Kingston's 256GB USB Flash Drive is $1,108

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A USB flash drive larger than your console's hard disk drive.

Living in the U.S. and in search for a USB flash drive with massive capacity? Kingston is finally shipping its 256GB drive to the United States with data transfer rates of 25MB/sec. read and 12MB/sec. write.

The model known as the DataTraveler 310 replaces the 256GB DataTraveler 300, released in July 2009 to the Asia/Pacific and Europe, Middle East and Africa regions.

“We saw an opportunity to push the capacity envelope for USB Flash drives in the marketplace. Customer feedback and our research determined that this is a great solution for designers, engineers and architects who have a need to easily store and transport large data files,” said Andrew Ewing, USB business manager, Kingston. “For the enthusiast who wants easy access to their full media library, the DataTraveler 310 can store up to 365 CDs, 54 DVDs or 51,000 images. This device makes an entire collection of data easily portable.”

For those thinking of packing this massive drive with sensitive information, the DataTraveler 310 features Password Traveler software, which allows the user to create and access a password-protected privacy zone. The secure area of the drive can account for up to 90 percent of the drive’s capacity and does not require administrator rights.

If you want one of these, you'd better have $1,108 sitting around.

Marcus Yam
Marcus Yam
Marcus Yam served as Tom's Hardware News Director during 2008-2014. He entered tech media in the late 90s and fondly remembers the days when an overclocked Celeron 300A and Voodoo2 SLI comprised a gaming rig with the ultimate street cred.
43 Comments Comment from the forums
  • Compulsive1
    Why? Portable USB hard drive with bigger capacity and much faster transfer rates can be bought for 1/5 of the price. Yes it's slightly larger, but for $800.00 in savings I'm OK dealing with 2.5" external enclosure. As a matter of fact I carry a 160GB in my laptop back pack at all times. It came free with a Fujitsu netbook that cost less than the 256GB USB flash drive.
    Reply
  • agnickolov
    What, this is nearly 10 times slower than a good SSD, but costs 50% more? Thanks, but no thanks...
    Reply
  • Greg_77
    True, Compulsive1, but the flash drive is more durable (most likely).
    Reply
  • I'll get one when they are $50...
    Reply
  • rpmrush
    It's a start people. The price will fall. One day it will be affordable. As soon as a 500GB flash drive comes out, it will push prices down. A beginning is good. The high end doesn't start within reach. That's why it's the high end. It will push others to go higher and what was once the high end will come down to within reach. I say thank you Kingston for keeping things fresh.
    Reply
  • rpmrush
    It's a good start. It's called the high end for a reason. Others will push farther and the high end will slowly come within reach. I love technology!
    Reply
  • salimbest83
    1k!! i will pass..
    Reply
  • Marco925
    Compulsive1Why? Portable USB hard drive with bigger capacity and much faster transfer rates can be bought for 1/5 of the price. Yes it's slightly larger, but for $800.00 in savings I'm OK dealing with 2.5" external enclosure. As a matter of fact I carry a 160GB in my laptop back pack at all times. It came free with a Fujitsu netbook that cost less than the 256GB USB flash drive.but some people aren't, not only that, platter drives, if dropped, most likely are toast, this flash drive is FAR more convenient for many people, especially businessmen on the go. a hard drive is too clunky for them to be risking sensitive date.
    Reply
  • zoemayne
    i like this design i have a 300GB external and I'm just uncomfortable carrying it around cause it has platters. I never carry it around but this here of course is too expensive.
    Reply
  • zoemayne
    Get a 256GB Intel SSD and a $20 Adapter.. VWALA
    Reply