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Living Room / Re: USB Flash Drives: What to look for or avoid.
« Last post by tinjaw on February 26, 2008, 11:06 AM »Speed: Some are faster than others. Faster means more expensive. Decide if you really need speed. If you do, buy the fastest you can afford.
Durability: Not all USB drives are built the same. Generally it is worth the extra money to pay for a durable drive over one that is pretty or "clever" (for example flip open caps or such).
Warranty: Not so much a big deal as you are probably going to be a new one in a year anyway that will be twice as fast and twice as big for the same price.
Shape: If there is a particular computer you will be using it on, make sure it fits. This is often a problem with laptops have USB ports on top of each other, but can also be a problem if they are side-by-side, but too close for wider thumb drives.
To U3 or not to U3: If you like U3 and will be using it mostly on computers you have administrative rights on, go for it. If you want the drive to be usable on more systems and be more compatible, forgo the U3 and the added price. There are plenty of other options like portableapps.com.
#1 Thing to do is to figure out how you are going to transport it and not lose it. (I suggest attaching it to a neck cord that allows you to detach it. The empty cord around you neck will help to remember you left you stick in the computer as you walk away.)
#2 Is to determine how you recover WHEN you lose it. (Oh yes you will!)
Durability: Not all USB drives are built the same. Generally it is worth the extra money to pay for a durable drive over one that is pretty or "clever" (for example flip open caps or such).
Warranty: Not so much a big deal as you are probably going to be a new one in a year anyway that will be twice as fast and twice as big for the same price.
Shape: If there is a particular computer you will be using it on, make sure it fits. This is often a problem with laptops have USB ports on top of each other, but can also be a problem if they are side-by-side, but too close for wider thumb drives.
To U3 or not to U3: If you like U3 and will be using it mostly on computers you have administrative rights on, go for it. If you want the drive to be usable on more systems and be more compatible, forgo the U3 and the added price. There are plenty of other options like portableapps.com.
#1 Thing to do is to figure out how you are going to transport it and not lose it. (I suggest attaching it to a neck cord that allows you to detach it. The empty cord around you neck will help to remember you left you stick in the computer as you walk away.)
#2 Is to determine how you recover WHEN you lose it. (Oh yes you will!)
) was my last resort.
