Lockheed Martin creates flash drive computer

Lockheed Martin, the American defence contractor, has developed a kind of virtual computer that resides on a USB flash drive.

The drive contains its own operating system, software, files and settings. To access the virtual computer, the user simply inserts the USB drive into any computer with a USB port. The operating system runs directly off the flash drive, which means that the files on the drive are never stored on the “host” computer, and the virtual computer leaves no trace behind when it is unplugged.

The device, known as “Ironclad”, is housed in a tamper-proof solid metal casing that is resistant to heat, cold, sand and water, and if a drive is ever lost or stolen, it can be remotely commanded to self-destruct.

External CD drive – A wise purchase?

I purchased a powerful Samsung netbook last year and I’ve been very pleased with the features and technology it packs into such a small machine.

It has left me questioning why people spend so much on a laptop with more features – after all surely the point in buying something portable is that you carry it around with you.

Try doing that with some of the oversized, jack-of-all-trade machines you find nowadays and you’ll do your back in.

However, one thing that the netbook does without is a DVD/CD drive. I’m currently looking to buy one in the sales and almost made the purchase yesterday but was left wondering if I really need such a thing.

All my music is downloaded these days and most software arrives in the same way, so will I get the use out of it?