This USB Flash Drive Will Last You 200 Years But It Can Only Store Up To 8KB Of Data — Check Details
This USB flash drive leverages FRAM (Ferroelectric RAM), known for its ultra-low power consumption, fast write speeds (even at 8KB), and exceptional write endurance of one million billion read/write cycles.
USB flash drives could often be a tricky thing to choose. Most People prioritise capacity and performance. But what if you wanted your data to remain accessible for a couple of centuries? There exists a unique flash drive that qualifies this requirement, it boasts a mere 8KB capacity (yes, eight kilobytes, or 8192 symbols), but this small capacity can endure for an impressive 200 years, an option for those seeking long-term preservation. Priced at €29.95 including taxes, it features a crucial blue LED indicator.
The Machdyne Blaustahl USB storage device is designed for extended text storage, utilizing 8KB of FRAM that can potentially last over two centuries. Powered by a Raspberry Pi RP2040 microcontroller, it's suitable for secure storage applications, provided the storage space requirement is minimal.
Machdyne Blaustahl USB Storage Device: Pros, Cons & Usage
This device leverages FRAM (Ferroelectric RAM), known for its ultra-low power consumption, fast write speeds (even at 8KB), and exceptional write endurance of one million billion read/write cycles, making it superior to EEPROM and NOR flash in terms of performance, albeit at a significant cost. The Blaustahl also includes 4MB of NOR flash for firmware and a USB Type-A male port, eliminating the need for additional drivers on most operating systems.
With an 8KB capacity, you can store a few pages of text, depending on formatting. Notably, the Blaustahl features a built-in text editor accessible via serial communication programs like PuTTY and Tera Term, making it ideal for the secure storage of passwords, cryptocurrency keys, notes, and geocaching data.
However, FRAM is a different story altogether. FRAM stands out for its remarkable longevity and durability when compared to other storage solutions. It can maintain data integrity for over 200 years at 35 degrees Celsius, surpassing NOR flash, which has a manufacturer-stated lifespan of up to 200 years, and NAND flash, which typically lasts between 16 to 20 years under similar conditions. While EEPROM also offers decent data retention, it comes with longer write times and fewer write cycles compared to FRAM, although at an 8KB capacity, these factors are less of a concern.
There's also promising news on the horizon, future firmware updates are expected to introduce encryption features, enhancing the device's security even further. Additionally, users have access to the firmware, schematics, and enclosure design files on GitHub, empowering them to delve into and customise the device to align with their specific requirements.
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