U3 enables you to travel with your data files and leave your laptop at home

NETWORK WORLD NEWSLETTER: KEITH SHAW ON WIRELESS COMPUTING
DEVICES
08/02/05
Today's focus: U3 enables you to travel with your data files
and leave your laptop at home

Dear networking.world@gmail.com,

In this issue:

* U3 devices are coming! U3 devices are coming!
* Links related to Wireless Computing Devices
* Featured reader resource
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Today's focus: U3 enables you to travel with your data files
and leave your laptop at home

By Keith Shaw

Circle September 2005 on your calendar as the month when you may
no longer have to carry around a laptop with you wherever you
go.

That's when U3 "smart drives" are expected to hit the market and
change the way many mobile computing workers control and access
their data.

The U3 smart drive is a USB Flash drive that becomes a user's
personal workspace - not only is data stored on the device, but
applications can be launched and run from the drive. In essence,
workers will be able to leave the laptop at work but take their
data with them on a handy drive that fits on a keychain. If a
worker can access another computer while on the road (at a
client site or public Internet area), they can still use their
files without worrying about data being left behind, as
everything gets stored on the U3-enabled device.

I recently met with officials from U3 <http://www.u3.com/>, the
company formed by M-Systems and SanDisk in January to drive the
personal workstation concept forward. U3 aims to drive the USB
flash drive market from being thought of as a storage device
into a product that lets people take their data along with them
wherever they go, and leave no trace of data whenever they use a
different PC.

The idea of using USB Flash drives as a personal workstation was
around before U3 - several companies (PowerHouse's Migo and
StealthSurfer come to mind) have produced devices and software
that do this. But this relied on specialized hardware
configurations, limiting the reach of such a product. U3 aims to
promote a standard hardware configuration and software
specifications so that any U3-enabled hardware device will be
able to support any U3-enabled software. Software companies can
go back to creating software without becoming a hardware
company.

Enterprises looking to support a mobile workforce should be
encouraged by the U3 platform as well, U3 CEO Kate Purmal says.
In addition to creating a more secure system for data storage,
the U3 platform will include ways to better manage the multitude
of USB devices being used by mobile workers. One of the nice
features of the U3 platform is the ability of IT to control the
types of applications that can be downloaded on a device, as
well as requiring certain applications be placed on the device.
For example, IT can mandate that an anti-virus scanner be placed
onto a device to guarantee that any data is free from viruses.
In addition, every mobile worker who leaves the office with a
U3-enabled smart drive instead of a laptop helps reduce the
overall cost of maintenance.

The list of software applications and companies supporting the
U3 platform is already impressive. Software and companies such
as Mozilla Firefox, Zone Labs, Ulead Systems, Trend Micro,
PowerHouse Technologies and Skype give the U3 platform instant
credibility. The list of hardware vendors supporting the
platform is equally impressive. In addition to SanDisk and
M-Systems, Verbatim, Kingston Technology Partners, Memorex and
others have announced plans to make U3-enabled devices.

Expect devices to contain at least 256M bytes of storage
capacity on them, but the U3 platform does not require a large
storage footprint in order to operate, Purmal says. Most of the
storage space will be used for application data and file
storage. After all, what good is having a music player on a U3
device if you don't have any songs to play?

Several things need to happen before U3 becomes a runaway hit.
First, most enterprises will want to wait to see what Microsoft
does. While users will be able to store Office data (Word
documents, Excel spread sheets and PowerPoint presentations) on
the device, the application will need to be on the "guest" PC in
order to run, since the actual Office application doesn't appear
on the U3 drive. Purmal says U3 is in discussions with Microsoft
about the availability of getting Office applications onto the
drives, but several things, including licensing arrangements,
are up in the air.

The other issue is getting software companies and developers to
support the platform. U3 has a developer's program and software
developer's kit, with additional tools available in August (go
to <http://www.u3.com/content.aspx?PS=developer&PN=overview> for
more details).

Personally, I think the U3 platform is a great idea, and I can't
wait to try out some of the devices and applications geared
towards mobile workers, with the eventual goal of ditching my
laptop on my next business trip.

The top 5: Today's most-read stories

1. Cisco vulnerability posted to Internet
<http://www.networkworld.com/nlmobile4251>

2. Router flaw sparks battle
<http://www.networkworld.com/news/2005/080105-blackhat.html>

3. Researcher at center of Cisco router-exploit controversy
speaks out <http://www.networkworld.com/nlmobile4253>

4. Black Hat event highlights RFID and VoIP security threats
<http://www.networkworld.com/news/2005/080105-blackhat-side.html>

5. Cisco nixes conference session on hacking IOS router code
<http://www.networkworld.com/nlmobile4018>
_______________________________________________________________
To contact: Keith Shaw

Keith Shaw is Senior Editor, Product Testing, at Network World.
In addition, he writes the " Cool Tools
<http://www.networkworld.com/columnists/cooltools.html> "
column, which looks at gizmos, gadgets and other mobile
computing devices.

You can reach Keith at <mailto:kshaw@nww.com>.
_______________________________________________________________
This newsletter is sponsored by Avocent
Network World Executive Guide: Security Evolves. Automation,
specialized 'ops centers' and more.

For network security professionals, keeping a safe distance
ahead of the worst the bad guys have to offer is a never-ending
race. This guide is designed to help with a collection of news,
analysis and product test reviews for practical how-to advice on
subjects ranging from patch management and spyware to promises
and risks of automated security services.
http://www.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=109207
_______________________________________________________________
ARCHIVE LINKS

Archive of the Wireless Computing Devices newsletter:
http://www.networkworld.com/newsletters/mobile/index.html

Keith Shaw's Cool Tools:
http://www.networkworld.com/columnists/cooltools.html
_______________________________________________________________
FEATURED READER RESOURCE
SIX TIPS FOR GETTING WHAT YOU DESERVE

Before you go in for your next annual review or promotion
interview, you would be wise to consider these tips for ensuring
you've got the right stuff to move ahead. Network executives
offer advice to help you gun for that next promotion and fatten
up your paycheck. Click here:
<http://www.networkworld.com/you/2005/072505-salary-side2.html>
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