flash drive vs memory drive

Please explain the difference between a flash drive and a memory stick.
Thanks

 

http://www.usbflashdrive.org/

http://www.usbflashdrive.org/usbfd_overview.html

http://www.memorystick.com/en/

http://www.memorystick.com/en/ms/ms.html

Basically a Flash drive is a combination of the storage medium and the connector / interface to use it with a computer.
A memory stick or memory card is the storage medium alone and needs a reader to connect it to the computer.

 

Hello msbooch,

The basics w/o the jargon:

A memory stick is Random Access Memory and is transitory. The system uses it load up a segment of disk drive content - could be a a file or parts of a file depending on the software being used. The OS would use it to load up a big chunk of the Registry for instance. Its located internally in something called a slot, there may be more than one slot. The "stick" appellation come from it's shape, long and thin.

A flash drive is also long and thin and functions as a drive - w/o the moving parts - or as a much larger floppy. Anything written to it can be permanent until deleted. It plugs in the system usually externally via a USB port.

Regards - Charles