VisionTek Products' VisionTek USB Pocket SSD line of thumb drive-sized solid state drives for creative professionals, IT power users, and “performance enthusiasts" is a pocket-sized, bus-powered SSD that offers the speed, performance, and storage capacity of an internal SSD. It's compatible with Mac OS X, Windows, and Linux systems with a USB 3.0/2.0 interface.

While it’s sized like an ordinary thumb drive sporting a USB 3.0 connector, the VisionTek USB Pocket SSD’s aircraft-grade aluminum housing contains a SSD featuring a LSI SandForce controller that delivers up to 455MB/s reads and up to 440MB/s writes.

More than pure storage, it's a full-blown Solid State Drive featuring a high-performance SandForce controller. With the proper set-up, you can run a variety of operating systems with full capabilities. (You'll need to run Disk Utility or a third-party tool to format the drive for use on a Mac.)

The VisionTek USB Pocket SSD offer the flexibility to be used for specific needs such as:

° A custom user environment with approved videos, games, etc. for young children;

° Downloading and saving uncompressed HD content;

° A backup drive for photographers/videographers. Shoot on SD card, transfer to computer for editing, save on VisionTek USB SSD for accessibility anywhere;

° A bootable drive.

Both the 120GB (US$109.99 — and we one I tested) and 240GB ($174.99) models are designed and built in the US and are available immediately directly from VisionTek, select e-tailers such as Newegg, Tiger Direct, and Dell; and national distributors such as Ingram Micro and D&H. For more information go to http://tinyurl.com/l8uf4cx.