 |
|||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||
For the most part the OCZ Throttle looks like a typical USB flash drive, though it is a little wider than your average. Like most USB flash drives the Throttle has a removable cap, though once removed users will find a male eSATA connector rather than a male USB connector.   However at the other end of the Throttle there is a small type B, or mini USB port as it is often referred to. This port serves a few purposes; first of all it is more often than not needed to power the drive when using the eSATA interface.  The majority of eSATA ports are not powered and therefore without a power source the Throttle will fail to work. Therefore by connecting the Throttle to the computer using the mini USB port allows it to receive power for eSATA operation.  Alternatively, if eSATA is not available the Throttle will detect an absence of eSATA and use the mini USB port for both power and data transfer. This means while the Throttle is designed to use eSATA, it can fall back on USB if need be, working much like any other USB flash drive.   The only real downside to this design is that the user will almost always need a mini USB cable, much like the ones that come with most digital cameras. Although this does solve the issue of needing a bulky external power pack, it does not make the OCZ Throttle as compact and portable as conventional USB flash drives. The physical dimensions of the OCZ Throttle are 7.9 (L) x 2.9 (W) x 1.3cm (H) and all three versions, being the 8GB, 16GB and 32GB, feature the same dimensions. When compared to other products such as the Corsair Survivor 32GB which is 9.9 (L) x 2.4 (W) x 2.4 cm (H), or even the Kingston DataTraveler 200 32GB which is 7.3 (L) x 2.2cm (W) x 1.2cm (H), the Throttle dimensions are quite typical.  Another important specification for these portable storage devices is weight. The 32GB version is virtually weightless, and once stuck in a pocket it is almost impossible to tell it's there without going to look for it. OCZ say that the drive weighs just 18 grams and we believe them. Overall we are happy with the design and features of the OCZ Throttle so far. The build quality also appears to be excellent and while this particular device will not be as durable as the OCZ ATV or Corsair Voyager series, it will survive its fair share of scrapes. |
|||||
|