Why You Can Trust CNET Get an 8GB Kingston flash drive for $7.99
Or, if you don't like yellow, you can get a red 8GB Kingston flash drive for just a buck more. Either way, shipping is free.
I'm back! Thanks for keeping the cheapskate fires burning while I took a much-needed vacation.
Sometime last week, I posted a bonus deal about an 8GB Kingston DataTraveler G3 flash drive for $7.99. It quickly went out of stock, then came back--and now it's back again. Only this time, it's personal.
No, wait. This time, shipping is free. Usually, Amazon requires a minimum $25 purchase to trigger free shipping, but as part of a limited-time special offer, you can drop the DataTraveler in your cart, choose Standard shipping, and get out the door for $7.99 flat.
The DataTraveler is your basic Windows/Mac-compatible flash drive. It's great for stuff like rescuing a malware-infected PC, which I did just the other day using a couple freeware gems: Malwarebytes Anti-Malware and SUPERAntiSpyware.
(Side note: The malware in question was a seriously nasty trojan, one that locked me out of nearly every function. But using my flash drive, I was able to copy over the two utilities (which require no installation), reboot into Safe Mode, run them--and send the malware back to hell.)
Alas, I'm not wild about the drive's white-and-yellow color scheme, nor the removable cap, which is likely to go missing roughly three seconds after you unpack it.
If you feel the same way, check out this deal from Newegg: the Kingston DataTraveler DT108 8GB flash drive for $8.99 shipped. It's a lovely shade of fire-engine red, and its capless design relies on a hinged cover that protects the USB connector. Not bad for just a buck more.
So, which of these drives would you choose? And while you're in the comments, let me know some of your favorite flash-drive "tricks." (Malware protection? Linux boot-drive? Portable game system?)
Bonus deal: I've been thinking about grabbing an Apple TV, mostly so I can watch iPhone-captured photos and videos on the big screen. CowBoom has long offered the refurbished second-gen Apple TV for $79.99 shipped. If you have one of these, let me know what you think of it!