Portable Linux with The Ubuntu H2 Micro USB Drive
Bookmark on del.icio.us or FurlTom’s Hardware Guide has a review of the new Ubuntu H2 Micro USB Drive. This is a tiny 3GB portable hard drive in a very small and (supposedly) rugged package that can be used to run Ubuntu Linux on just about any computer.
The drive comes with a usb cable and connector, a pleather carrying case, and a mini dvd with the Ubuntu Linux Operating System installation software. The mini DVD with Ubuntu is included because the drive does not come with Ubuntu pre-installed on it. You have to use your computer to boot from the mini DVD and install Ubuntu Linux onto the H2 Micro Drive. While this is a simple process and only has to be done once, it would be nice if they could have pre-installed Ubuntu onto the drive.
After installing Ubuntu Linux onto the Micro Drive, it’s all ready to be used on most computers. The reason I say most is because you have to be able to setup the target computer to boot directly from the USB H2 Micro Drive. This is the first major problem I have with the H2 Micro Drive. While most newer computers will be able to boot from the USB Drive, some will not (especially older computers). And, to setup the computer to boot from the drive you will need access to the BIOS to change the boot order — again, something you won’t always have.
But if you can get into the BIOS and boot from the drive, you will soon discover the other major problem — It is painfully slow. According to Tom’s Hardware, most computers that they tested with the H2 Micro Drive to approximately 4 to 5 minutes to boot the computer into Ubuntu Linux! I think this will be way too slow for most people — I know it would be for me.
While this sounds like a good idea, the need to access the BIOS on the host computer and the poor performance make the Ubuntu H2 Micro USB Drive seem like a product that’s not quite ready for prime time.
Technorati Tags: Ubuntu, Linux, H2 Micro Drive, USB
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