USB Flash Drive--Please explain

I would like to know how the USB Flash Drive works and is it a valuable tool for saving information.

 

Hi

flash memory is a type of memory chip which can retain its data even when the power is off (as opposed to "normal" RAM which can only "remember" while the power is on)

The Universal Serial Bus (USB) allows devices to be connected to your computer (or removed) "mid-flight" - you don't have to restart the machine, or even close down Windows

When you plug a USB Flash drive into your computer it appears as a "Removable Drive" like this ...tucked in after the CD drives

You can then copy and paste files with the the USB flash drive just as you would with the various other parts of your machine

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pros:
- really cool little things which allow you to carry your data around with you, and take it from one computer to another easily (as long as the computer has USB support, which most do nowadays)
- mine's a really nice blue colour

cons:
- there's USB1 (older, slower) and USB2 (newer, faster) and more than one sort of USB connector - so it's not quite as "universal" as the name suggests
- occasionally the drivers for these devices can interfere with other USB devices. AFAIK this is quite rare.

HTH

best wishes, HJ

 

Have found that a flash card reader is more useful. It can hold memory from my camera and use that to carry files between computers, and also move pictures from my camera to my computer, and to to other's computers without having to carry the camera about or install the camera software.

 

msbooch--You can look at USB Flash Drives as the evolution of the floppy disk. Much bigger storage (1GB or more--of course smaller also available for lesss money). Smaller. Probably more robust. That is why many new PC "s no longer include floppy drives as standard equipment.

 

Thanks everyone for explaining the USB flash. I can see the usefulness of it instead of all those floppies which I use now to go from one computer to another. Got to get one and get with the program.
Thanks again.

 

Working in the IT industry I carry all of my "Tools" on a flash drive.
When shopping for one it's a good idea to find one with a "Write Protection" switch on the Flash drive.
That way if you plug into a virus infested machine the viruses do not migrate to your flash drive.