( 
)missjessd's Guide To Flash Memory Devices
A complete introduction to buying a Flash Drive: All you need to know and think about when buying one.
If you already know the basics, you can skip to my checklist in the summary.
Contents
>Intro
>How to Buy
>So, are you ready?
>Looks aren't everything
>My Speedy
>Where To Buy
>Beware
>Summary
------------------------------------------------------
So out came the old floppies and tapes, with their drives with them, and in came the CD's. Right? Well, the very cool Compact Disc has a new enemy, one that is rising to become one of the most popular and stylish devices around...its the amazing...the fabulous...the extraordinary...(drum roll please..)...FLASH DRIVE!
The flash drive has somehow, moulded it's way into our lives so quickly that we haven't even had time to be shocked, let alone to recover!
The flash drive has indeed taken over the way that we do our basic moving and storing. Since there has been an exponential increase in the number of people having more that one computer to work with, there has also been a rise in the different methods that people use to move or back up their important files.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Intro
New advances in technology has allowed us to get more memory into less space. There used to be a time when 2GB basically meant a beast of a creature.! Flash drives, also known as memory sticks or flash keys are tiny compared to their beastly ancestors, portability is their virtue, and in an ever moving world, it is that virtue that has made them so popular. They're mainly a small device that can be plugged into a normal USB port (usually) and files can be dragged and dropped in and out of them onto the connecting computer. Another reason for their popularity is their versatilty, they can be plugged into any computer that has a compatable USB port (USB 2.0 nowadays) and off you go!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
How to buy
The first step in buying a flash drive is to read up and get clued in. Like most gizmo's, the more clued in you are, the less likely you will encounter a not so nice person who will try to sell you a dodgy doo-dah. Their popularity has led them to become a hotspot for counterfeits. You should get clued in on the basics before you go any further. Jumping in at the deep end can cause unnecessary time to be wasted, not to mention a burn in your wallet. Have a look around different site, forums and computer help sites are good, and just get updated with the latest trends.
Following that, if you think you have a good idea of what's going on, you're ready to buy. As with buying anything, you have to be sure before you buy. Sure, the device will only cost a few bucks if you can get it cheap but in the long run you're gonna lose out by paying more for replacing faulty ones or ones that are no longer good enough.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So, are you ready?
The first thing you have to consider when buying a flash drive is if you actually need one. Yup, that the first step! If you don't need one, then what's the point in buying one? The money would be better spent on some other peripheral or maybe even on a lottery ticket. Whatever, the point is, if you don't need one then don't buy one. They can be costly and hassle otherwise. So how do you know if you do need one? Well, just think to all the times you need to email files or burn things onto discs etc. Do you do it often? Often enough for it to be more convenient if you had one? Only you can decide :)
Once you've established whether or not you need one (I'm assuming you do, which is why you're still with me) you need to decide which one. The key thing here is to know how much you need. Flash drives can cost as little as a few pounds to anything up to eighty pounds. There is a very big price gap and you should aim to get as close to what you need as possible. So, next, you should think about why you will need one? What will use it for (apart from it looking purty on your keys)? How often will you use it? How many files are you going want to carry? Ask yourself simple questions and, if you done your research properly you will find how much you need.
As a rule of thumb, I recommend not getting anything lower than 512MB for an average office worker or student because sometimes you may be moving stuff but sometimes you may want to hold very important files with you, just in case.
Personally, I think that 1GB is a good investment. This is because it is just a little more than you need, which is better than having just a little less than you need. It's worth that little bit more money to get a few more of those lovely bytes so that you don't get frustrated when you have to 'split' a folder in half to move it.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Looks aren't Everything
Flash drives now come in many different sizes, from stick-thin-model-like ones to huge apple sized ones (yes really) to football shaped ones to disguised-like-a-biscuit ones.
When you are choosing a model, don't base a decision on whether it looks stylish (or not for that matter). Looks aren't everything when it comes to flash drives, you're much better off choosing one that has sufficient memory and is fast enough to suit your needs. However, if you are a laptop user, don’t forget to think about whether or not you can fit it in your bag. More importantly, when you are using your flash drive, the outer casing could block your other USB ports which could be annoying.
If you are looking for a good model, as well as stylish, in my opinion, the Kingston Data is one of the best looking ones.
Speed is also a factor to consider when you are buying a flash drive. Obviously this isn't much of a decision, as the price of one is really based on it's capacity, rather than it's speed, so just try to find the fastest one you can find for your memory amount. For really speedy transfers, I recommend these:
-Busbi U3
-PNY outdoor attaché
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Durability
How strong and durable your flash drive is, is a very important factor in buying one. Make sure when you get one, that it is a very sturdy and hard wearing. The worst thing that can happen is that you have all of your precious files on it and then you drop it in or something or other. You can get ones that can stand being thrown in a tumble drier, even being dunked in water, so make sure you look around before you buy. If you are really worried about durability, I recommend that you check out these models:
-Buffalo RUF-C/U2
-Lexar Jumpdrive Sport
-PNY outdoor attaché
Price
Typically, flash drives really don’t cost a lot. Don’t be fooled by higher prices, however, just because it costs more, it doesn’t mean that it is better. Remember, as with a lot of consumer electronics, higher prices for the same thing usually means that you’re paying extra for the brand, which is a waste of your hard earned money.
For great value, as well as performance, I definitely recommend my trusty old Disgo Lite, or the Integral Courier.
Where to buy
Where you buy it doesn't really matter. Just have a look around for the cheapest prices. If you are going to buy online, remember to factor in shipping costs. Also, online stores may not have as good a service as an actually retailer, but it's really up to you.
Beware
Beware of backstreet dealers of cheap merchandise. It may seem like a good deal but it is usually stolen, faulty or counterfeit. This can also happen online so be careful. How can a stick be counterfeit you say? Well, sometimes, some clever but not so nice people decide that they will make a flash drive look like the real thing (like a brand) and then sell it. Now, most people don't mind, until the fatal day comes when they discover that their precious isn’t actually 8GB but actually 64MB! They do this by using some kinda techie trick where they compress your files so it looks like you can store more, but eventually the compression program would break down and then it’s back to the shop to spend some more money.
=======================================================
Summary
Do you really need a flash drive? Do you have the system requirements?
What will you use it for? Word? Spreadsheets? Music?
How much memory would you need to do this? 512MB? 2GB?
Which one do you want? Is it stylish and durable yet good value for money?
Where you are going to buy it from? A local retailer? Online?
Are they a reputable seller?
After you have thought about all of these, you’re ready to go!!
=======================================================
Happy bidding! Sayonara!
missjessd
A complete introduction to buying a Flash Drive: All you need to know and think about when buying one.
If you already know the basics, you can skip to my checklist in the summary.
Contents
>Intro
>How to Buy
>So, are you ready?
>Looks aren't everything
>My Speedy
>Where To Buy
>Beware
>Summary
------------------------------------------------------
So out came the old floppies and tapes, with their drives with them, and in came the CD's. Right? Well, the very cool Compact Disc has a new enemy, one that is rising to become one of the most popular and stylish devices around...its the amazing...the fabulous...the extraordinary...(drum roll please..)...FLASH DRIVE!
The flash drive has somehow, moulded it's way into our lives so quickly that we haven't even had time to be shocked, let alone to recover!
The flash drive has indeed taken over the way that we do our basic moving and storing. Since there has been an exponential increase in the number of people having more that one computer to work with, there has also been a rise in the different methods that people use to move or back up their important files.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Intro
New advances in technology has allowed us to get more memory into less space. There used to be a time when 2GB basically meant a beast of a creature.! Flash drives, also known as memory sticks or flash keys are tiny compared to their beastly ancestors, portability is their virtue, and in an ever moving world, it is that virtue that has made them so popular. They're mainly a small device that can be plugged into a normal USB port (usually) and files can be dragged and dropped in and out of them onto the connecting computer. Another reason for their popularity is their versatilty, they can be plugged into any computer that has a compatable USB port (USB 2.0 nowadays) and off you go!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
How to buy
The first step in buying a flash drive is to read up and get clued in. Like most gizmo's, the more clued in you are, the less likely you will encounter a not so nice person who will try to sell you a dodgy doo-dah. Their popularity has led them to become a hotspot for counterfeits. You should get clued in on the basics before you go any further. Jumping in at the deep end can cause unnecessary time to be wasted, not to mention a burn in your wallet. Have a look around different site, forums and computer help sites are good, and just get updated with the latest trends.
Following that, if you think you have a good idea of what's going on, you're ready to buy. As with buying anything, you have to be sure before you buy. Sure, the device will only cost a few bucks if you can get it cheap but in the long run you're gonna lose out by paying more for replacing faulty ones or ones that are no longer good enough.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So, are you ready?
The first thing you have to consider when buying a flash drive is if you actually need one. Yup, that the first step! If you don't need one, then what's the point in buying one? The money would be better spent on some other peripheral or maybe even on a lottery ticket. Whatever, the point is, if you don't need one then don't buy one. They can be costly and hassle otherwise. So how do you know if you do need one? Well, just think to all the times you need to email files or burn things onto discs etc. Do you do it often? Often enough for it to be more convenient if you had one? Only you can decide :)
Once you've established whether or not you need one (I'm assuming you do, which is why you're still with me) you need to decide which one. The key thing here is to know how much you need. Flash drives can cost as little as a few pounds to anything up to eighty pounds. There is a very big price gap and you should aim to get as close to what you need as possible. So, next, you should think about why you will need one? What will use it for (apart from it looking purty on your keys)? How often will you use it? How many files are you going want to carry? Ask yourself simple questions and, if you done your research properly you will find how much you need.
As a rule of thumb, I recommend not getting anything lower than 512MB for an average office worker or student because sometimes you may be moving stuff but sometimes you may want to hold very important files with you, just in case.
Personally, I think that 1GB is a good investment. This is because it is just a little more than you need, which is better than having just a little less than you need. It's worth that little bit more money to get a few more of those lovely bytes so that you don't get frustrated when you have to 'split' a folder in half to move it.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Looks aren't Everything
Flash drives now come in many different sizes, from stick-thin-model-like ones to huge apple sized ones (yes really) to football shaped ones to disguised-like-a-biscuit ones.
When you are choosing a model, don't base a decision on whether it looks stylish (or not for that matter). Looks aren't everything when it comes to flash drives, you're much better off choosing one that has sufficient memory and is fast enough to suit your needs. However, if you are a laptop user, don’t forget to think about whether or not you can fit it in your bag. More importantly, when you are using your flash drive, the outer casing could block your other USB ports which could be annoying.
If you are looking for a good model, as well as stylish, in my opinion, the Kingston Data is one of the best looking ones.
Speed is also a factor to consider when you are buying a flash drive. Obviously this isn't much of a decision, as the price of one is really based on it's capacity, rather than it's speed, so just try to find the fastest one you can find for your memory amount. For really speedy transfers, I recommend these:
-Busbi U3
-PNY outdoor attaché
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Durability
How strong and durable your flash drive is, is a very important factor in buying one. Make sure when you get one, that it is a very sturdy and hard wearing. The worst thing that can happen is that you have all of your precious files on it and then you drop it in or something or other. You can get ones that can stand being thrown in a tumble drier, even being dunked in water, so make sure you look around before you buy. If you are really worried about durability, I recommend that you check out these models:
-Buffalo RUF-C/U2
-Lexar Jumpdrive Sport
-PNY outdoor attaché
Price
Typically, flash drives really don’t cost a lot. Don’t be fooled by higher prices, however, just because it costs more, it doesn’t mean that it is better. Remember, as with a lot of consumer electronics, higher prices for the same thing usually means that you’re paying extra for the brand, which is a waste of your hard earned money.
For great value, as well as performance, I definitely recommend my trusty old Disgo Lite, or the Integral Courier.
Where to buy
Where you buy it doesn't really matter. Just have a look around for the cheapest prices. If you are going to buy online, remember to factor in shipping costs. Also, online stores may not have as good a service as an actually retailer, but it's really up to you.
Beware
Beware of backstreet dealers of cheap merchandise. It may seem like a good deal but it is usually stolen, faulty or counterfeit. This can also happen online so be careful. How can a stick be counterfeit you say? Well, sometimes, some clever but not so nice people decide that they will make a flash drive look like the real thing (like a brand) and then sell it. Now, most people don't mind, until the fatal day comes when they discover that their precious isn’t actually 8GB but actually 64MB! They do this by using some kinda techie trick where they compress your files so it looks like you can store more, but eventually the compression program would break down and then it’s back to the shop to spend some more money.
=======================================================
Summary
Do you really need a flash drive? Do you have the system requirements?
What will you use it for? Word? Spreadsheets? Music?
How much memory would you need to do this? 512MB? 2GB?
Which one do you want? Is it stylish and durable yet good value for money?
Where you are going to buy it from? A local retailer? Online?
Are they a reputable seller?
After you have thought about all of these, you’re ready to go!!
=======================================================
Happy bidding! Sayonara!
missjessd
Guide created: 16/12/06 (updated 10/07/08)
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