Comments on: SanDisk 1GB Titanium Cruzer is Better Left in Package http://www.desultorythoughts.com/blog/archives/2006/03/14/sandisk-1gb-titanium-cruzer-is-better-left-in-package/ The adventures of life are meant to be shared. Sat, 07 Nov 2009 23:04:33 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: Tyler http://www.desultorythoughts.com/blog/archives/2006/03/14/sandisk-1gb-titanium-cruzer-is-better-left-in-package/comment-page-1/#comment-84 Tyler Sun, 30 Apr 2006 18:06:15 +0000 http://www.utahadventurevideos.com/blog/archives/2006/03/14/sandisk-1gb-titanium-cruzer-is-better-left-in-package/#comment-84 I found another insightful comment at the <a href="http://cnet.nytimes.com/SanDisk_Cruzer_Titanium/4864-3240_7-30795193.html?ctype=msgid&messageSiteID=7&messageID=1876450&cval=1876450" title="CNET.com Comment on Titanium Drive Failure" rel="nofollow">Technology section of the New York Times</a>. Here is the comment:<br><br> <blockquote><p>My 2GB, Titanium drive died after 4 weeks (right I could have received a full refund). I purchased this drive on the very high recommendation of CNET and with the expectation that the drive would be extremely durable and long-lasting. While the exterior is quite sleek and durable, the internal circuitry is "fragile" according to SanDisk.</p> <p>I was told by the first SanDisk technical support technician not to plug a Titanium drive into USB ports on any monitor as they do not provide enough energy for the drive and probably lead to the "short-circuit" I experienced. I was told to only plug the drive into USB ports on the PC itself. I did some research into the energy output of my (Gateway) monitor's USB ports and called SanDisk back. This time I was told not to use the monitor's USB ports because they provide "too much" energy for the drive; a direct contradiction of what the prior technician had told me. The real kicker was when he added that I should not plug the drive into USB ports on any Dell computers (my PC is a Dell). So, in effect, I was told not to use the drive on any equipment I currently own. When I asked where I could successfully use the drive, they said "any non-Dell PC USB port."</p> <p>I spoke with yet another, very forthright, SanDisk technical support technician, who told me that the Titanium series drives have been found to have "fragile internal circuitry," especially those with serial numbers ending in 'KI', which mine did. He told me that the Titanium drives "have a durable exterior but very fragile internal circuitry." I was also told that I use the Titanium drives "at my own risk" and that I "should not store any valuable information on the drive." WHAT! Given this knowledge, I asked that they replace the Titanium drive I sent in with a different drive. Each support technician told me that the micro and mini drives were much more reliable than the Titanium drives.</p> <p>I selected as my replacement a 2GB, Black, Micro, retractable drive. Only later was I informed that this replacement drive is not yet being distributed, but that it would be distributed "sometime in April 2006." So I wait.</p> <p>Moral of the story: the Titanium drives are worthless and SanDisk technical support are not much better.</p></blockquote> I found another insightful comment at the Technology section of the New York Times. Here is the comment:

My 2GB, Titanium drive died after 4 weeks (right I could have received a full refund). I purchased this drive on the very high recommendation of CNET and with the expectation that the drive would be extremely durable and long-lasting. While the exterior is quite sleek and durable, the internal circuitry is “fragile” according to SanDisk.

I was told by the first SanDisk technical support technician not to plug a Titanium drive into USB ports on any monitor as they do not provide enough energy for the drive and probably lead to the “short-circuit” I experienced. I was told to only plug the drive into USB ports on the PC itself. I did some research into the energy output of my (Gateway) monitor’s USB ports and called SanDisk back. This time I was told not to use the monitor’s USB ports because they provide “too much” energy for the drive; a direct contradiction of what the prior technician had told me. The real kicker was when he added that I should not plug the drive into USB ports on any Dell computers (my PC is a Dell). So, in effect, I was told not to use the drive on any equipment I currently own. When I asked where I could successfully use the drive, they said “any non-Dell PC USB port.”

I spoke with yet another, very forthright, SanDisk technical support technician, who told me that the Titanium series drives have been found to have “fragile internal circuitry,” especially those with serial numbers ending in ‘KI’, which mine did. He told me that the Titanium drives “have a durable exterior but very fragile internal circuitry.” I was also told that I use the Titanium drives “at my own risk” and that I “should not store any valuable information on the drive.” WHAT! Given this knowledge, I asked that they replace the Titanium drive I sent in with a different drive. Each support technician told me that the micro and mini drives were much more reliable than the Titanium drives.

I selected as my replacement a 2GB, Black, Micro, retractable drive. Only later was I informed that this replacement drive is not yet being distributed, but that it would be distributed “sometime in April 2006.” So I wait.

Moral of the story: the Titanium drives are worthless and SanDisk technical support are not much better.

]]> By: Tyler http://www.desultorythoughts.com/blog/archives/2006/03/14/sandisk-1gb-titanium-cruzer-is-better-left-in-package/comment-page-1/#comment-60 Tyler Wed, 05 Apr 2006 18:22:24 +0000 http://www.utahadventurevideos.com/blog/archives/2006/03/14/sandisk-1gb-titanium-cruzer-is-better-left-in-package/#comment-60 I'll bet that's true about the KI on the end of the serial number being defective. The last two that I had to send back both ended in "KI". The one I received on Monday doesn't end in KI and it's working fine...so far. I'm crossing my fingers that this one finally works!! I’ll bet that’s true about the KI on the end of the serial number being defective. The last two that I had to send back both ended in “KI”. The one I received on Monday doesn’t end in KI and it’s working fine…so far. I’m crossing my fingers that this one finally works!!

]]> By: Kat http://www.desultorythoughts.com/blog/archives/2006/03/14/sandisk-1gb-titanium-cruzer-is-better-left-in-package/comment-page-1/#comment-59 Kat Wed, 05 Apr 2006 18:04:10 +0000 http://www.utahadventurevideos.com/blog/archives/2006/03/14/sandisk-1gb-titanium-cruzer-is-better-left-in-package/#comment-59 Same problem here, my titanium 512 mb just died on me today -- the light flashes on and then turns off. I have had three techs look at it and I've spoked with SanDisk about it. I have been very careful with it. Told by a data recovery service (lc-tech.com) there is only a 50% chance they can recover the lost data ($75 for that service). I just read on www.techreviewer.com that drives with KI at the end of the serial are defective, and apparently freezing the drive for several hours and immediately plugging it into the USB port will allow you a few seconds to copy your files. I'm going to try this and see what happens. Same problem here, my titanium 512 mb just died on me today — the light flashes on and then turns off. I have had three techs look at it and I’ve spoked with SanDisk about it. I have been very careful with it. Told by a data recovery service (lc-tech.com) there is only a 50% chance they can recover the lost data ($75 for that service). I just read on http://www.techreviewer.com that drives with KI at the end of the serial are defective, and apparently freezing the drive for several hours and immediately plugging it into the USB port will allow you a few seconds to copy your files. I’m going to try this and see what happens.

]]> By: Paul http://www.desultorythoughts.com/blog/archives/2006/03/14/sandisk-1gb-titanium-cruzer-is-better-left-in-package/comment-page-1/#comment-14 Paul Fri, 24 Mar 2006 07:09:49 +0000 http://www.utahadventurevideos.com/blog/archives/2006/03/14/sandisk-1gb-titanium-cruzer-is-better-left-in-package/#comment-14 I don't doubt your experiences with SanDisk products and especially the frustration you've had. I think that after your Websearch for other experiences, you're the one guy who get's all the SanDisk flash/usb drives that don't work, and I am the one guy getting all the SanDisk flash/usb drives that do work. I've had 6 over the last 4 years. As one of the reviewers you quoted said, his company seems to have a 50% failure rate with regards to their SanDisk products. Not a single problem and I am VERY abusive to small consumer electronics. 2 x 128Mb, 2 x 256Mb, 1 x 512Mb and my latest, the U3 enabled 1Gb (ultrathin and unobtrusive) micro mini cruzer. Love it. Sorry for your grief. Really. Finally, if it helps... of all names, Kensington seems to keep coming up and appears to have a reasonable sized/priced/reviewed favorably series of flash/usb drives. Good luck with whichever you end up with. Sincerely and Godspeed, Paul I don’t doubt your experiences with SanDisk products and especially the frustration you’ve had. I think that after your Websearch for other experiences, you’re the one guy who get’s all the SanDisk flash/usb drives that don’t work, and I am the one guy getting all the SanDisk flash/usb drives that do work. I’ve had 6 over the last 4 years.

As one of the reviewers you quoted said, his company seems to have a 50% failure rate with regards to their SanDisk products.

Not a single problem and I am VERY abusive to small consumer electronics. 2 x 128Mb, 2 x 256Mb, 1 x 512Mb and my latest, the U3 enabled 1Gb (ultrathin and unobtrusive) micro mini cruzer. Love it.

Sorry for your grief. Really.

Finally, if it helps… of all names, Kensington seems to keep coming up and appears to have a reasonable sized/priced/reviewed favorably series of flash/usb drives.

Good luck with whichever you end up with.

Sincerely and Godspeed,

Paul

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