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View Full Version : New Swiss Army Knife features USB memory stick.


bejohnson
03-18-2004, 03:04 PM
What will they think of next?
Swiss Army Knife connects with the future (http://www.swissinfo.org/sen/Swissinfo.html?siteSect=511&sid=4791994)
March 17, 2004 9:34 AM


The Swiss Army Knife has taken a leap into cyberspace with the latest addition to its ever-expanding range of tools.

One of the knife’s two makers has released a version with a memory key that plugs into computers. It will be presented this week at the CeBIT technology fair in Hanover, Germany.

The “Memory USB” army knife includes a “flash memory stick”, a piece of technology which has become increasingly popular with computer users over the past few months.

It means owners can store data such as presentations or database files for easy transport.

Victorinox says its latest model follows a trend it began a few years ago, when it started including electronic features as part of its pocket knives.

“These memory sticks have become small enough for us to integrate them into our knives,” Urs Wyss, Victorinox’s marketing director, told swissinfo.

“People need the mobility offered by these small memory sticks, especially when travelling,” he added. “You don’t need to take a computer with you when you have a flash memory.”


COMPUTER USERS

The company says that while its customers don’t necessarily fit any specific profile, the new model is aimed at computer users more than anybody else.

And Victorinox is counting on memory sticks becoming an important tool for business users.

Wyss admits that competition in the flash memory market is fierce but he is confident that brand awareness and high quality features will pay off.

“The flash memory is produced by a Swiss company and our army knives are known around the world,” he told swissinfo.

The Swiss Army Knife is renowned the world over for its versatility and comes with a huge variety of tools depending on which model you choose.

Produced only by the Wenger and Victorinox companies, there are versions for climbers, snowboarders and skateboarders, and even for computer technicians.

Wyss adds that the decision to introduce electronic elements was borne of necessity.

“We have about 35 mechanical tools on our different knives and it is becoming increasingly difficult to come up with new ones,” he told swissinfo.

“New electronic technology gives us more possibilities to develop our product line further.”

swissinfo, Scott Capper

Maro
03-18-2004, 03:06 PM
That is funny!

It would make it a bit wide but a good idea - I had a USB Stick but some git stole it from my PC, they are easy to leave behind

Septimus
03-18-2004, 03:18 PM
now thats cool, may just gotta pick me up one of them :thumb

Tivon
03-18-2004, 03:24 PM
You never know..... next time when you are lost in a dark and scary forest, a bear might jump out of the woods with a laptop.:rolleyes:

Silent_Death911
03-18-2004, 06:17 PM
Cool. I'd like to see the more bulky version with the built in Molex Remover, ATX/P4 Remover, Mini-Flathead (for removing the floppy ones), Aux. Remover, probing pin (to lift the bent pins back), USB key, flashlight, and a lighter built in. The Meshing Swiss Army Knife!! :KICKASS

Sidebinder
03-18-2004, 06:33 PM
Not that is awesome, swiss army knife with usb capabilites. Now we need an sd card drive for our mp3's in our cars. SD or USB I would say.

Artcwolf
03-20-2004, 12:22 AM
I can see that being extremely popular at airports, education facilities, and governement agency's.


"I swear, it's a memory stick!"

:rolleyes:

JCYC5
03-20-2004, 12:29 AM
Originally posted by Artcwolf
I can see that being extremely popular at airports, education facilities, and governement agency's.


"I swear, it's a memory stick!"

:rolleyes:

Agreed. Whats the point of it if kids can't bring it to school to use (Stupid, stupid STUPID zero tolerance), buisness people will be worried to death when you take it out for a meeting and you can't bring it onboard a flight in your pocket? Aren't those the most frequent situations where a USB memory stick is used?

wazman
03-20-2004, 04:23 AM
That's true. I can't really see any reason where this would be useful except for the geekboys to show off to their unwashed peers.

I mean, traditionally, the Swiss Army Knife has been full of tools that are must-haves in emergency situations - if you're lost in the woods, you've got a knife. You've got this tool, and that tool. You've got every tool you need to survive. Or if you need to carry a lot of tools for a job - they're all inside here. But when are you going to need a USB key in emergencies? When would you actually be able to use it?

It's good for "Isn't it cool?" value for the first 20 minutes, but then what's the point?

wazman
03-20-2004, 04:25 AM
Originally posted by JCYC5
Agreed. Whats the point of it if kids can't bring it to school to use (Stupid, stupid STUPID zero tolerance), buisness people will be worried to death when you take it out for a meeting and you can't bring it onboard a flight in your pocket? Aren't those the most frequent situations where a USB memory stick is used?

Although I don't see what the problem is with zero tolerance. Why do you think it's OK for children to bring knives to school? What do you need a knife for at school? What class will it be good for?

Sorry to run a little off topic here, but there's no reason to be carrying a knife in school, or anywhere else, and that's that.

Artcwolf
03-20-2004, 06:12 AM
Originally posted by wazman
Although I don't see what the problem is with zero tolerance. Why do you think it's OK for children to bring knives to school? What do you need a knife for at school? What class will it be good for?

Sorry to run a little off topic here, but there's no reason to be carrying a knife in school, or anywhere else, and that's that.

I agree although most don't it seems.

There is one particular campus in Dallas that the students have to be treated like prisioners due to the level of violence on that campus. Everyone is run through metal detectors and any such knife or knife-like weapon is removed. If a kid see's or knows anyone has one on campus, they will take it.

The only one on campus with any type of weapon is the police officers. And you know what happens when a nimrod shows up with a knife to a gunfight...

Back on topic, I think that knife/USB drive is interesting, don't get me wrong. I just don't see a need/use for it. I have a knife. I have a USB drive. Who and what was someone drinking when they thought putting those two together would be a good idea?

JCYC5
03-20-2004, 10:08 AM
Originally posted by wazman
Although I don't see what the problem is with zero tolerance. Why do you think it's OK for children to bring knives to school? What do you need a knife for at school? What class will it be good for?

Sorry to run a little off topic here, but there's no reason to be carrying a knife in school, or anywhere else, and that's that.

I don't mean to carry a knife to school. I meant the overall policy, suspending primary school kids for folding a paper "gun" and all that.

I actually bring a leatherman to school. It's come in far more use than you may think (Guitar stringing, cake cutting to name the most common uses)

whatumacalit
03-21-2004, 12:49 PM
this is like the typical corporate mind today that wants to incorporate everything into their product, i mean look at your hand phones, pretty soon u can fry bacon with the back of your handphones and click a special button for tic tac. :spin

dom_6(sic)6
03-21-2004, 01:20 PM
Originally posted by whatumacalit
this is like the typical corporate mind today that wants to incorporate everything into their product, i mean look at your hand phones, pretty soon u can fry bacon with the back of your handphones and click a special button for tic tac. :spin

Maybe so, but its still a really cool and clever feature to put on a swiss army knife. I've seen an office swiss tool when I was in switzerland, and it had literally anything you would need in an office! Wonder when phone companies team up with victorinox! Well, my phones got a thermometer, a torch, a decibel meter and calorie counter!:rofl2