Japanese peripherals maker Keian has launched the latest attempt to make SD memory cards sit comfortably in computers' USB ports. The company's PSB (Personal Storage Disc) product replaces past SD/USB cards' complicated folding panels with a simple removable wedge that, once gone, allows one end of the card to be fitted into a USB port.

There's a downside of course: the risk of losing the wedge, which comes away from the card completely. Still, the card itself is larger, and therefore easier to keep an eye on, than Pretec's fingernail-sized USB Flash drive, launched in November 2005.

SanDisk launched its Ultra II SD Plus USB/SD card in January 2005. It surrounds its USB connector with a hinged, flip-up cover.

Keian is offering the part in capacities ranging from 128MB to 2GB. It claimed maximum read and write speeds of 13.5MBps and 11MBps, respectively, for the device. Prices range from ¥3,600 ($31) to ¥25,000 ($213). ®

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