USB flash drives are so far the safest, smallest, and most comfortable information and file storage devices out in the market today. It is deemed as among the most useful and important devices any businessman, student, or professional needs. The devices are for people who are always on the go, but are always in need to access important files and data in the computer. It has replaced the old-fashioned floppy disks and CDs for computer file storage. A typical flash drive is basically consisting of a non-volatile form of computer memory that could be electrically reprogrammed or erased. No power is required to store, maintain, and retrieve data that could be stored in every USB flash drive unit. Despite that, it could facilitate very fast retrieval and access as well as much better resistance to kinetic shock compared to hard disks. Thus, the popularity and usefulness of USB flash drives have really heightened through the years. USB flash drives consist of flash memory information storage devices. The NAND-type device is integrated with universal serial bus or USB interface. These features make USB flash drives easily removable and rewritable. The properties also make possible the portability and lightweight of such devices. On the average, flash drives usually weigh a little less than a single ounce. In general, USB flash drives are considered solid state storage devices. This means that there is an absence of any moving part internally. Every component is electronic so that there is resistance to any form of physical damage. This feature makes the devices very ideal and reliable for carrying especially because users simply want to maintain overall safety and reliability no matter where they go, whenever. Data are stored through arrays of memory cells that are made of floating-gate transistors. Every unit uses MLC or multi-level cell devices that could store more than a single bit of information per cell. Other operational principles are at hand, including NOR flash, internal charge pumps, and NAND flash. The storage capacity of typical USB flash drives are made to be sufficient for storing up to 30 hours of video and 5,000 files of MP3 songs. The devices are that powerful despite their very small physical size. Available capacity currently ranges from about 256MB to about 128GB. That could be equal to just about 32 DVDs. There are still many other features that users rave about. Lastly, such devices are now made more affordable.
|