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U3 or non-U3. whats the difference

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tigro
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U3 or non-U3. whats the difference

Hey everyone,

I have a SanDisk Cruzer micro 1Gb thumb drive. It's the non U3 version.
I can run portableApps.com apps and other executables off of it without a problem.
I was wondering what is so special about U3 - and even, what it is and does it do? (besides that it's another standard I guess)

I tried to put U3 Skype on my drive but it wouldn't let me, so I guess U3's standards are a little bit different other than just having an app not use the windows registry.

Can someone explain/point out some major differences between a regular smart drive and between a U3 one.

Thanks

Ps.:
ah, I would need skype on my thumb, will it be ported to non U3?

sergentsiler
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the difference is...

u3 is a program that allows you to launch applications on your u3 smart drive that have the .u3p format, they also charge you mony for the launcher program and a $%^tload of the software they offer, thogh there is some free stuff. portableapps.com provides a free, open source protable applications launcher kindof like u3 but a lot better in terms that it is free, open source so you can programm it to your needs, and it has all of the good stuff that u3 offers for free. (plus we here at portableapps.com arent a$$es like the guys over at u3.

basicly we offer the same stuff that u3 makes you pay for, but we do it for free and better.

(TM)sergentsilerlogo:<(TM(sergentsiler) http://www.sergentsiler.freespaces.com/

Zoop

tigro
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the hardware component

Thanks for the quick reply and the info! I truly appreciate it.

So basically there isn't any difference in the hardware? (as I have a 'smart' thumb drive)
Is there a way I can turn/force my drive to be a U3 compatible? I really need skype on my thumb drive.
Of course I would still use portableapps.com apps as well. This site rulez Smile

Another issue I couldn't find an answer for is that do these apps here at PAs.com memory wear friendly? I mean firefox for example uses the cookies.txt extensively. If my drive doesn't support hardware level "wear-level"ing. It will start eating blocks; do I see this right?
*Also, id there an app somewhere that would tell me if my drive support hardware level wear leveling? I couldn't find this at the sandisk's website.

Tim Clark
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Not correct

Tigro,

The above is not correct, see this post:
https://portableapps.com/node/7272

Tim

Things have got to get better, they can't get worse, or can they?

tigro
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u3 hardware questions answered, 1 more to go

Thanks Tim! I understand the difference now.

One quiestion cleared, one more to go:
Doeas somebody know something about the wear-leveling method issue? Thanks

Tim Clark
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How old is your dirve?

Most recent drives from Sandisk and other major manufacturers have wear-leveling.

If you drive is less than 2 years old I would guess it has it.

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Tim

Things have got to get better, they can't get worse, or can they?

tigro
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well..

Well... I just purchased the drive recently but who knows how long it's been sitting around at warehouses.
This is my model I have
http://www.sandisk.com/Products/Item(1221)-SDCZ4-1024-SanDisk_Cruzer_Micro_USB_Flash_Drive_1GB.aspx

Preacher
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Differences, you ask?...

...Two that I'm aware of:

1) U3 sucks; other methods don't suck

2) U3 requires $$$; the other methods (the most popular ones 'round these parts, anyway) don't require same.

Case closed.

"I don't hate cats...as long as they stay on the freeway, where they belong."
- Brad Stine

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