ATP EarthDrive: A USB Flash Drive Made Of Corn

[phoronix]

Phoronix: ATP EarthDrive: A USB Flash Drive Made Of Corn

In late 2005 we looked at the ATP ToughDrive 1GB flash drive and in 2006 looked at ATP's ProMax 150x CF card, but since then we haven't heard much from this company. However, they have recently released two new products, which we are looking at today. There is the ATP 8GB EarthDrive, which is advertised as the world's first recyclable USB drive, and secondly there is the ATP 8GB ToughDrive. The EarthDrive is made of a biodegradable material that is derived from corn.

http://www.phoronix.com/vr.php?view=13386

[nanonyme]

Was the "timed disk writes" section left out for a reason? I mean, with traditional hard disks the differences in write speeds might be severely bigger than with read speeds so it'd be nice to even have a comment as to that the differences weren't significant instead of leaving them out altogether.

[yogi_berra]

The ATP EarthDrive is unique with it likely being the first biodegradable flash drive on the market with most of it being made of Polylactic Acid.

_Partially_ biodegradable, the Poly Carbonate used is still a petroleum byproduct and still toxic.

[Yfrwlf]

_Partially_ biodegradable, the Poly Carbonate used is still a petroleum byproduct and still toxic.

You have a point, but I still don't think that amount of material on this tiny little thing even remotely comes close to comparing with the extremely large amount of other waste, especially the volume of industrial waste. Plastic is made from oil, for instance, and you know how much plastic is thrown in the trash daily? How many milk and soda containers you throw away for instance? That doesn't even compare to a tiny thing you'll throw away once in several years from now.

Face it, it was just a gimmick to begin with, but of course every little bit helps.

[yogi_berra]

Plastic is made from oil, for instance, and you know how much plastic is thrown in the trash daily?

Its not just how much plastic is thrown away, its also how many people develop some form of cancer from working with it (breathing in the fumes around an injection/blow mold mold press, etc.) and how many people develop some form of cancer from the leakage of the plant where said resin is produced.

Yes, every little bit helps, but they should at least drop the marketing gimmicks and be honest about the earth-friendly (and human friendly) nature of their products.

[Yfrwlf]

should at least drop the marketing gimmicks and be honest about the earth-friendly (and human friendly) nature of their products.

Or quite simply all animals as well as all plants too. At least they are trying, sorta, kinda, to make things better!