What Is Flash Drive Storage?

Flash drive storage devices are a cheap and convenient alternative to PC hard drives.

Most PCs store information on hard drives that contain spinning platters. While this storage medium can handle large amounts of data, the moving parts increase the chances of breakdowns. Flash drive storage eliminates this cause of malfunctions.

Description

Flash drive storage devices contain no moving parts, making them cheap, durable and portable. The average such device is no longer than two inches and weighs just an ounce. They typically attach to computers through a built-in USB connector.

Uses

This type of storage can quickly fill in when a regular hard drive runs out of space. It is also a quick way of transferring multimedia files that are bigger than the capacities of CD and DVD disks. As of August 2010, the largest flash drives hold 64 GB.

Costs

According to Amazon.com, as of August 2010, a 4 GB flash drive can run about $9.00. At the high end, a 64 GB version can cost about $140.

References

• Everything USB: What is a flash drive?
• CNET Reviews: USB Flash Drives
• Amazon: Kingston Data Traveler I
• Amazon: Kingston Data Traveler 200