USB flash drives (also called "USB keys" or "USB memory") plug into your computer's USB port and act like mini-hard drives.
They're small enough to fit on a key-ring and are ideal for portable data storage, especially for laptop users. They can store between 1GB and 128GB of data, and cost anything from under $20 for a small 1GB drive, to over $600 for a 128GB drive.
USB flash drives are generally very easy to use. If your computer is less than 5 years old, it should have multiple USB ports in which to plug the drive. If you're running a Windows Mac operating system you'll have no problems using it straight out of the box.
The portability of USB flash drives and their ability to be read by almost any computer makes them a good option for anyone who needs to transfer files between different locations, such as home and office. Several USB flash drives currently available are capable of holding over 100GB of data, around the same amount of data as a small laptop hard drive.
When choosing a USB flash drive, consider its features:
- Durability: It needs to be fairly robust and resistant to scratches and dust. Many have a key-ring or necklace for portability and this should be attached to the body of the drive, not the cap. Some models are waterproof and shock-resistant.
- Security: A write-protection switch allows you to prevent any files on the drive from accidentally being erased or rewritten. Some models have fingerprint readers that are highly accurate and can either deny access to the whole drive or just to selected files.
- Shape and size: There are hundreds of different models of USB drives. Most are of a sleek and practical design but there’s no shortage of humorous and attention-grabbing drives for sale (check out www.usbgeek.com for some examples.
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