When it comes to USB drives, heed this warning: They are very easy to lose. VGP-BPS13AS But the $210 Patriot Memory
Supersonic's USB 3.0 performance is so shockingly fast that you'll likely end up treating this small 64GB device like a precious jewel.
Design

We used the drive in a few extra devices, including a Sony PlayStation 3. In copying several photos, the drive worked flawlessly. Unfortunately, Patriot doesn't include any backup software, but we performed a backup using Windows 7's built-in tools VGP-BPS13/S without any trouble.
Value

On a per-GB basis, the Patriot drive is very affordable. The 64GB model costs $210, which comes out to $3.30 per GB (a 32GB version costs $112). By comparison, the Echo MX (128GB, $500) costs $3.90 per GB, and the Imation Defender costs $269 for just 16GB, a whopping $16.80 per GB. Of course, the Echo MX has a digital capacity VGP-BPS13S meter and the Imation has a fingerprint reader, so you're paying extra for those features.
Verdict VGP-BPS13/Q

For those who only need a durable drive that can transfer data at blazing speeds, the 64GB VGP-BPS13B/S Patriot Memory Supersonic is a great device. While we wish Patriot included backup software, the performance and price can't be beat. VGP-BPS13B/Q

The Imation Defender F200 is one of the most secure--and most expensive--USB drives we've tested. At $269 for just 16GB of storage, this peripheral attempts to justify its premium with an ultra-rugged design and a built-in fingerprint reader that promises to protect sensitive VGP-BPS22A files. Is it worth the splurge?
Design

Despite lacking USB 3.0 support, the Defender F200 is fast. We copied a 5GB folder full of media files and Word documents to VGP-BPS22 the drive in 5 minutes 46 seconds, which equals a read speed of 14.8 MBps. That's faster than both the Lexar Echo MX (13.9 MBps) and the SanDisk Ultra Backup (9.8 MBps). Still, the USB 3.0-powered Patriot Memory Supersonic (41.3 MBps) blows all of these drives away.

Copying the same files off the F200 took 4:07, which yields a read speed of 20.7 Mbps. That's in VGP-BPS21B between the Lexar Echo MX (24.4 MBps) and the SanDisk Ultra Backup (18 MBps). Still, the Patriot Memory drive took just 55 seconds for a blazing rate of 93.1MBps.
Pricing

The hard aluminum casing of the Patriot Memory Supersonic VGP-BPS21A feels solid, but it's not as durable as the Imation Defender F200. Still, Patriot says it can survive shocks up to 15Gs. The 0.56-ounce drive is not designed to catch your eye but to serve a purpose: to make every backup and file transfer run much faster. Measuring 2.8 inches VGP-BPS21 long, the Supersonic is noticeable when plugged into a laptop USB port, but it's not as obtrusive as the F200. The drive comes in two versions--the 64GB model we tested, and a 32GB version. We just wish that the design had a slide-out USB plug; you'll definitely want to make sure you don't lose the cap.
Performance VGP-BPS13B/B

Using a USB 3.0 port on a Samsung RF510, we copied a 5GB folder of media files and docs to the VGP-BPS21/S drive in just 2 minutes and 4 seconds, a rate of 41.3 MBps. The second fastest drive, the USB 2.0 Imation Defender, took nearly three times as long--5:46, which translates to 14.8MBps. Even when we used the Patriot drive in a USB 2.0 port, we still saw a fast transfer speed of 4:44, or 18 MBps.

When we copied files back to the Samsung laptop using VGP-BPS21A/B the USB 3.0 port, the Patriot took only 55 seconds, for a blazing write speed of 93.1MBps. That's about four times as fast as the next fastest drive, the USB 2.0 Lexar Echo MX, which took 3:30, a rate of 24.4 MBps.

Our main issue with the Defender is its price. The 16GB version we tested costs $269; that's $16.80 per GB. By comparison, the Patriot Memory Supersonic costs $210 for 64GB; of course, that drive doesn't have a built-in fingerprint reader. Imation offers other sizes of the F200: An 8GB version costs $199 and a 64GB version costs $749. That's a VGP-BPS9A/B lot to pay for fingerprint security.
Verdict VGP-BPS13A/S

Overall, the Imation Defender F200 is solid and secure, but a bit too expensive for a drive that delivers USB 2.0 speeds. We're content using Windows 7 encryption techniques and prefer the zippy performance of the USB 3.0 Patriot Memory Supersonic drive. Still, if you're forgetful or paranoid, the F200 is VGP-BPS9/B definitely worth a look.

For a thumb drive, the Defender F200 is large, measuring 3.4 inches long and weighing 1.6 ounces. The device has a cover that protects the fingerprint reader when not in use. With that bulk comes added protection: Its casing is a tough metal alloy, and a rubber gasket makes VGP-BPS9/S the drive waterproof and dust-proof. A metal ring secures the drive to your laptop lock port or a keychain, but it's really more for looks; there is a clasp that anyone can turn to remove it.
Fingerprint VGP-BPS13A/B Security

The idea of using biometrics on a USB drive is not new, but Imation does a nice job of walking users through the setup process. To configure VGP-BPS9 the Defender F200, we plugged it into a free USB port and ran the built-in biometrics software. We then ran a wizard that had us scan our finger over the fingerprint reader. This setup process took about 10 minutes, mostly because we had to scan our finger a few times to add the profile, then configure drive partitions and add an administrator VGP-BPS13 account.

The fingerprint reader is not just a gimmick, either: It's rated for Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) 140-2 Level 3 validation. We tested the Defender F200 on two notebooks with a few co-workers, and the biometrics locked everyone else out. In a few VGP-BPS13A/Q cases, even our own swipes failed to read correctly--you have to slide straight and slow. Although you can manage multiple users and assign specific partitions of the drive, Imation does not include a backup program of any kind.
Performance VGP-BPS13/B