Featuring strong all-around performance, an attractive, durable body, and a lifetime warranty, the Patriot Xporter XT Boost has a lot going for it. It’s also compatible with Linux, Mac OS X, and Windows. You’ll just need to bring your own business-friendly encryption and backup software.
Design
Similar to the Corsair Flash Survivor, the 2.9 x 0.8 x 0.4-inch Xporter XT Boost features a body designed to withstand minor drops. Instead of utilizing an aluminum body, however, the Xporter XT features a black, rubberized frame (highlighted by the device’s name in a rather cool-looking large, red font) that provides shock and water resistance. Although it doesn’t feel as sturdy in hand as the rock-solid Flash Survivor, the Xporter XT Boost is smaller and thinner than its rotund rival. Included in the packaging is a lanyard and USB extension cable.
Performance
Transferring a 1GB video folder to the Xporter XT Boost took 1 minute and 27 seconds—a rate of 11.7 MBps. That’s swifter than the SanDisk Cruzer Titanium Plus (10.4 MBps), PNY Attaché (5.1 MBps), and the category average (9.5 MBps), but 3.3 MBps slower than the Kingston DataTraveler HyperX (15.0 MBps).
It took 46 seconds to read data from the drive, which translated into a speed of 22.2 MBps. Although that was on a par with the category average (21.5 MBps), the Xporter XT Boost placed well behind the reigning read-speed champ, the OCZ Technology Rally2 (33.9 MBps). The only true knock on the drive is that it lacks backup and encryption software that would appeal to businesspeople.
Verdict
Priced at $34.99 (and available for as low as $24.99 after a rebates at some online retailers), and featuring a lifetime warranty, the Patriot Xporter XT Boost is one of the best flash drives on the market. It doesn’t pack encryption or backup software, but it’s an excellent choice for the casual user who wants to transfer files quickly.
