Zip Drives vs. Flash Drives

Computer storage units have changed a great deal over the last few years. As technology advances, the room it takes to save data has become smaller. The debate over zip drives vs. flash drives involves the advantages to both types of storage. The flash drive lives up to its name; it comes in designer colors and shapes, and is personalized to fit your needs.

Zip Drives

Zip drives can be internal or external, a type of floppy drive that uses disks to store information on. The size of the drive depends on the type; if it is an external drive, the dimensions can range from approximately 3 inches wide by 6 inches in length. Internals are the same size as a 3½-inch floppy drive. The disks used to store the data are 3½ inches and approximately ¼ inch thick. Installation of software is required to operate the zip drive and use the disks. Disk storage comes in 64 mb to 250 mb. The other consideration with a zip drive is the care; some drives are sensitive to movement, and all of them need to be cleaned regularly. The other issue is the storage of the disks and the drive. Neither should be stored near magnetic objects; if they are, then you can expect them not to contain data. Magnets and similar electrical equipment can destroy you zip discs.

USB Drives

USB drives, also called thumb drives and flash drives, do not share the same issues. These are rightly named as the majority are the size of your thumb. The data storage is housed in a plastic case, with a plug on one end that directly plugs into the USB drive on your computer. The care with these is to ensure that the plastic casing does not get broken and stays dry; cleaning is simple. USB drives come in a range of colors and styles, and now you can have them engraved/imprinted with your company logo or initials to give as gifts. You can purchase USB drives with memory storage of 1 gig, 2 gig and up to 4 gig. As technology advances, so will the storage capacity of these types of drives.

Comparisons

The use of these two drives would depend on your personal preferences and what you are using them for. Rather than storing all you important data on your hard drive, having a USB or zip drive is a great alternative. For smaller filing systems, a zip drive is great and works in an office where a desktop computer is used, and the drive can sit on top of the case. The disks fit into a box approximately the size of a small shoe box. Each disk has a surface face that will hold a small label. The space for storage is an issue, especially if you are confined with little storage room.

Whereas the USB drive is small enough to hide in a pencil box, a paper clip box will do as well. Now there are thumb drives as small as a paperclip and as thin, with the storage capacity of up to 4 gig of memory. The casing is barely there--just enough to cover the important parts--and comes with a case to store it in, so the contact points are protected. Because of the size of the USB drive, storing it is not an issue--especially if you use a laptop. With most carry cases the pockets make the perfect storage space, and with the larger capacity for memory there is less need to purchase several.

Benefits

With the comparable size of thumb drives, storage is not as much of an issue as with the zip drives. The biggest benefit to using a thumb drive comes when it is time to back up you system, and with the various types of storage there are several choices. However, a USB drive or two will hold the backup of your computer system. Most systems require up to 16 mb of memory (an estimate), depending on how much you have on your computer. This means you will need at least 20 zip drives, whereas with the thumb drive and the memory you purchase, this is reduced to three or four. The benefits do not stop there; the chance of wiping out the data is minimal, short of stepping on the drive and crushing it, and even then it is possible to salvage the data. Just do not submerge in water to test for water proofing; the technology is not there just yet.

Summing Up

The choice between having to store not just equipment but the disks of a zip drive over a few thumb drives that are small enough to hide in a paper clip box should not be difficult. But if you are on the line, then perhaps considering the cost would help. Choosing the zip drive and disks can incur greater costs--first the price of the drive, then the disks and finally the storage for the disks. If it is an internal drive, then the cost of installation must be considered. Also, the zip disk storage is limited to 250 mb and you need several of them to back up your system.

The USB drive prices are as low. Storing these will take less room and using them is simple. And some companies offer laser engraving and bulk pricing as a way to advertise you or your company. The USB drive offers memory sizes from 64 mb to 4 gig, and it takes less of them to back up your system. There is no special software to use these devices; simply plug and play or drag and drop.

Resources

• Pantone
• RPE4USB