USB Flash Drives information

If you need to back up or store more than 64 GB of data, you need an external hard drive. Some of these are portable, but much larger than a flash drive. External hard drives don't use flash memory -- they rely on a spinning hard drive. Because of this, they are considered more volatile than flash memory. See our related report on external hard drives for storage up to 1 terabyte (1,024 GB). Flash drives are better for transporting data, while hard drives are more oriented to long-term storage. Experts unanimously recommend using more than one backup resource.

An internal DVD burner and one 4.7 GB DVD-RW disc costs about the same as a 4 GB flash drive. However, it is a slower and less reliable method. Online storage services are another consideration and can be a reasonable and inexpensive way to transfer files from one computer to another. See our report on online backup services.

The following links provide information of related interest to USB flash drives and flash technology in general:

EZinearticles.com offers a concise and interesting history of the thumb drive.

This PC Magazine article covers scaled-down browsers and other software for USB thumb drives.

USB flash memory for Windows Vista: ReadyBoost, from ExtremeTech.com.

This Ask-Leo.com web page discuses the danger of flash memory "wearing out."

X-Bit labs article, "Ultra-Small Hard Disk Drives: Does It Make Sense?" compares them with USB flash drives.

Everything USB explains U3 technology in their U3 Newbie Guide.

Weird and wacky USB keys

Check out some wacky thumb drives at Computerworld.

From VH1: What Your Wacky USB Flash Drive Says About You.

PC World also has a go at strange USB devices.

Mimobot character drives turn animé into a flash drive.

You can also learn about specifications, new products and more at manufacturers' websites:

SanDisk

Lexar

Kingston

Memorex

Corsair

PNY

PQI

OCZ

IronKey