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January 2, 2008 9:27 AM PST

Lenovo's Olympic USB drive is well short of a 10

by Mike Yamamoto
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(Credit: Engadget)

In trying to milk its Olympics marketing campaign for all it's worth, Lenovo has proven that successful designs can't just be slapped on any product of any size or shape. And that's a shame because the "Cloud of Promise" theme was nothing short of stunning when unveiled for the Beijing Olympics torch, but it quickly loses its dramatic visual effect when applied elsewhere.

The distinctive swirls may have made an acceptable accent on Lenovo's limited-edition laptops, but its latest appearance--on a USB flash drive--is downright cheesy. In an unforgiving close-up image first seen on Engadget, it looks like a cheap stamp on a tin toy. But hey, this is the Olympics, and that means anything goes where souvenirs are concerned--and the first place they'll go is eBay, of course.

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Lenovo Olympic USB 2.0 Essential Memory Key - 2 GB
by ryandahlke January 2, 2008 11:04 AM PST
I decided to look at the Lenovo's website to learn more about this flash drive. I could not find any info on the product. I think it looks cool. It's not that wild, because it still holds the same shape of the average USB flash drive. The art I think is cool, hell I wouldn't mind having just the clouds and not the little guy in the middle. Without a actual list of specs on the product I couldn't say if it was short of anything. Lenovo already has a few mem sticks with the Olympic logo on them and they look good. See for yourself http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/controller/e/web/LenovoPortal/en_US/catalog.workflow:show-category-with-items?category-id=9AA0E9BDCBEB41B993CC9060A53E1F04&show-page=1
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Please boycott Beijing Olympic 2008
by NowComeOn January 3, 2008 9:10 AM PST
Please boycott Beijing Olympic 2008. Unless the world gave enough pressure to China they won't fix their environment issues. Recent report show 15 out of 16 days air pollution in dangerous level 5 (in scale 1 to 5, 5 is worst) - read "unbreathable air quality". Do you want to fly all the way over there and "smell the ashes"? Just wonder will those marathon athletic perform in smokey air?
Reply to this comment
I like it!
by haysouse January 3, 2008 4:09 PM PST
What's wrong with it?
Reply to this comment
Responding to haysouse
by iDavidL January 3, 2008 9:55 PM PST
Being a student who is studying engineering and computer science, I
disagree with your statement. China is actually funneling billions of dollars in
"green" technology compared to the United States, who has a meager
research grant program. Ironically, United States taxes 110% on all alternative
fuels imported besides fossil fuels, which is why researches must rely on local
resources. Which is why many of my colleagues are working for Chinese
corporations. On another note, China also is addressing the issue of pollution
by installing filters around their cities and using rain-inducing methods such
as shooting silver iodide into the air to clear the smog, which in effect,
reduces pollution.

So before you bash on a country, please understand the full extent of your
topic. Don't just skim over a two minute CNN article and try to form an
argument over it.

Thank you

On another side note, this is one ugly usb flash drive. I personally like the
Sony USB drive design. That is one beautiful usb drive.
Reply to this comment
Yah. China does lots for the environment. Like...
by nickj1088 January 4, 2008 1:12 AM PST
starting construction on 650 new coal power plants. Comparing the amount of money your government spends on environmental concerns is foolish, since the Chinese government still has control over much of the economic sectors. American corporations, on the other hand are the primary controllers of environmental. Nice try bud.
Reply to this comment
Inducing rain reduces pollution?
by dddouchebag January 5, 2008 12:39 PM PST
Wow... way to think like my username. Inducing rain with silver iodide may reduce air pollution, but why don't you follow the trail of breadcrumbs ONE more step. The rain captures the pollution, true, and then ends up on the ground. A portion gets absorbed into the ground (and then ending up in the soil and the water table), some more flows into local waterways for all kinds of animals to drink. Then the rest flows to the ocean. Congratulations! You just moved a tremendous amount of hazardous material from the 1 elemental phase to 2.
Reply to this comment
If you didn't read..
by iDavidL January 5, 2008 2:40 PM PST
China has and is in the process of installing filters all around their cities.
Which includes, sewage and air. Most of their efforts are focused in large
cities where run-off waste isn't an issue and most of the pollution dissolved
from the rain will enter in their sewage systems.

So again, check your information.

On another note, China also is developing the Three Gorges Damm, set to be
completed in 2011. This will be the largest hyrdro electric plant in the world
which is a great achievement in a world where the term "Go Green" is just a commercial gimmick.

Let's see.. what else can I slash at your argument? Before you go bashing
another country how about you look at your own. Focus more energy
changing our nation because to be honest, we have more problems with
"green" than any other nation in the world. Period.
Reply to this comment
Actually.....
by KeeganHill January 5, 2008 6:41 PM PST
No, they're right iDavidL. China has done the equivalent of putting a band-aid on a bullet wound when it comes to handling living conditions. They're 'potable' tap water is still polluted because while they've updated their purifying facilities, their old contaminated piping ruins all of their hard work. While they're closing most of their factories in Beijing to cut pollution, 70% of their population comes from factories north of the city. Also the silver nitride hasn't been proven to work, it's just based on assumptions, not supported scientific facts. The Three Gorges damn has also been declared a disaster after the third damns marvelous 'boat elevator' broke because of poor design and oh yeah, thousands of people were displaced. Way to go Chinese government! Screwing over your citizens so you can build your country's reputation.
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