A Twist On Keychain Storage

After my blogs on keychain storage hit Serverpipeline.com, (see M-Systems' DiskOnKey: Small Package, Large Resource and My Fascination With Keychain Storage )I was contacted by the PR people for Forward Solutions about its new product " Migo.

Of course, I assumed as you would, that it's just another vendor in the keychain storage market, trying to get some free press. Well, guess what, the company offers a new twist, and I'm so impressed, they're getting their free press!

The device looks like all the other keychain storage devices I've seen. Odds are there are only a few manufacturers world wide, so everyone is probably sourcing from the same vendors. But what makes the Migo unique is the software.

You plug the Migo into your USB port, and, if you use Windows 98SE, ME, 2K or XP, the OS finds the driver. You then open the drive, and run program PocketLogin, which sits on a protected portion of the Migo.

You now have an option to password protect your data. Pick a password, or not, and you're ready to enter the main portion of the PocketLogin software, and the reason the Migo is not just another keychain storage device.PocketLogin allows you to synchronize Outlook, any desktop items, and essentially any folder (directory) on your computer. So after you decide what you want to sync, and press the button, you're prepared to be wowed.

Not we've all see files move from storage medium to another, and watching it on the Migo is no different, but wait for the next step Close down Outlook, properly remove the Migo (according to your OS) and then go to another computer somewhere.

That somewhere can be the office, a friend's house, even the business center at the hotel. Plug in the Migo, double-click PocketLogin and type in your password.

You're now working on your computer. The Outlook files are there, as are the desktop items and any other folder. While I did not test sending and receiving e-mail, Outlook did attempt to look for my e-mail (I forgot to turn off Outlook on my desktop). Will you be able to access your e-mail, that probably depends on how Outlook is configured in the first place, and how your ISP (or corporate e-mail server/Exchange) are configured.

But nevertheless, you have everything you need to work, without the need of a direct connection to your desktop.The Migo comes in 128MB and 256MB versions, and currently supports USB 1.1. Data transfer rates are respectable, as is the price.

I was wowed and so were associates who looked at it. I think you will be too.