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rabbit
03-22-05, 10:08 AM
I need to get a USB storage drive. I don't need something huge, mostly just one that will store Word or Excel documents and an occasional jpg or mp3 or two. I like this one (http://www.lexar.com/jumpdrive/jd_sport.html) in 256mb (it's only $5 more than the 128). Who has experience with these and can offer advice?
Turn7
03-22-05, 10:14 AM
I have one. It works.

I use it more than I thought I would so, my recommendation is to guess what size you think is too large and then double it.

Meaning if you think the 256 is more than enough, get the 512.
SteveH
03-22-05, 10:16 AM
I've got a 512 mb that I got at www.ecost.com Sometimes they have some real deals. I also 'built' a 20gb USB portable drive by picking up a laptop HD external enclosure from NexStar and putting a 20 gb laptop hard drive in it. Works like a champ. Great to shuttle multimedia files between PCs.
rabbit
03-22-05, 10:29 AM
www.ecost.com Thanks for the link. They have a great price on the 512. (http://www.ecost.com/ecost/shop/detail.asp?dpno=376047) :thumbup:

Is the Lexar a good one?
Turn7
03-22-05, 10:39 AM
It is just a digital component, it either works when you plug it in or it doesn't. I bought one once that plain didn't work. Returned it to the store for an identical one and it has been working fine since.

They are all the same basically. It is just your preference on the "looks" of it.
KLang
03-22-05, 10:56 AM
Before getting a laptop to haul back and forth my wife used the heck out of one of these. The only trouble she had was finding the little bugger in her purse.

I agree with Turn7, there shouldn't really be any difference between brands.
Wheel-Nut
03-22-05, 11:06 AM
Some of the guys I work with use portable drives. The people that have no lives outside of work!!

So far no trouble. Some even work directly off of them. AutoCAD mostly. Plug and Play.

http://www.cdw.com/shop/products/default.aspx?EDC=582832
Sean O'Gorman
03-22-05, 11:33 AM
I would stay away from the PNY drives, mine is about ready to break off my keychain and I've only had it for about 3 1/2 months.
JLMannin
03-22-05, 12:51 PM
I agree that, more or less, all the jump/flash drives work the same, with one minor difference. Some of the devices use the computer's file management system (a driver installs when you plug it in), while others have their own file system onboard and do not require drivers to load.

Big whup, right? Well, at work, our PC's are on full lock-down mode, so no drivers can be installed without administrator rights. Does anyone know how to tell which ones have their own file management systems and which ones require drivers to be installed?
rabbit
03-22-05, 01:03 PM
Does anyone know how to tell which ones have their own file management systems and which ones require drivers to be installed?I had thought of that and the description of the above-mentioned Lexar says it only requires a driver if it is used for Windows 98 or older. My work computer, home computer, and all the computers at school all use XP so I should be ok.

Oh, and I ordered the 512 from ecost. It was hard to pass up that deal.
eiregosod
03-22-05, 01:58 PM
get one, you'll wonder how you managed before!!!
pfc_m_drake
03-22-05, 03:15 PM
The other minor differences you might find between the different brands are transfer speed and warranty.

You already ordered the Lexar, so my comments are really too little too late, but for what it's worth I bought a Fuji. The main reason I did so was because they very foolishly offer a lifetime warranty on their jump drives. So hypothetically speaking, if one were to accidentally leave their jump drive in their pocket and then send those pants through the washing machine, that person would be in a better situation than had they purchased a drive which didn't offer a lifetime warranty.

:D
SteveH
03-22-05, 04:08 PM
TF, widely known for pre-banning individuals based on activities at other internet sites.
Oh, and I ordered the 512 from ecost. It was hard to pass up that deal.


If you signed up for ecost's email alerts, this won't be the last thing you'll buy from them. :laugh: They have some amazing prices from time to time. Especially memory cards. I've got 1.75 gb now. I think that'll be enough. :D
Ankf00
03-22-05, 09:35 PM
flash sticks are banned at work, bastids :saywhat: but the germans and iti's get to bring them into their building...
rabbit
11-09-05, 11:38 AM
If you signed up for ecost's email alerts, this won't be the last thing you'll buy from them. :laugh:
How prophetic. :D
coolhand
11-09-05, 10:24 PM
flash sticks are banned at work, bastids :saywhat: but the germans and iti's get to bring them into their building...

to protect proprietory info?
Ed_Severson
11-09-05, 11:00 PM
So hypothetically speaking, if one were to accidentally leave their jump drive in their pocket and then send those pants through the washing machine, that person would be in a better situation than had they purchased a drive which didn't offer a lifetime warranty.

I purchased a SanDisk 512 about a year ago, and have washed it at least three times and dried it at least once. Still works beautifully, and they're now a Champ Car sponsor.

Can't beat that. :thumbup:
Ankf00
11-10-05, 02:02 AM
I purchased a SanDisk 512 about a year ago, and have washed it at least three times and dried it at least once. Still works beautifully, and they're now a Champ Car sponsor.

Can't beat that. :thumbup:

odd, you'd think the chemicals in the wash would eventually mess with the PWB traces
Ed_Severson
11-10-05, 09:48 AM
I would have thought so too. SanDisk gives you basically a shoestring to keep the thing on, which most people will wear around their necks. I'm not into that sort of thing, so I used to tie it arond my belt loop and place it in my pocket.

Washing it is probably not the greatest idea, but it does not seem to have had an adverse effect on mine.
theunions
11-15-05, 08:44 PM
You already ordered the Lexar, so my comments are really too little too late, but for what it's worth I bought a Fuji. The main reason I did so was because they very foolishly offer a lifetime warranty on their jump drives. So hypothetically speaking, if one were to accidentally leave their jump drive in their pocket and then send those pants through the washing machine, that person would be in a better situation than had they purchased a drive which didn't offer a lifetime warranty.

:D

Would the lifetime warranty actually cover such a user-inflicted situation?
Ankf00
12-26-05, 03:13 AM
I would have thought so too. SanDisk gives you basically a shoestring to keep the thing on, which most people will wear around their necks. I'm not into that sort of thing, so I used to tie it arond my belt loop and place it in my pocket.

Washing it is probably not the greatest idea, but it does not seem to have had an adverse effect on mine.

http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=10398744&loc=101&sp=1

$50 w/ rebates for 1 gb sandisk

had the 512, it's f'ing SMALL.... 1/4" thick, 3/4 or so wide, couple inches length... giving it to the pops and picking up this one. and since I'm now in the deutsche/italiano building, I can take it into work too, hooray me!
pchall
12-26-05, 05:57 PM
I use it more than I thought I would so, my recommendation is to guess what size you think is too large and then double it.

If you download porn to encourage your uploads that may be the case. ;)

I'm still using less than 25% of my five gig HD after three years. It all depends on whether you use your HD as a trash bin or storage area. :shakehead
cameraman
12-26-05, 06:45 PM
Unless you happen to be using your 5 gb to move images from the conofocal microscope back to your lab. In that case you could fill it up in about 5 minutes.

We find our 300 gb firewire 800 units to be too small and too slow :rolleyes:
pfc_m_drake
12-26-05, 07:14 PM
Would the lifetime warranty actually cover such a user-inflicted situation?
Yes, hello...tech support? Yes, I seem to have a problem...my USB flash drive doesn't work anymore, so I'm calling to take advantage of your lifetime warranty. It's the strangest thing...I even tried cleaning it and everything, but it just doesn't work anymore.

:D
fourrunner
12-26-05, 07:16 PM
I would stay away from the PNY drives, mine is about ready to break off my keychain and I've only had it for about 3 1/2 months.

Oh Great ... My brother got me a PNY 512 for Christmas, I've never used a USB drive before .... Hope yours at least worked Sean, I don't think I'll carry it around on a key chain though !

I'll start using it in a couple of days ... have my fingers crossed
oddlycalm
12-26-05, 09:43 PM
I'm still using less than 25% of my five gig HD after three years. It all depends on whether you use your HD as a trash bin or storage area. Obviously no iPod or digital camera.... ;)

Back on topic; the main functional diff between the different flash devices is the read/write speed of the media and durability of the housing.

oc
Sean O'Gorman
12-27-05, 12:37 AM
Oh Great ... My brother got me a PNY 512 for Christmas, I've never used a USB drive before .... Hope yours at least worked Sean, I don't think I'll carry it around on a key chain though !

I'll start using it in a couple of days ... have my fingers crossed

Oh, it still works fine. I just can't put it on my keychain. I don't have too much of a use for it right now, but back when I was still in school it was right up there with the bottle opener in importance.