October 2007
Flash drives
Portable USB memory devices for easy file transfer and data storage
With fewer and fewer computers shipping with floppy drives, flash drives are quickly becoming the best means of shuttling
files to and from work, school, or even working vacations. And with capacities as high as 16GB, they can even handle modest
backup chores.
WHAT'S AVAILABLE
USB flash drives are small and lightweight, and slip easily into a pocket or purse. But that also makes them easy to lose or break, and difficult to label, an inconvenience if you have more than one. They range in price from about $10 for 512MB to $130 for 16GB. Most drives are compatible with USB 2.0 rather than just the slower USB 1.1. Other features include U3 technology--a U3 smart drive lets you store not just files but applications too--and ReadyBoost compatibility, a technology built into Windows Vista that lets you use a flash drive as extra memory for faster PC performance. Popular brands include Corsair, Lexar, Kingston and SanDisk. Some companies, such as SanDisk, offer high-durability drives while others, such as Lexar, come with software for encrypting and password-protecting data.
HOW TO CHOOSE
Look for a drive that comes with a strap, lanyard, or clip that can attach to your key rings and prevent loss. And if it has a cap to protect the USB connector, look for one that's attached so that it's not so easy to lose. A retractable connector eliminates the need for a cap.
OTHER HELPFUL FEATURES
Buy speed. Look for a USB 2.0 Hi-speed drive even if you have an older PC with USB 1.1 ports. Chances are you'll be upgrading soon, and when you do you'll have the advantage of a much faster flash drive. Many new flash drives have specific speed ratings, expressed either in megabytes-per-second (MB/s) for read and write speeds or as a number followed by an X, as in 80X. Higher is always better.
Consider boosting your PC. When shopping for a drive you might notice a logo for the ReadyBoost technology built into Windows Vista. In order to be ReadyBoost compatible, a drive must be fast enough and have sufficient available memory. That is a nice feature if your PC doesn't have enough memory and you're not comfortable adding it yourself. Otherwise, it's not essential to ensure fast performance.
Look for U3. Another logo you might see is U3. Because a U3 smart drive lets you store not just files but applications, you can take your favorite apps with you and use them on any computer.
WHAT'S AVAILABLE
USB flash drives are small and lightweight, and slip easily into a pocket or purse. But that also makes them easy to lose or break, and difficult to label, an inconvenience if you have more than one. They range in price from about $10 for 512MB to $130 for 16GB. Most drives are compatible with USB 2.0 rather than just the slower USB 1.1. Other features include U3 technology--a U3 smart drive lets you store not just files but applications too--and ReadyBoost compatibility, a technology built into Windows Vista that lets you use a flash drive as extra memory for faster PC performance. Popular brands include Corsair, Lexar, Kingston and SanDisk. Some companies, such as SanDisk, offer high-durability drives while others, such as Lexar, come with software for encrypting and password-protecting data.
HOW TO CHOOSE
Look for a drive that comes with a strap, lanyard, or clip that can attach to your key rings and prevent loss. And if it has a cap to protect the USB connector, look for one that's attached so that it's not so easy to lose. A retractable connector eliminates the need for a cap.
OTHER HELPFUL FEATURES
Buy speed. Look for a USB 2.0 Hi-speed drive even if you have an older PC with USB 1.1 ports. Chances are you'll be upgrading soon, and when you do you'll have the advantage of a much faster flash drive. Many new flash drives have specific speed ratings, expressed either in megabytes-per-second (MB/s) for read and write speeds or as a number followed by an X, as in 80X. Higher is always better.
Consider boosting your PC. When shopping for a drive you might notice a logo for the ReadyBoost technology built into Windows Vista. In order to be ReadyBoost compatible, a drive must be fast enough and have sufficient available memory. That is a nice feature if your PC doesn't have enough memory and you're not comfortable adding it yourself. Otherwise, it's not essential to ensure fast performance.
Look for U3. Another logo you might see is U3. Because a U3 smart drive lets you store not just files but applications, you can take your favorite apps with you and use them on any computer.
