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What's up with USB Flash Drives

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What's the big deal with USB Flash Drives?

In basic terms, they work independently of your computer's registry and drivers. That means you can create a "mini-you" Plug-and-Play computer that you can take with you and always feel at home and be productive no matter where you call your desktop, "Home".

Price Drops

Flash Drives are coming down in price every day (annoying example: I paid about $100 for a 256 MB 1.1 USB drive when it was on sale 4 years ago. I just paid 12 bucks for a 4 Gig drive.)

"Well, if it Did More Stuff ..."

Added to that is multifunctionality. There are now drives with MP3 playback capability, digital voice recorders and cameras, FM tuners, watches, VoIP functionality, (and real writing pens??? are you kidding me? who still uses those?) These features, coupled with an ever-increasing amount of storage capacity, faster data transfer speeds, and software being developed give a strong argument as to why these drives are enjoying ever-increasing popularity.

Novel USB Flash Drives

Whatever your style, there is someone out there trying to make it for you.
Check out these interesting looking flash drives
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USB Mods

DIY Tutorial

This video will tell you exactly how to pull apart a USB drive to create your own unique case for your drive.
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"I've Had it with Gadgets!"

You may think you have enough gadgets to last you the rest of century - well, the decade anyway - but there are some very good reasons to consider adding a USB Flash Drive to your ever-growing collection of technophenalia:


  • Tech Support! Say you've got a friend that isn't as tech-savvy as you (we've all got 'em) and they need some sort of upgrade (I have a friend that every time she finds out she needs something "complicated" like "anti-virus software" she wants to label her computer as "broken" and pack it up and put it in a closet.) Keep the latest installation files on one drive so you don't have to wait for a download on a dial-up modem. It's a logical step-up progression from a bootable floppy disk too!
  • Life Support! Yak Biotech Solutions at Victoria University in Australia developed a wearable USB storage device that basically functions as a medical alert bracelet. Imation has now come out with a commercial version of the bracelet that's more for style points but what's to stop you from doing this yourself?

    If you're not into DIY, you should check out MedicTag. They have a comprehensive form you can fill out for Medical Emergencies and for caregivers.

  • Amber Alert Amber Alert and Kingston have come up with an encrypted Flash Drive that functions as an Amber Alert Child ID Kit. Just plug it into your computer, fill out the forms and you're prepared with your child's id, photo and contact information.

  • The New Portable Office Have you ever had "one of those nights" where you needed to finish this document or that spreadsheet but either didn't have the luxury of having a company laptop or the file (such as an Access database) was too large to email to your home so you were stuck at the office later than the cleaning crew? Simply transfer the files onto the Flash Drive.
    Of course, there's all of those graphic, networking and web authoring apps too, so you can continue earning $5,000 a day on the internet while working from the PC they provide for you in your luxury hotel room in Hawaii (you ARE a progressive entrepreneur, aren't you?)

  • It's Got Your Back(up) There are also great applications like document processors, spreadsheet apps, and PIM's that provide a great backup plan if your computer ever crashes (not that it ever would!)

    • USB Medical Alert Drives and Bracelets

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    "Okay, Keep Talking"

    Think about the next time you walk into a job interview and your future boss suddenly wants to see a sample of that deck you created for the Incredibly Original Regional Sales Manager Presentation for your last company (the one where they gave you a standing ovation,) or an example of your spreadsheet template work - you're covered.

    When You're Looking for An Edge

    Ways to Work

    Finding work can be more work than the job itself.
    Here are two books that can help you focus and one that is great for learning how to overcome working yourself into the ground (which is always a possibility when you want to keep that job you just landed).
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    "I Just Like to Have Fun"

    Then here's your Portable Entertainment Center.

    You are one of 11 people left in this world that don't have an iPod (I thought I recognized you from my support group!).
    You can still transfer all of those Free MP3's from Amazon onto your Flash Drive, add a software player that will run on a USB drive like XMPlay, from Un4Seen and plug it into your computer at work (or laptop when you're at your fave PC cafe') and listen to your favorite tunes. Don't forget your headphones :)

    Or install an eReader and download a book or two.

    Or maybe your boss doesn't have a problem with you playing video games during your lunch break but you're sick and tired of MS Pinball (I know I gave it up after 5 million points). More and more games are being developed for USB drives ...that means you never have to mess up the company computer with a download and installation.

    "What Do I Need to Get Going?"

    A few connections never hurts

    OK, I can tell you're warming up to this small-but-mighty gadget (it must've been the video games). Glad you asked!!
    Once you've decided to purchase a Flash Drive, if you're hard core and still running Windows 98, you'll need a special driver for your PC to run it.
    You'll also need a driver if you're running a Mac older than OS 9.
    These kinds of drivers are usually included when you purchase a Flash drive but if they aren't, you can usually download them from the manufacturer's website.


    Sometimes the USB ports are on the back of a desktop computer. If this is true for you then you may want to invest a few bucks in an extension cable to save yourself from fishing around behind your desktop.


    If you're already drowning in USB Gadget City, you might want to consider getting an external hub.
    There's a Squidoo lens in town that discusses that right here.

    Or even if you don't have any USB connectivity at all, you can buy a PCI add-in card that hosts multiple ports.

    Attachments

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    "Is That It?"

    Stupid is as...

    Well, when buying a USB drive, given the price, it's easy to NOT think about what you should be getting and just grab whatever is on the rack at your favorite discount store, but don't forget that you still need to interface with a desktop or laptop so approach this purchase in the same way as if you were buying a new PC.
    Decide on the kind of compatibility you'll need and storage size along with what kind of peripherals, security (if you plan on working from PC cafe's, the library, etc., you DEFINITELY want firewall and anti-virus protection!), and functionality you need (or want) from your drive and then do your homework.
    How much a drive costs can also be a hint as to the read/write speed but you still need to be careful about over-priced drives.

    Here's something else to consider: Now that these drives have been around for awhile, there are concerns that they have a finite life-span.
    That means you can only write (or run apps) to it so many times before they stop working... and your data isn't recoverable (yeah - :gulp!:). The numbers range from 10,000 - 100,000 times depending on the drive and whose blogs you believe.

    More fun... I had a nice looking Transcend 2 GB drive for about 4 years. The case around the electrical connectors was made of plastic and after 2 years there were signs of wear on the corners.
    The thing could have easily started to literally come apart at the seams as the corner rubbed against the input connector every time I insert or remove it.
    The drive died without warning before it ever fell apart.
    Luckily, I did weekly backups and didn't lose any data.

    Read the reviews, check the warranties (manufacturers offer replacements anywhere from 0 days to a lifetime) and extras like bundled software packages and log on password protection (but save THAT password somewhere other than on your drive!)

    Happy Flashing!

    Different Drives

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    Other Places to Check Out

    USB for You and Me

    Some things bling, some things that might actually be useful
    AMBER Alert Child ID Kit
    AMBER Alert Portal. The AMBER Alert system operates in all 50 states to assist law enforcement and alerting communities in the case of child abduction.
    TrueCrypt - SECURITY!
    Truecrypt is FREE Open-Source software that will create either a secure partition on your USB Drive, or it can encrypt the whole drive (it will do it on your computer, too, but that's another lens).
    Check the link for documentation and the download.
    mimobot


    Mimoco 4GB C-3PO Star Wars Series 3 MIMOBOT USB Flash Drive

    Mimobot has provided a new outlet for artists which has yielded unusually painted drives with different storage capacities.
    I love the Star Wars series.
    Sony's MicroVault Click Excellence drives are Bill and Ted approved - Engadget
    Engadget is a great place to snoop around and find the latest and greatest things going on with USB drives.
    Pretty Easy to Go Green
    Did you really think that no one is thinking about their carbon footprint in USB-land?
    Earth Drive is here and ready to meet your green concerns.
    Check it out at their website:
    • 1 - 8 GB capacities.

    • Waterproof, shockproof and dust proof casing.

    • A portion of the sales goes towards planting trees.
    Then go to Wal-mart online and exchange your green for theirs.
    Swarovski


    Philips Swarovski Active Crystals " Lock Out " USB Memory Key

    While they do their best work in figurines and jewelry, their crystals can do to a flash drive what few others can match.

    Everything USB

    Everything!

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    Realitychick

    Realitychick (aka Edie McKearney) is a writer/artist/personal trainer that loves birds, swimming and cycling.
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