Migo Keeps Data in Sync

Forward Solutions Inc.s Migo portable USB storage device will get a lot of attention from mobile users, and for good reason.

Although the Migo device looks like almost any other portable Universal Serial Bus offering, its unique ability to intelligently grab data profile information and synchronize it with files makes it compelling.

Find out why eWEEK guest columnist Rob Enderle thinks the Migo could change the world.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Migo

Forward Solutions new Migo portable personal storage device lets users take not only their data but also their work environment on the road. Priced from $150, the Migo is a good solution for mobile users who cant take a laptop with them. The device would also work well for offices where multiple users share computers. Resource Library:

KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS USABILITY GOOD CAPABILITY GOOD PERFORMANCE GOOD INTEROPERABILITY FAIR MANAGEABILITY GOOD SCALABILITY FAIR SECURITY GOOD

PRO: Easy to use; synchronizes files easily; good amount of built-in security. CON: Limited application support; currently a Windows-only product.

EVALUATION SHORT LIST • Expertcitys GoToMyPC

Using the Migo, clients can take not only data on the road, but also their complete work environment. In eWEEK Labs tests, the Migo, which shipped last month, easily stored key client data such as Microsoft Corp. Outlook settings (including a selectable number of messages), Internet Explorer Web browser bookmarks and recently used files, in addition to work environment items, such as desktop backgrounds.

The Migos target market includes mobile workers who share machines with others or access data in public places. The device is also aimed at users who dont have their own dedicated machines (such as support personnel working in shifts). The Migo is priced accordingly, at $150 for a 128MB model and $200 for a 256MB unit.

The Migo was easy to use and configure in tests. Using the devices PocketLogin software, we easily synchronized data between our workstation and the Migo. When we transferred the Migo to a secondary workstation, it was fairly easy to access data and re-create a desktop configuration on the new workstation.

It is important to note that the Migo does not replicate applications, so if a primary computer has Adobe Systems Inc.s Photoshop (or some other application), that application will not be available to the secondary workstation if it is not installed on that computer.

Service plans such as Expertcity Inc.s GoToMyPC (whose one-year plan costs about $180) can be a viable alternative for some mobile workers because they enable users to access their desktop from a Web browser. Of course, these services assume that the worker owns a computer and that the computer is always on and connected to the Internet.

Because the Migo stores data locally, it is more convenient for traveling users who need to access or modify files but might not have Internet access. Forward Solutions also plans to release a USB 2.0 version in the near future, which should make data transfers quicker.

The Migo has embedded, password-protected security and software tools that prevent unauthorized users from reading data if the unit is stolen.

Currently, the Migo is geared for Microsoft-only shops (those with Outlook, IE and Windows desktops). Support for other operating systems, e-mail systems and browsers is planned in future releases, officials said.

Discuss this in the eWEEK forum.

Senior Analyst Henry Baltazar can be contacted at henry_ baltazar@ziffdavis.com.