So good it almost makes mechanical hard drives obsolete.
The FastKey is what you get when a company goes all out to make the fastest flash memory possible. Boasting an extremely fast microcontroller as well as DRAM to cache transfers, it can hit speeds that will put many hard drives to shame.
The value of the DRAM cache really showed in our small file transfer tests, with the LaCie posting particularly excellent results. It also performed well in the large file read and write tests. For the record, the FastKey has a peak theoretical read speed of 260MB/s according to USB-IF standards, which is the fastest we’ve seen. (It should be noted that USB-IF Certified speeds are purely theoretical, but they’re actually useful as a comparison of USB flash drives; a drive with a high USB-IF Certified speed will likely outperform a drive with lower ratings.)
It’s more than just the flash drive that you get in the box, too. The LaCie comes with security software that lets you protect all or part of the drive with 256-bit AES crypto, so that only a user with the password can access it.
A brushed metal monster that’s sure to crowd out other devices in tightly packed USB ports, the FastKey justifies some of its physical size with its massive 120GB capacity. Combined with its excellent speed (suitable for ReadyBoost and Windows To Go applications), solid security makes it a top pick among discerning flash drive buyers. Just try not to think too much about the price.
Available from LaCie, retailing for $499.
APC rating: 9/10 (Editor's Choice)