subject: The Uses Of Flash Drives And Why You Need One [print this page] Storing and transferring data has always been a large concern for common computer users. In the times before flash drives were around, data was stored on inconvenient devices such as floppy disks and CDs. Neither managed to fit enough space or were reusable after data was stored on them. However, the invention of the universal serial bus changed storing digital data for good.
Flash drives are conveniently small in size, making them easy to store and transport. Many attach them to key rings and they simply become another accessory. Do not mistake their physical size for their capacity to store space, however. A flash drive the size of a stick of gum could hold up to 16 gigabytes or more of data. That is more space than many early computers had in their entire hard drive!
Not only is the flash drive easy to transport, but easy to use as well. Most modern computers have the software needed to run any flash drive instantly. The drivers needed to run the drive are conveniently stored on there and are able to install instantly in a matter of moments. This makes the flash drive ready to use in the blink of an eye.
There are many benefits to owning a flash drive, but none compare to the ability to quickly transfer files between systems. They are reusable, meaning file scan be transferred on or off a flash drive as many times as the user would like, and add any other file as long as space is available. Important documents and unfinished work can be saved right to the drive and taken home to store and complete in a continent setting.
For more of the technological advanced users, they are used as bootable devices. If an operating system can be loaded onto a drive, it can be installed onto a new computer after the proper BIOS settings are adjusted. What previously took multiple disks can be done without ever swapping anything out of the computer.
Flash drives can be found in other places than computing as well. Many household appliances contain a USB port for the sole use of a flash drive to update its firmware. The digital era effects nearly everything, and nearly everything can use a flash drive to update it.
The flash drive is the next step in logical ways to store and transfer data. They come in many sizes and shapes and can often be customized to fit any users needs. The cost of flash drives does not hinder a potential buyer, as the technology has been greatly reduced in price over the years. CDs are quickly becoming a dinosaur in a world where flash drives are king.
