Toshiba boosts TransMemory drive to 32GB

Toshiba on Wednesday revealed a much larger expansion of its TransMemory USB drives through the U2K series. The new model retains the familiar capped design of earlier models but uses improved memory techniques to double the top storage capacity to a full 32GB without also growing in size. New models also include a downloadable password lock for guarding data and, on Windows systems, support Vista's ReadyBoost feature that speeds load times by caching information that would normally have to be read from the slower hard drive.

Regular versions of the new TransMemory sticks will be available in October for those with lesser storage needs and will come in 1GB, 2GB, and 4GB editions. The 32GB model will be considered a Limited Edition and ships by December. Prices have not been revealed, but all drives will go on sale worldwide and should work with Mac OS X or Windows 2000 and later.