Gadget

Small is beautiful in the gadget world. From mobile phone watches to microscopic hidden cameras – the move towards miniaturisation is relentless.

Tiny shouldn't mean trouble, though. If you've ever tried to use a mini keyboard on a mobile phone, you'll know how annoying tiny keys and big fingers can be. The Cowon UM1 is one of the smallest USB flash drives in the world. About the same height as a postage stamp (3.1cm) and half as wide (1.2cm), will it deliver 1st class data storage?

I was quite happy with my chubby grey 1GB USB stick that I'd had for the best part of three years. It was a bit slow, a bit ugly and a bit large – but it did its job. In comparison, the Cowon UM1 is the caviar of the USB flash drive market – exclusive, luxurious and quite pricey. There's a continual drive towards bigger capacities and lower costs – which means the UM1's price of 19.99 for 4GB or 54.99 for 16GB is far from a bargain. You can pick up a generic flash drive for less than half the price. However, the Cowon UM1 is special for three reasons. First, it's tiny and beautiful – it dangles with some finesse on a keyring. Second, its USB connection is built-in; no cap to lose or connector to get bent – just pop it straight in. Third, it's waterproof, so all those important files stay nice and safe.

There are some fine touches. Its mini metal casing is sumptuously engraved with the slogan "Don't forget me". It'll work on both PCs and Macs and has advanced password protection. It may not be cheap, but if you want to store your data in style, look no further.

(From 15.99. For more information see www.cowon.com and www.amp3.co.uk)

This article was originally published in The Scotsman on 27 February 2010