IUM - Infinite USB Memory - A REAL review

This is the very first REAL review of the Infinitec IUM Infinite USB Memory drive (at least that I could find on the first 10 pages or so of Google Search). Its also the only one describing the whole process of installing and using the device. I'm planning on sharing screenshots too, so you know I'm not exaggerating.

Recently, a Dubai startup called Infinitec created hype around a device that they call an "infinite usb memory". In fact, it uses wireless to emulate a filesystem, providing any file you choose over wifi to any client with USB support. I got one of those and tested it.

First, it didn't work, I couldn't even install the Infinite Portal. Simple as that. I tried on a XP machine (notebook). 2 hours wasted, the Infinite Portal is one of the worst softwares I ever used. First, I couldn't install it. Infinitec forgot to mention that you need the C++ Redistributable Package to use their software, I guess all Infinitec computers have it installed, and they didn't bother installing an OS from scratch to try and install their own software to see if all requirements were met. The error message was so cryptic I had to go to Windows services applet to get a more verbose message. A quick search over Google, a small douwnload, and the installation was able to complete. Infinitec tried to make Infinite Portal easy, instead making it annoying. Not to mention resource hungry. It spiked my centrino to 94% CPU usage the whole test. What is the point of a software that makes your machine useless for the whole time it is running? I gave up the test on Windows XP and waited till I got home to test on my Win 7 notebooks and desktops.

To my surprise, it kinda worked. Installed right and started working. My first try and it took almost one minute to succesfully see some files on the other computer. ONE MINUTE. It scared me, I know for a fact that most devices (video-games, stereo, tv) don't like to wait too much for a flash drive, failing it before it has a chance to present content. It happened to me with some cell phones that used to reboot in order to enter "pendrive mode". What can I say? It failed on my TV, stereo and Nintendo Wii, those devices simply do not see anything. Even on my win 7 notebook, it takes over a minute to see something inside the drive, that just won't do it. Have I mentioned the Infinite Portal is resourve hungry? Yeah, it spiked my Core i5 661 too. To the point where my fans would turn on, that means at least one physical core was pretty busy. Not to mention the time needed to "share" the files. It took 30 minutes to share a simple folder with 50MB of files on my Centrino notebook. It took more than 10 minutes to share a big folder with a few GBs on it. I even tried on a friend's notebook, he went to class, returned after 4 hours and the Infinite Portal was still (spiked at 50% CPU time, good thing they didn't make it threaded, else it would be 100%) trying to SHARE the files. I also noticed the device is NOT compatible with Linux. I tried on two different machines, the kernel reports an error in the device, and doesn't create a node, not allowing me to mount (and use) the device. That explains why it didn't work with some of my devices, since they are based on Linux.

BUT maybe I'm doying something wrong. Ok, more tries, more errors. I finally decided that I needed Internet on the same machine, time to test the hyped DUAL WIFI capability. Dissapointment never ends. I was able to locate my wireless, but apparently Infinite Portal don't like my SSID, because it contains an underscore symbol. Never had problems, even with wifi enabled CELL PHONES, but no, IUM don't like underscore. Finally end up changing my SSID, causing hassle since I have to reconfigure my machines, firewalls, etc. So, changed SSID, now the problem is my passphrase, apparently, IUM doesn't like my 8 char pass, it wants a 10 char pass, it just won't let me use anything smaller. Dang, this is getting even more annoying. So I changed my pass, had to reconfigure all my machines AGAIN. I'm pretty sure some friends and family will have a hard time changing the SSIDs and pass on all netbooks, notebooks and cell phones that already had it registered. Ok, so my wireless is now "IUM compatible", I tried to connect to it. The Infinite Portal hang. Only to (2 minutes later) tell me something was wrong, but hey, the SSID appears as "connected", let me try... No, no DNS, no traffic, no net. Oh, the pain.

Well, I think I know the problem. See, the IUM has no NTFS support, they claim it has it on their page, but it doesn't. In fact, there's no firmware upgrade release since my version, you're stuck with FAT32 and its limitations. Also, the larger your drive is, the more time it takes to load on the client. I've seen from 1 to 5 minutes load times. Ridiculous. So, Infinitec Support told me that 20 to 30 gb would load faster, but WHAT'S THE POINT OF AN " INFINITE" USB DRIVE if you have to limit its size so it may WORK?

The dual wifi was the worst problem, it simply doesn't work, after opening my entire setup, removing passwords and limitations, still, wasn't able to route traffic using the IUM from my router. Don't fall for the pretty videos, a lot of editing and a beta firmware with lots of features still to come, that's all they are.

Better get me a portable hard drive. The fact is, if anything, the IUM is a good looking 256 MB flash drive when in "pair"  mode, and a limited, almost useless device when in " infinite"  mode. And now I find out that there are better (at least working) options out there for 1/3 the price on dealextreme.

Infinitec says there are no refunds for "working" devices, not even return policies (that's what you get for an International purchase, in my country that is illegal), I lost the import duties, taxes and shipping.

Don't get me wrong, I own the device and sure expecte it to work. I really love the idea of streaming my files to other devices. It simply won't do it to my devices... Any of them... And that is frustating. I hope Infinitec launches an upgrade that fixes this issues. I don't understand why the IUM doesn't keep the whole table of contents buffered somewhere and provide that immediatlly to the device asking. That would speed up things a LOT, it would be like plugging any other device. Also, that would kill the speed vs size limitation too.

Anyway, Infinite, for a debut product, IUM sucks, and I don't see a very bright future ahead of you.

EDIT: If you still don't believe me, Engadget made a review on the device. It's late for me, but not for others. DON'T BUY THIS! You've been warned.

Infinitec, IUM drive, Infinite USB Memory, handson, review, opinion, test, gadget, streaming, files, wifi, wireless.