USB Memory Sticks~!
- Thread starter Dumpling
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Weird Harold
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Dumpling said:Are there any Brands better then others?
Once you installed the Software for it,does one have to stick with the same Size
& Brand or not ? Any one out there want to get back to me
I'm not sure what you're asking.
My digital camera uses an "SD" memory chip that is compatible with my daughter's PDA and some "USB flash memory chip readers."
If that's the kind of "USB memory" you're asking about, the size doesn't matter much, but the format does. If you buy a "flash memory reader" that reads "SD" format chips, it probably won't read anything except "SD" chips -- there are two other flash memory chip formats but since my camera can't use them I just lumped them as "Not-SD" and didn't take note of the designations.
Size can matter -- my camera will only recognise up to 512 MB SD chips. My daughter's PDA will recognise up to 1GB SD chips -- for a general purpose chip reaer, you'd want one that will read the widest range of sizes possible.
SweetErika
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My interpretation was she's talking about USB Flash/Jumpdrives, not the cards, and would like to know if there are better brands.Weird Harold said:
Ling, I don't know a lot about this, but I'd stick with a popular brand that produces a lot of these, like Lexar. I found someone asking and receiving responses on brands here: http://www.resellerratings.com/forum/t116134.html
My guess is that you can upgrade size easily (particularly if you stick with the same brand), but it might be more cost-effective to just go with a larger stick initially, rather than buying two or more. So, you might want to get a 1 GB, 512MB, or 256 MB instead of a 128, unless you only need minimal space and want to bank on the prices coming down before you need more space.
SweetErika
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My friend's DID have software, but you have a really good point there. So, Ling, you shouldn't have a problem upgrading size at all.vato said:
Weird Harold
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Dumpling said:I want to buy one that I can use instead of Floppy's ~ But thanks Harold
That's essentially what the SD chip does in either my camera or my daughter's PDA -- the computer sees it as a "removable drive."
Since you're looking for a just a chip reader, I'd suggest researching the price of the different flash memory chip formats and buy a reader that can read the least expensive chips.
The reader itself is going to have less bearing on how useful it is than than the cost of the chips to use it as a replacement for a floppy drive -- if you can only afford one or two chips it's not going to be much use for archiving or backups and a ZIP drive would be more useful.
If you only need "floppies" to move files from one computer to another, you need to worry about what chip/format the other computer can read.
I would avoid any device that requires software to USE -- as distinct from a device driver to allow Windows to access it with it's normal drive handling functions.
Weird Harold said:
He's not.
Flash card reader.
http://www.serif.com/serifExtra/Products/pcPeripherals/usb12in1/lrg-pri-12in1-card-reader.jpg
USB Flash drive.
http://img.alibaba.com/photo/50327095/USB_Flash_Stick.jpg
Weird Harold
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vato said:
Is there any functional difference between them -- like the former being read-only?
hotchkiss
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If you've got XP you shouldn't need to install anything, just remember to remove the hardware in your system tray (in bot rt the corner by the clock) before disconnecting the unit itself.
Mishandling these little darlings can kill them quite easily! I broke one by catching it against my knee when it was plugged into the front of my PC. If you suffer a system failure or error during read/writing to the drive that can kill em dead too.
Think about a cheap portable USB hard drive, perhaps a little more expensive but more storage and less prone to failure!
Hope this helps Dumpling
Mishandling these little darlings can kill them quite easily! I broke one by catching it against my knee when it was plugged into the front of my PC. If you suffer a system failure or error during read/writing to the drive that can kill em dead too.
Think about a cheap portable USB hard drive, perhaps a little more expensive but more storage and less prone to failure!
Hope this helps Dumpling
Ezzy
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I was given a 1 Gb Flash drive for the Xmas before last, but I noticed in SaMs Club that they had the 1 Gb flash memory for around $53.00 but they had a 6 Gb USB external pocket drive for around $70.00.
The 1Gb was an LG and worked fine on Win 98 SE and Win XP and Server 2003 you did need the drivers for some of them but I can't remember which needed and which did without, it is very easy to work with and I haven't killed it yet in a year and 2 weeks.
But to have an extra 5 Gb storage if I was getting one now I would look at the pocket drive.
The 1Gb was an LG and worked fine on Win 98 SE and Win XP and Server 2003 you did need the drivers for some of them but I can't remember which needed and which did without, it is very easy to work with and I haven't killed it yet in a year and 2 weeks.
But to have an extra 5 Gb storage if I was getting one now I would look at the pocket drive.
sassy_girl1963
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Not sure if this is what you are looking for
but I got a Nomrd NuVo from Walmart in 2004 that has 128mb - and is a MP3 player. It is very usefull for moving files around or for downloading songs on and taking it with me when I am out and about.
My Nomrd did come with software for the music part - but since I had to re format my computer this fall, I've not re-installed it, and am still able to drag and drop files onto it.
I just looked at www.walmart.com to see what kind of prices they have and saw one with 512 MB for $110 and 1 GB for $130.
but I got a Nomrd NuVo from Walmart in 2004 that has 128mb - and is a MP3 player. It is very usefull for moving files around or for downloading songs on and taking it with me when I am out and about.
My Nomrd did come with software for the music part - but since I had to re format my computer this fall, I've not re-installed it, and am still able to drag and drop files onto it.
I just looked at www.walmart.com to see what kind of prices they have and saw one with 512 MB for $110 and 1 GB for $130.
garbage can
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Dumpling, you can get flash drives on ebay pretty cheap. I've bought several. ScanDisk is a good brand. You can get them with capacities from 128 mb up to 3 Gb.Dumpling said:`Are there any Brands better then others?
Once you installed the Software for it,does one have to stick with the same Size
& Brand or not ? Any one out there want to get back to me
>>>>>>>>>>>>>Thanks<<<<<<<< Ling
No software need, you just plug them into any usb port and it shows up as a D,E,F.....whatever...drive.
Weird Harold
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vato said:
So the first uses removeable media and the second is a sealed unit, like a hard-drive?
Her comment, "I want to buy one that I can use instead of Floppy's " suggests that what she'slookingof ris a card reader/writer and not a "FlashDrive."
I saw a card reader at Wal-mart earlier today for $27 that could read and write eleven different card formats. I don't recall the brand name off-hand (I hould have written it down) but if I understand what she's looking for correctly, it would suit her needs for a substitute removeable media drive just fine.
But then I used my camera and it's flash card to take a couple of HTML files over to my daughter's earlier today and it worked just fine as a impromptu "removeable media drive" -- it all depends on just how often a removeable media drive is needed and what it's used for whether a dedicated card reader or flash-drive is needed.
A PDA that will accept additional memory cards is probably more useful than a dedicated card reader or flashdrive. Not only can you move files from one place to another, with it, you can access most kinds of files to confirm you're moving the right files.
FaeLover
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The sentence "instead of floppy's" implies the use of something to replace floppy diskettes as a means of portable storage. A flash card reader is useless without flash cards to read, but we don't want flash cards, we want USB drives.
I've found that Lexar JumpDrives are the best, they're backwards compatible with Windows XP, 2000, ME, and 98SE, and there are drivers for the computers with OS versions from even before that.
I got a new JumpDrive for Christmas, and I've had two before that, both Lexar, and they all work flawlessly. They're great to lend out to friends when transferring files, to bring back and forth from work, whatever you need to do. They have up to 2 Gigs now, but there are some more obscure brands out there have higher capacities. I read in the Globe And Mail a while back that Samsung had just prototyped a 16 Gig one...talk about storage!
Anyway, I think you should go with Lexar, I dont' think they need software, you just "plug-and-play", as it's called, it's transferrable, and is quite reliable.
I've found that Lexar JumpDrives are the best, they're backwards compatible with Windows XP, 2000, ME, and 98SE, and there are drivers for the computers with OS versions from even before that.
I got a new JumpDrive for Christmas, and I've had two before that, both Lexar, and they all work flawlessly. They're great to lend out to friends when transferring files, to bring back and forth from work, whatever you need to do. They have up to 2 Gigs now, but there are some more obscure brands out there have higher capacities. I read in the Globe And Mail a while back that Samsung had just prototyped a 16 Gig one...talk about storage!
Anyway, I think you should go with Lexar, I dont' think they need software, you just "plug-and-play", as it's called, it's transferrable, and is quite reliable.
Weird Harold
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FaeLover said:
That's very true. But then a Floppy Disk drive without floppy disks is just a place for your computer to store dust.
A flash card reader with one flash card is functionally the same as a USB Drive as far as the computer is concerned. It can be moved from computer to computer without removing the flash card just as a USB drive can if necessary.
The only real difference between a USB drive and a flashcard reader is flexibility:
When the USB drive is full, you have to buy another complete drive; when a flash card is full, you just need to change the card. A USB drive can only share data with a computer that has a USB port free; a flash card reader can share data with any device that can read a flash card. You can put a flash card in your pocket or wallet; moving a USB drive involves the drive, the cables, and possibly a separate power supply.
In the end, the choice will boil down to how the unit is to be used and what specific needs it fills. But if the need is to share data between computers (and/or other devices) rather than provide extra storage space, a flash card reader is the better option because it provides more options for sharing data.
Nessitude
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If you're buying a USB Memory Stick (which I would) I would be wary of getting one that's too cheap. I have a friend who bought one like that, and he had nothing but problems with it. He may have been mishandling it though, and not ejecting it properly.
Anyways, I'd recommend Kingston or Sandisc brands. I've had no problems with them. Right now I'm using a Sandisc Cruzer Titanium 512 MB, it was pretty cheap after rebate.
Anyways, I'd recommend Kingston or Sandisc brands. I've had no problems with them. Right now I'm using a Sandisc Cruzer Titanium 512 MB, it was pretty cheap after rebate.
hotguy1234
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I have a Lexar JumpDrive USB stick and it is very easy to use.
Plug it into a USB port on any decent computer and it shows up as another drive so you can drag files onto the drive, or off of it to the computer easily.
As to how easily it works. You can even slide it into a USB slot if the computer is running Linux instead of Windows and it will work in there with no changes to the system.
USB sticks are very simple and easy to use.
Plug it into a USB port on any decent computer and it shows up as another drive so you can drag files onto the drive, or off of it to the computer easily.
As to how easily it works. You can even slide it into a USB slot if the computer is running Linux instead of Windows and it will work in there with no changes to the system.
USB sticks are very simple and easy to use.
Weird Harold
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FaeLover said:
Which is exactly the same technology as a flash card reader with a card stuck in it. The only difference between the two is that you can change the media in a card reader instead of having the card hard-wired into the slot.
Hisbabydoll26
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Dumpling said:`Are there any Brands better then others?
Once you installed the Software for it,does one have to stick with the same Size
& Brand or not ? Any one out there want to get back to me
>>>>>>>>>>>>>Thanks<<<<<<<< Ling
We got a Lexar USB Jump drive is this what you mean?? I love mine....really helps with work stuff.
ickle_stace
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I have 2 memory sticks, different brands, different sizes, I use them to take work between university and home, because I do alot of work with large files of photos, animations web sites etc.
I love mine they're great.
They don't need software, you can just plug them in and away you go
one thing you need to know about is they only last for so many saves. it's about 10,000 or something, so they last a long long time, but just remember to back work up in other places such as cds or on a hard drive
Hope that helps a little
I love mine they're great.
They don't need software, you can just plug them in and away you go
one thing you need to know about is they only last for so many saves. it's about 10,000 or something, so they last a long long time, but just remember to back work up in other places such as cds or on a hard drive
Hope that helps a little
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