Thumb, Jump, Flash, USB, WHAT?!?!

Thumb Drive . . . Jump Drive . . . Flash Drive . . . USB Drive . . . it's all the same and it's all the rage. As of February 1, 2007, the Waterloo Public Library no longer supports the use of floppy disks and recommends using a Thumb Drive. Or a Jump Drive. Or a Flash Drive. Or a, well, you get the picture. So, what exactly is this all about anyway and why so many names?

It is always a good idea to not only save any information you are working on when it comes to computers, but to create a back-up of that data as well. You just never know when your machine might decide 'enough is enough' and just plain pass away peacefully, leaving you to wonder if you will ever get see your thesis paper again or your budget that you painstakingly created over the course of two months. A thumb drive might be your answer.

All you have to do is plug in your thumb drive to a USB port on your computer, save your information to it, and remove it from your computer and voila' - you have created a back-up of your information! The web site www.usbflashdrive.org also offers the following applications: "There are many uses for a USB flash drive, including for personal data storage and for portable desktop computing. The small size of USB flash drives makes them ideal for personal, portable and powerful computing. From mom carrying around picture of her kids, to business travelers carrying their files and desktop with extreme ease and convenience, a USB flash drive is a personal, portable and powerful device."

Are they Reliable?
Yes - In my own personal experience, a jump drive can survive the washer and dryer - more than once.

Are they Affordable?
Yes - If you are just a little patient, you can find great deals on flash drives. For example, I purchased one a couple of weeks ago that has 1.0GB (1,000MB) of memory on it for $19.98. Just a year ago, that same drive would have cost me approximately $80-$100.

Where can I buy one?
Any of your major retail outlets now carry them - Target, Wal-Mart, Staples, OfficeMax, etc.

What brand should I buy?
In my own personal experience, the brand name doesn't seem to matter. USB drives are sold by Lexar, Memorex, PNY Technologies, and Viking InterWorks, just to name a few. You may come across people who do have brand loyalty for one reason or another, but again, I haven't seen a difference across brands.

Why so many names?
The term "USB flash drive" is a generic term used to describe these products without specifying a particular manufacturer. USB flash drives are sold by many different companies under a variety of different proprietary product names such as JumpDrive, TravelDrive and Attaché, to name just a few. www.usbflashdrive.org

The thumb, jump, flash, USB drive is not a wave of the future; it is technology that is here and now. USB flash drives sales in 2006 are forecasted to reach 150 million units. That number is expected to grow to 340 million in 2008, according to Web-Feet Research. Don't get left behind - start using your TJFUSB Drive today!