The device looks like a common pen drive, with a key ring and a breast-pocket clip, in a transparent wrapping. The wrapping contains a brochure with the supplied software descriptions and a silver sheet to use the system Lost&Found, as we will see in the following.

To use the pen drive, it must be slipped off orange protection case with a light traction. The mechanism is reliable without risks of casual losses. The device is full Plug&Play, so no additional drivers are needed. Insert it in a free USB port, preferably 2.0 to guarantee the maximum working speed. The only need concern the operating system of the host computer: it must be Windows XP or Windows 2000 updated to the Service Pack 4. The read-write activity, is shown by a pleasant blue lighting.

After the phase of recognition and installation, U3 operating system icon is shown in the tray area, together with a warning window. Mouse-clicking on the U3 icon, opens the "Launchpad," a menu very similar to the Start menu of Windows systems. Installed programs are located on the left and activated by a mouse click. When a program starts, a green arrow appears nearby to its icon. Many programs produce an icon in the tray area to access the various working options. The right zone of the Launchpad serves to manage the flash drive. From here is possible to explore the content of the device, personalize the list of the installed programs, add and remove programs, obtain help. The menu item Download Programs, connects directly to the U3 Software Central web site (an Internet connection is necessary) to have the last news on the U3 products.

At the first start, an animated tour is executed to familiarize with the Launchpad. In general all the functions and the potentialities of the system are described with clearness and precision.

The Eject red button, disconnect the device without using the standard tedious procedure.

The menu item Status and Settings allows to set up the settings of language and security, other than showing the available disk space.
The logical structure of the disk2go SMART II is constituted by two partitions. In the first partition is installed the U3 operating system and the Launchpad. The second partition is destined to user programs and files, among which informations about synchronization of the documents.

A mobile device can be forgotten with ease. To avoid indiscreet glances is possible to protect with a password the access to the device, from the menu voice Usafe.
After activating the password, whenever the flash drive connects to a PC, is required user authentication. If the given password is not the right one, the content of the flash drive remain illegible.
 

Losing a drive flash containing gigabytes of data, can represent a big trouble. In particular when we speak about the disk2go, other than data we lose the installed software and working customizations. Is like losing a PDA or a Notebook. Luckily the 96% of us, when finds a lost object, wishes to return it to the lawful owner. To make this noble task easier, come to life the Lost&Found system, that identifies with an adhesive serial number, all our electronic objects. Together with the disk2go, is supplied a series of silver color stickers, that go stuck on the flash drive, but also on other storage devices or mobile computers.

First of all is necessary to register the own serial code at the disk2go data bank, at the web address: www.disk2go.com/found 

Who finds the lost object, must only connect to the web site address shown on the sticker. He is asked to enter the lost&found code and subsequently its address (e-mail and phone). In few seconds a big problem is solved and a concrete help is given to the honesty of who finds our precious work.

Following the simple registration process, we enter the alphanumeric lost&found code and personal data. The code is divided in two sections for greater security: only a part is used to identify the lost object. The access to personal data is double protected by the password and the complete lost&found code. In the recording phase is required an e-mail address to receive communications in finding case. Is posible also to insert a sentence of thanks, that will be sent the one who finds our precious device.

> Migo <

is a software that synchronizes the data between the host computer and the flash drive. Is possible to memorize any file (documents, images, music, mail, phonebook, etc.) on the disk2go storage memory and keep always up-to-date our work profile. Whenever data are modified, the program writes on flash drive, the more recent version.

> RoboForm <

(shown as Pass2Go) is a powerful password management software that allows to memorize and encrypt Internet protected access. Among the numerous functions, is possible to store the data to fill the forms (for on-line reservations, blog or news access, shopping and other) so as compile a whole page with only a click. The program is integrated with Internet Explorer and Firefox and offers a menu bar to quickly use the automatic password generation and access functions.

> ACDSee <

is a powerful image manager, rich of numerous functionalities to show and modify the most common existing graphic formats. Pictures can be transferred directly from the digital cameras or scanner, is possible to create slideshows and burn photographic CDs, export the pictures in pdf format or send them by e-mail. Among the photo editing functions, the automatic red eye removal and the exposure correction. A complete product for the treatment of the images.
 

One of the key strengths of the disk2go SMART II is the possibility of installing numerous additional programs for U3 operating system. Programs can be downloaded by Internet with extreme simplicity. Many titles are freeware, other are with fee, but in the complex they are in constant growth and offer functions analogous to the standard Windows software.

The installation of the programs can be started in different manners. The simpler way is the menu Add Programs. Three options are offered: use the situated official U3 web site, go on the disk2go web site or install software packages already present on the PC.
A more complete method to install the programs is to go to the menu Manage U3 Programs. From here we can download programs (button Add Programs) but also remove programs and order the list of the installed software.

The installation is very simple. After clicking on the software to install, a wizard guides the user step by step. At the end of the installation, the software is ready to be started by the Launchpad.

After installing a set of freeware software as OpenOffice, Firefox, Thunderbird, together with the programs in endowment, the feeling to have a real breast-pocket computer is strong. The possibility of synchronizing the data and the simple management of the disk2go SMART II, make this device a very useful accessory for any user typology.
Since today we can actually speak of pen-computing...

I thank the company disk2go for the sample of test, the more precious key of my key ring. In the following, some useful links.

Direct link to disk2go SMART II:
http://www.disk2go.com/xx_EN/smart2.php

Link to international disk2go web site:
http://www.disk2go.com/xx_EN/home.php

Link to disk2go products:
http://www.disk2go.com/xx_EN/u3.php

Official link for U3 Operating System:
http://www.u3.com/