Lexar JumpDrive Mercury with storage meter
updated 12:10 pm EDT, Tue September 19, 2006
Lexar JumpDrive Mercury
External displays on flash drives are rarely practical because of the inherent power draw, leaving users to plug the storage in before they can see available space. Using e-paper is the solution, according to flash storage manufacturer Lexar. Its new JumpDrive Mercury takes advantage of the permanence of e-paper displays to reflect internal storage. The storage meter can remain static without consuming any power whatsoever; as the capacity only needs to be updated when the drive is plugged in, power for the display comes through the USB port instead of a dedicated battery. No special software support is needed and the drive will work with both Mac and Windows PCs. Lexar is shipping the new drive in 1GB and 2GB versions for $75 and $100 respectively.
