and all is well.

You may give permission for individuals, or the entire planet, to view your files along with other “sharing” tricks too. See this column at “http://xrl.us/97kf” if you want to give it a try.

It has many more capabilities which I don’t have room to write about here but go and see for yourself.  I just wonder if Access can be far behind.

Here is a quick recap of my printer adventure from August.

Printer broke.  I called the company’s toll free customer service number for assistance (name withheld as they have many attorneys and I have none).  They steered me wrong.  I contacted their online 24/7 customer support and got a new printer speedily shipped to me.

Now up to the present.  The new printer was the exact same printer that I had before, which was fine, as it had worked very well up to this point.  I hooked it up and tested it out and got the exact same error.  It kept telling me that the cover was open and had to be shut to continue.

I have been around computers and related accessories a lot and I know that it is exceedingly rare for two separate printers to have identical errors.  I figured that it must be my computer that had a problem. 

Now for those of you that have had printer difficulties in the past,  I tried all of the standard fixes and more.  I started the computer, restarted the printer -first one then the other all to no effect.  And keep in mind I didn’t try it just once but what seemed like, oh maybe 1.8 million times.  I uninstalled and reinstalled the printer’s drivers and then uninstalled them once more and installed the newest drivers.  I hooked it up with a new cable.  All were pains and time wasters since none of them worked.

Then a friend had a good suggestion.  He said, “Hey Ron, why don’t you try it on a different computer and see if you get the same problem?”  Well, duh that was a great suggestion! 

I tried it on my notebook computer, then my friend’s desktop computer, another notebook and finally I took it to my office computer and guess what?!  It gave the same error.  So that told me it was both printers and not my computer even though that still sounds kind of amazing to me.  Success comes in small doses but I will take what I can get. 

Also, my one year guarantee expired during this time.  Isn’t’ that remarkable – the guarantee expires while I am fighting with the replacement…that is also kaput? 

Another friend got tired of me whining, I guess, and gave me a Lexmark printer.  Thanks, C. S.!  It worked from the second I installed it, first time every time.  I haven’t checked but from previous experience the Lexmark probably cost 1/3 of the price of the unnamed brand.  My suggestion of the day…Lexmark.