X
CNET logo Why You Can Trust CNET

Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Reviews ethics statement

Meritline Rist Memory Watch review: Meritline Rist Memory Watch

Meritline Rist Memory Watch

Jasmine France Former Editor
2 min read
Meritline Rist Memory Watch
The Meritline Rist Memory Watch is exactly what it sounds like: a watch with flash memory onboard. However, unlike Meritline's Musix watch, we think the Rist Memory Watch actually looks like something you'd want to wear. Made of attractive, silver-colored metal, it has a thick band and the heavy feel of a high-quality timepiece. The band is large enough to allow for the removal of some links for fitting.

The face of the watch, which measures 1.5 inches in diameter, is white and features silver numbers, dashes, and hands, little bits of which glow in the dark. The time-and-date-adjustment knob sits on the right edge of the face. On the left is the mini-USB port, covered by a cheap-looking piece of plastic. (We think a metal fitting would be more in keeping with the overall look.) Conveniently, you'll never have to wind or replace the battery, because the watch is powered by the movement of your body--a very cool feature.

8.0

Meritline Rist Memory Watch

The Good

Attractive design; functions as a watch; can password-protect data.

The Bad

Expensive.

The Bottom Line

If you're looking to wear your USB flash drive as an accessory, Meritline's Rist Memory Watch is our choice for you.

Meritline ships its ManagerX utility with the Rist Memory Watch. When connected to your PC, the ManagerX software lets you password-protect the data on the watch. Take note: As with most minidrives' password-protection apps, if you forget your password, you'll have to reformat the Memory Watch, and you'll lose all the data on it.

The Meritline Rist Memory Watch also comes with a neat retractable 2.5-foot USB cord and a disc containing driver software for Windows 98 users. The watch is available in both 128MB and 256MB capacities and in several different styles. We tested the 256MB model, which costs about $140, or about 55 cents per megabyte. That's a bit expensive, memory-wise, but considering it comes in the form of a nice watch, we think it's worth it.

Return to CNET's USB flash drive roundup.