LaCie coins a priceless design for new USB drives

Alex Zaharov-Reutt
Friday, 05 December 2008 08:29

Opinion and Analysis

LaCie have minted two new USB drives that look like bronze and silver coins, giving them the currency inspired name of the “CurrenKey” in 4 and 8GB sizes. Will consumers be impressed and flash their cash for these coin-like flash drives?

Staying current with trends has never been LaCie’s modus operandi, instead always seeking to be one step ahead with snazzy designs.

LaCie has announced that its new 4GB and 8GB “CurrenKey” flash drives are now available.

The design looks inspired, changing the standard rectangular “thumb drive” into one that will nicely fit into a coin pocket, and naturally compatible with USB 2.0, 1.1, Macs, PCs and Linux, as they are hot-pluggable, driver-free and cross-platform, while being “shock-proof, reliable and fast”.

Created exclusively for LaCie by the award-winning 5.5 designers, the LaCie CurrenKeys “open with a simple rotation of the coin’s edge; an elegant and security-conscious design that easily reveals and hides the USB connector with a twist.”

LaCie also emphasise the “added data security” aspects by noting that the LaCie CurrenKeys “are made with a shock-proof, die-cast metal for resilience and safety, protecting a user’s on-the-go information.”

The LaCie CurrenKeys product family has already been given the prestigious Design Observeur 09 award from the Agency for the Promotion of Industrial Creation in Paris and was cited for “offering a novel design with a strong identity that makes the range stand out from the crowd.”

Available now, the 4GB model retails for AUD $44.00, while the 8GB model sells for $69.00.

More details on the “5.5 designers” and several images of the drives in question can be seen on page 2, please read on!