IBM's New USBKey Device 247
John Brown writes: "[T]oday I called 1-888-Shop-IBM and talked to a representive about the possibility of buying a Thinkpad X20; I wasn't too happy with the fact that it lacks an internal floppy drive, so the guy told me that during the next week IBM will be releasing a storage device called 'USBKey' which basically looks like a (guess what...) key (it is even meant to be kept in your key-ring), but fits into a USB port, allowing you to store up to 8MB of data in it. Amazing! You may very well live in a world in which 100Mbits/s is a common thing, but for the rest of us a highly portable and universally accepted data medium which allows you to store 5 times more than 1.44MB is good news." I would also like to see AOL start sending out (rewriteable) 8MB USB keychains. Note: no reason that such things should be limited to 8MB, either -- we featured a similar toy a while ago; I wonder if IBM is licensing it. Update: 02/06 04:39 AM by T : Thanks to PongoX11, who writes: "It looks like the drive you heard about
already exists. I work in a computer retailer and remember seeing these on the shelves."
$49 isn't a bad deal. (Score:3)
Re:Security = ibuton (Score:1)
I have one of these, they are novel but delicate.
While I can park my car on my ibutton and it will still happily let me in the building, log me onto the network, and store my important data (64K so it's only text, or favorites, or the 60,000 username/password combinations for these websites)
USBkey = neato but not useable for what they are marketing it for..
Use a carabiner (Score:1)
For those of you who don't know what a carabiner is, it is a sort of retaining ring with a one-way latch. They are (usually) very strong and they are most commonly used by rock/mountain climbers. They're pretty commonly sold as key rings these days. I've seen them at Home Depot recently.
Multiple Uses (Score:3)
USB at this point is well nigh universal, lots of us would love to carry a few MB of stable material (hey, bring along your own plug-in encryption) and floppies are just too delicate. If this thing is robust enough to take the random static of hanging off my key-ring it'd be great.
Potential Advantages:
- Nearly universal hardware support.
- Potentially widespread OS support (most USB implementations ship with some standard device-types, if this can mount as a supported file system then it's already out there.)
- Reasonably sized media.
- Big-name supplier.
Potential DisadvantagesRe:The Key Analogy is for Real (Score:1)
Oh, and the ibutton is nearly indestructable, very unlike the usb key toy.
You need to look at the fact that Linux already supports ibutton login/access. windows products also. and the fact that the encryption of the ibutton is a 2 party encryption so is far superior than the usbkey could eever be.
ibutton at www.ibutton.com
it's hee, and I open my house locks with it, login, and start my harley with it..... the usbkey can't.
Re:Not another one (Score:1)
s k a z a t [skazat.com]
Re:Would be great for storing prefs/auth info (Score:1)
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only for IBM? (Score:1)
floppies... (Score:2)
-={(Astynax)}=-
Re:connectors (Score:1)
Mini Usb Hard Drives (Score:1)
hahahahahahaha (Score:1)
For the rest of you, read the fscking article.
Re:What if it's stolen? (Score:1)
Like your car keys? So? Just don't lose it, or make a backup.What makes it so special in this regard vs physical keys?
Re:The new floppy (Score:1)
One thing not yet mentioned. (Score:2)
Re:Security (Score:1)
Your friend's solution of requiring a password on boot up to decrypt the disk is probably plenty sufficient (he's probably using PPDD [linux01.gwdg.de]). Really loses the sexiness of being able to carry around a tangible object that truly is the "key", however :)
Re:But will it boot off one? (Score:1)
In fact, it shouldn't be too hard to implement booting from USB storage devices in the BIOS, since there *is* a standard for such devices. But it looks like the notebook manufacturers are a step ahead on this one.
- Ed.
It has been around and is called a Thumbdrive (Score:5)
From the specification page at the above site:
(Secure version of product)
Password Protection Max 15 Characters
Operating Temperature 0C ~ +50C
Storage Temperature -20C ~ +80C
Relative Humidity under operating 20% ~ 80%
Relative Humidity under storage 5% ~ 95%
Insertion 5000 cycles
Data Reading Speed(ThumbDrive Secure to Host) 750Kbytes/Sec(Depending on PC system)
Data Writing Speed(Host to ThumbDrive Secure) 350Kbytes/Sec(Depending on PC system)
Safety Compliance FCC class B, CE
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Re:Security (Score:1)
Re:Security (Score:1)
Re:Perfect for students (Score:2)
If they could just bump up the capacity to about 64MB ;)
If you want 64Mb of portable, USB-connecting storage, just buy a Rio 500 [riohome.com] and download Riorio [uwaterloo.ca].. and you can listen to music too!
Seriously.. I was kind of keen to get an MP3 walkman, but the factor that pushed me from being "kind of keen", to actually spending the cash, was the ability to do a bit of leeching via the fast net connection at work, and conveniently take the files home..
I wonder ... (Score:1)
Me an a budy had an idea for a product based on one of these devices last fall. When we contacted them, they said IBM had bought out there entire production for the next few quarters. Sorry we have no engineering samples to sell you. (and no it was not the IBM product, it was an idea I thought was marginal but worth trying and may still happen...)
Makes me wonder...
TastesLikeHerringFlavoredChicken
M-Systems has had a real presence at the few embedded linux conferences I've seen. Worth looking at M-Systems other FLASH storage devices for those embedded apps.
Windows survival kit (Score:2)
<ASIDE>I wonder what proportion of Internet kiosks/cafes let you insert and access arbitrary CDs. It would be handy for securely checking your mail when on the road.</ASIDE>
bah. (Score:1)
Floppies 25 cents Keys 60 dollars (Score:1)
Perfect for students (Score:2)
If they could just bump up the capacity to about 64MB ;)
Get a hub. (Score:2)
If you have one in the front of your case, it's probably not soldered to the board, and may be replaceable.
SmartCard substitute? (Score:1)
A double-edged sword (Score:2)
mp3? (Score:1)
All clear, wail the sirens!
Plugging the darn thing in (Score:2)
I still can't believe that so few computer manufacurers put a USB port on the front of the machine. Every time I want to plug a nice "convenient" USB peripheral in, it takes 10 minutes of wrestling with the computer (with a 60 lb monitor on top) that's stuck against a wall...
This device would be thrice as sweet if my computers had USB ports in the front. As is, it's no floppy replacement.
Re:Here is a link (Score:1)
Would be great for storing prefs/auth info (Score:1)
This little device could actually make this dream a reality. One of the problems I came up with was that every machine would have to have a card reader. Using USB instead means that almost any desktop you sit down in front of these days has the prerequisite slot built in.
Of course, this will probably never get the needed OS support. Apple might do it for the style factor, Sun might do it for their thin client vision, Linux will do it because we can, but I dont see Microsoft doing it in a standard way until they absoulutely have to. Since Windows is what is running most desktops, this idea can't work without Microsofts help. Maybe it meshes with their
Maybe someone from Sun or Oracle will read this, it will get a cool, buzzwordy name and be implemented for thin clients. With any luck, big enterprises will use it. Then, they'll demand it to be supported in Windows, and I'll be able to carry my anime wallpaper wherever I go.
Re:Security (Score:1)
Re:The Key Analogy is for Real (Score:2)
I don't know about the device the article author is referring to, but the USB key I played with could do challenge/response, so it must have had an onboard CPU.
The article's device might be. That's why I made it clear that I was playing with a different device. There's really no need for you to fly off the handle like this. Makes you look weird.
Washing machine (Score:2)
Re:Et Tu Brutus (Score:1)
There are so many instances where anonymity is essential.
Lots of shady stuff happening in government and corporations. People need to know about it, and there has to be a safe place to reveal that info.
Slashdot is that place.
Re:It has been around and is called a Thumbdrive (Score:2)
Re:Security (Score:1)
All your dangifiknow [dangifiknow.com] are belong to us.
Interesting idea (Score:1)
Just a thought, I guess I'll start looking into that now :)
-C
Get a Mac (Score:1)
Well, if you used a Mac it would be nearly impossible to ruin it to the point where you can't boot off a CD. In fact, I can't think of anything short of a hardware failure. Then again, in 14 years of Mac usage I've only had to boot from a CD (instead of my HD) maybe 3 or 4 times.
The floppy has been technologically dead for about 5 to 10 years now. I haven't used one in that amount of time, either. I realize not everyone has a use for larger disks like the Zip, but buying one Zip disk at 250 megs of space is hardly breaking the bank... not to mention everyone and their grandmother has a zip drive.
Expensive, too damned expensive. (Score:1)
I would also like to see AOL start sending out (rewriteable) 8MB USB keychains.
Yeah... Right. As if AOL doesn't already waste a zillion dollors sending 1337 script kiddies AOL disks so they can erase them.... I'm telling you IT'S DOOMED! Plus, drivers, It needs drivers. At school, I don't have access to the C: drive, control panel or adding new devices. At school, we can open stuff on the desktop. Some of which includes apps, Home folder (dubbed the I: drive or "Home Drive"), and the floppy drive. We don't get access to this new F: drive or whatever, and i doubt they'd like the idea of kids fumbling behind the computer with putting some mysterious 8MB of storage. They're paranoid enough about floppies. Floppies are like IRQs, were stuck with them as long there's people with old data or ISA cards... Heck, some people still are using PUNCHCARDS
Re:We have one. (Score:1)
Most modern BIOS' will boot from CDROM, the ISO9660 FS is open, it seems pretty safe.
but then again, I still use my 1.44MB floppy.
Re:Expensive, too damned expensive. (Score:1)
University of Stuckinthestoneage?
Re:Security (Score:1)
My post was really referring to being able to read/write to these keys at the OS level though.
siri
Security (Score:4)
Re:floppies... (Score:1)
I've seen a few people lose things to zip disks, too...glorified floppies, those.
Anyhow, I do like the idea of these things. Get it down to 10 or 15 bucks, and no doubt they'll really take off. Especially as more manufacturers start putting USB ports on the FRONT of their machines
Re:Perfect for students (Score:1)
huh? (Score:1)
Re: (Score:1)
(Pro)vision (Score:1)
Some things to think about when claiming or even thinking it will become a standard, remember those 120mb SuperDisks the vendor claimed would replace the floppy? Guess what they didn't since it doesn't conform to the cementary like standards everyone has pretty much settled on.
What would be nice, is if they made a kind of SecureID based key for maximum security which would be supported by all including those without the overhyped USB.
killall -9 mytwocents
This is nothing new (Score:1)
Glen Murphy
Re:Washing machine (Score:1)
Good thing I was line drying my jeans, I'm sure the dryer machine would have been a bit harsher...
Re:Multiple Uses (Score:1)
SAY WHHAATTT (Score:1)
Re:But will it boot off one? (Score:2)
As much as I hate to not be able to upgrade one piece at a time, hate to see stuff that still works (or that can be repaired) wind up in landfills, and grudgingly admire the way they've been able to keep kludging or grafting new stuff onto a 20+ year old design, maybe it's time to quit trying to come up with rocket boosters for an open cockpit bi-plane and start from scratch, rethinking everything, power supply, processor, bios, OS, storage, security, both physical and electronic, display(s), case and form factor, expansion methods, maybe even something instead of the WWW that doesn't require having to use 2 or more browsers because of incompatibilities, something that'll combine and replace your cable box, VCR, TIVO, Playstation, stereo, TV, home security system, thermostat, and computer in one modularly configureable system with *real* plug and play.
If the hidden forum thing still works, I'd be interested in reading what other Slashdotters think about what this new platform should have, do, etc. at http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=no_legacy [slashdot.org]
You sir, (Score:2)
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Re:But will it boot off one? (Score:2)
Disk-on-Key (Score:2)
Re:Multiple Uses (Score:2)
Presumably soon we'll see if USB 2.0 really works or if FireWire/1394/iLink really is the future but in the meantime USB 1.0 is slow for a memory device.
Re:No Floppy (Score:2)
Uhh....you take the key out of one computer's USB port, and insert it into anoter computer's USB port. Presto.
Bleh... (Score:2)
If you actually put it on your keyring, you have to leave your keys hanging out of the computer. Bad Idea. If you don't put it on your keyring, you'll likely lose it, or someone will "liberate" the unit from your PC/laptop when you're not looking.
Personally, I'm often on a corporate LAN. If I want 8MB of removable media, I'll just ftp it to my webserver where I can access from anywhere.
Re:Plugging the darn thing in (Score:2)
My monitor has an embedded USB hub in the base, it's a really nice convenience.
Re:Guess what?! (Score:2)
It was pretty cool, but with only 200k, I don't know how secure it could have been. It did have one plus on this USB model: by not actually "plugging in" to the module (just press it briefly in a little socket) it avoided any wear-and-tear on the plug. Unfortunately, as it was lightweight metal, it bounced against my other keys and got lots of little dents. Dunno if it made it not work; I didn't go back often.
I doubt it was even 200k, it was prolly more like 4k...iButtons are mostly intended to provide a unique ID (each one has a hardcoded serial number), and a little space to store a key, and possibly some other data...All the other information is stored on a workstation or server - the iButton just proves to the system that you really are you.
As for durability, Dallas Semi says they last around 10 years.
--K
Re:Security (Score:2)
You could go to BIOS and set the startup sequence to point to USB (for instance). However, the burglar could go into BIOS and change that around.
Ooh..but you say we could and admin password in BIOS. But Then the battery could be taken out and reset. No more password.
I heard from one paranoid mp3 person I know of just mounts his whole drive with some sort of encryption. And unmounts simply with a password. However, this seems like an application-level security which is the angle you'd take to hack this. Any suggestions?
Rader
Re:Here is a link (Score:2)
www.unnecessarytoys.com (Score:4)
Here we are raving about a USB flash memory unit -while i agree it is cool tech- doesnt anyone else see it as a little bit silly for us to have to take advantage of the ubiquity of USB in order to get portable media w/ >1.44MB storage?
Why cant we simply get a cheap replacement to the floppy?
Emergency Pr0n supply. (Score:2)
-Chris
...More Powerful than Otto Preminger...
Same as ThumbDrive and iKey1000/2000 (Score:2)
8M and up Flash ram on them.. Nothing new here.
However, what IS interesting, is the iKey 1000/2000 from Rainbow Technology.
The 1000 has about 8 k of ram, and actually has some Crypto functions on the key!! So you can do proper hidden key authentication. Also can contain certs.
I have been reverse engineering this device a bit for Linux, and have some preliminary code to drive it, however am talking with Rainbow about getting proper specs and/or GPL'ed SDK code..
The ikey 2000 has full PKI on it, so it can actually be used to generate full Public/Private key pairs, were you NEVER see the private key.. (And can't get at it at all).
Ill be working on this one for Linux once I have finished the 1000.
Anrhony
Re:Let me get this straight (Score:2)
Great, if you own a ThinkPad... (Score:2)
Re:Disk-on-Key (Score:2)
Re:floppies... (Score:2)
I had told them that they should be keeping backup of their newspaper ads/articles on floppy in case the hard drive ever went out.
I come back half a year later, and find out that they ARE using the floppies. But as their own copy. Yep...all saves, opens, and live EDITS straight from the floppy! Nothing on the hard drive.
So after having a mild hear attack, I sat my dad down and explained the finer points of the computer...starting with the ON button.
Rader
boot? (Score:2)
Re:Bleh... (Score:2)
The Key Analogy is for Real (Score:5)
I've played with one of these devices which looked like a key, plugged in the USB port, and had a private encryption key on it (in addition to the storage space). The device came with Windows 2000 software that encrypted your files and you needed to insert the key and type a passcode to decrypt the files.
A company I know is experimenting with these devices to see if they can modify PAM to use the USB keys. The concept is in many ways similar to the Java ring that McNealy demonstrated in 1999, but the key shape is (I think) more convenient to store, carry, and definitely more convenient to plugin to your computer.
Four problems I noted while playing with one of these devices.
First, the model I was using was made out of cheap plastic. It felt flimsy and lightweight. I keep my key chain in my jeans pocket, and I was concerned the flimsy plastic would break (which would be an absolute disaster).
Second, when the USB key is on your keychain it is REALLY inconvenient to plug it into the USB port on a laptop. Your keys get in the way and the weight of the keys dangles down and puts huge stress on the USB key. If the USB key becomes at all popular, I can see a strong market for those little retractable cords that some people use with their ID cards.
Third, the USB key is actually quite thick. On my laptop - which has two USB ports close to each other - you couldn't use the second port while the key was plugged in. The company had thought of this and supplied a small extension cord, but this wasn't at all convenient to carry around.
Fourth, a thought experiment rather than an actual experience. When you lose your house keys you curse a lot, then you hire a locksmith to bust into your house and change your locks. If you lose your USB key then there's no recourse. If I had highly precious data, I'd be storing it all on backup tape UNENCRYPTED, or I'd be making sure there were copies of the USB key stored in multiple (safe) deposit boxes.
Re:Guess what?! (Score:2)
The USBKey is general storage for data. Just because it also fits on a keyring doesn't mean that it is anything like an iButton.
Hackin' down the river... (Score:2)
Did you ever hear of this neat new invention they've come up with called "Ziploc Bags"? I think that would have saved you a lot of work.
I like the Q one better (Score:2)
I'd rather have one like the Q, but with an optional cap on the connector end.
And for those of you wondering about Linux support, these things should be just like my PNY Compact Flash/Smart Media reader for USB... it emulates an IDE drive. Actually, the flash cards themselves emulate an IDE drive, and the USB part just acts as a USB to IDE interface.
Here is a link (Score:5)
Re:eat my memory stick (Score:2)
Re:www.unnecessarytoys.com (Score:2)
Of all of these points, I think I should point out that #2 (the internet) is probabaly the most potent. People just don't need to shuffle files around by hand anymore for the most part, so the demand for removable storage has really dropped considerably. In fact, only compact flash type devices and large optical media seem to be going anywhere anymore in the removable storage category.
Down that path lies madness. On the other hand, the road to hell is paved with melting snowballs.
Guess what?! (Score:5)
Re:Guess what?! (Score:2)
Anyway, we used the device to log in automatically. We'd go to the counter, pay our money, and plug it into a small metal plate for a couple of seconds. When not playing, we could plug it into a panel on the wall, and a screen would light up with past game statistics: wins/losses/hits/awards/etc.
It was pretty cool, but with only 200k, I don't know how secure it could have been. It did have one plus on this USB model: by not actually "plugging in" to the module (just press it briefly in a little socket) it avoided any wear-and-tear on the plug. Unfortunately, as it was lightweight metal, it bounced against my other keys and got lots of little dents. Dunno if it made it not work; I didn't go back often.
Just thought I'd relate my experiences and concerns about my use of a similar product.
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Re:We have one. (Score:2)
Re:Washing machine (Score:2)
Major Disadvantages (Score:2)
1. These really don't hold that much - 8 MB can't even store very large word-processing/spreadsheet documents let alone presentations/databases/mp3s (can't forget them)
2.USB is not completely popular yet, or at least not completely supported. Many computers are still in use that don't have a USB port, or that don't have them installed.
3. USB ports are most frequently in the back of a computer, making these little things very hard to use - my primary desktop is in a cabinet with minimal access to the back (but it's easy to pull out for hardware changes..I just don't need to mess with my cables often). This reminds me of A/V in ports on TVs and VCRs - too often they're annoyingly in the back.
4. Way too expensive. These should be $10, not $50, so students would want to buy them over a $0.50 floppy disk.
5. As others have pointed out, if put on a keychain one would have to leave their keys in the USB port in order to access it - dumb..if it was removable (without removing keyring, like a button trigger), then there's the ever present danger of losing such a small device.
Just my thoughts, but hey, I could be wrong. Watch me buy one in the next few years in spite of myself.
We have one. (Score:5)
Except it's not removeable media. It's much more reliable than magnetic media, and pretty ubiquitous these days.
It's called (and I'm serious here) the Internet. Even if you have a slow connection (slow being your typical 56k modem) it's really worth it. It's easy to get ftp or http space these days on 24/7 servers with high bandwidth, even if it's 10-20M, it's enough that:
For instance, every month I create documents locally that are printed and copied at Kinko's or similar facilities (word of warning: avoid Kinko's. Their service sucks, and they've screwed us over more times than I can remember). Instead of taking a Zip disk, or 3.5", I just upload the Postscript over my pathetic 33.6 to public webspace, and grab it again with Netscape at the printer's. No worrying about whether they support this media format. No worrying about corrupt disks (which is the reason I don't use portable magnetic media anymore).
The two main concerns I can see are that the server may go down, or the location you're heading to might not have internet access. The former is fairly easy to eliminate (find multiple servers, or get something more reliable). The latter is becoming less and less of an issue, and already may be less of an issue for you than finding a box with a 3.5" floppy or Zip/Jazz/SuperDisk/etc.
The real danger is that we get stuck in a rut of thinking portable non-archival media (i.e. not CDROMs, etc.) is necessary for every day life, when other solutions (such as using the network) are already there. You're right: we don't need unnecessary toys. The solution is already in place, people just need to use it.
Would be much cooler as storage for palmtops (Score:2)
Have a look... (Score:3)
http://www.agatetech.com/products_q.html
Only if it's cheap... (Score:2)
It'd also be nice to have a small battery and an IR feature for PDAs.
Re:We have one. (Score:2)
It's not that I *like* being dependant on floppies, but when it comes to the PC platform they're pretty much the common meeting ground.
Re: (Score:2)
But will it boot off one? (Score:3)
In my experience, it's the only thing on an x86-based PC which is guaranteed to work at any time on any machine, which I think is probably the only thing keeping it alive.
Otherwise, it's a fantastic idea.
This is more useful for security (Score:2)
In addition it's more expensive.
Imagine however it being used as a key to control a laptop. The laptop not functioning AT ALL without it. It could store a pretty long key.
If you lost the key, you would just buy a new one, and download your key from your main computer into the the USB-module.
Simple, easy securing of Laptops.
Not perfect, but probably good enough.
Floppy Unreliability (Score:2)
Other sources, similar devices (Score:2)
usbdrive.com [usbdrive.com]
Q-drive [eiwww.com]
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Re:Have a look... (Score:2)
"The 16mb USB Q "hard drive" stores up to 10 times more information than the standard 3.5" floppy disk. "
Last I checked 1.44MB * 10 = 14.4MB which is somewhat less than 16MB. Maybe they should have said more than 10 times?
No big (heh) deal (Score:2)
USB storage is also far from a "universally accepted data medium". How many computers do you know that will boot off of a USB drive (Don't count Macs. They make everything too easy :). What percentage of Linux users even have USB support running? NT users?
Personally, if i needed this sort of storage, i'd go for the PC card route to avoid yet another dongle waiting to break off from the back of my computer.
I ordered one earlier this afternoon! (Score:2)
IBM has actually been advertising this device on their website for a couple of months now, it seems to me to be a great way to keep your 4096 bit RSA keys in a safe, non-computer-hosted location, along with any really important stuff that you really can't handle being stolen. All the staff based in Canada have been telling me that they won't have them in stock for at least six weeks, but they can't give me details about the situation south of the border, so I can't comment on that.
All I can hope now is that the protocol is really simple so those of us that prefer free OSes will be able to mount it too