Portable memory, such as USB flash drives, is a convenient and durable way to store and transfer data between computers. It is non-volatile and has no moving parts, making it reliable. Portable storage comes in different capacities and can be used for multimedia files, gaming, network maintenance, and more. Some devices come with preloaded software, and flash memory cards provide an alternative form of portable memory. Prices have dropped dramatically, making it a cost-effective option.
Portable memory is a great way to transfer large amounts of data between computers, store media libraries, store secure documents, play games, or perform network maintenance. The only requirement is a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port and a memory stick, also called a flash drive or thumb drive. Windows XP and newer operating systems have built-in drivers for portable memory plug-and-play functionality. For older operating systems, in most cases the drivers are available free of charge.
Portable memory is non-volatile memory, which means that it does not require a power source to hold its contents. This distinguishes it from random access memory (RAM), which loses its data whenever power is cut. Portable storage also has no moving parts, making it extremely durable.
Like hard drives, portable storage comes in different capacities. Multimedia files such as graphics, videos or music files take up much more space than text files. You can also use portable storage to store media libraries for easy sharing.
For example, create a music library of MP3 files, a digital photo library, or a digital video library on a large capacity memory stick. When you visit family or friends, your photos, music or videos are available to share with them on any USB-enabled computer or entertainment center. With the latter, you will be able to view your digital videos or photographs on a television.
Portable memory is so fast that many gamers play directly from the memory stick rather than installing the game onto a hard drive. For added convenience, the Xbox 360 USB ports allow portable storage to transfer home settings, scores, and other information to your Xbox. SanDisk has created a portable memory stick geared towards this market. Other gaming models, such as Nintendo, are also implementing USB ports to make use of portable storage improvements.
Newer motherboards support booting from the USB port, which is useful for network administrators. If the network goes down, bootable portable storage will allow you to perform maintenance without the set of diskettes you would otherwise need. Formatting instructions are usually provided by the portable storage device manufacturer.
Some portable memory sticks come with preloaded software, such as a password tool to protect the data on the device if it is lost. Other software might include a synchronization tool, antivirus software, or Skype, a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) program.
Flash memory cards of the type used in digital cameras provide an alternative form of portable memory. A USB card reader costs about 5 US dollars (USD). It looks like a memory stick, but contains no internal memory. Instead, it features a slot for a flash card, purchased separately.
The USB card reader is equivalent to an expandable memory stick that can never run out of memory, as additional cards can be purchased. Some people prefer this storage method for organizational purposes. Others prefer a large capacity, slightly cheaper memory stick with no extraneous cards to track and protect. Your preference may depend on whether or not you need a player for video and camera applications.
Portable memory has dropped dramatically in price since it became cheaper to manufacture. For this reason, 512 megabyte (MB), 1 gigabyte, (GB), and 2 GB keys can be found for almost the same price: around 50 US dollars (USD). This prevents you from getting a smaller unit, even if you think your current needs are undemanding.
Chances are you’ll find many uses for portable storage once you have it. Larger portable memory drives are also available, up to several gigabytes. Prices vary widely between vendors for the same product, so it’s worth buying wisely.
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