USB Flash

A USB flash drive is a convenient, lightweight way to achieve data portability. While the 512mb size has been standard for some time, larger USB flash drives are becoming the norm. Models with the capacity to store up to 1 gb of data without adding much bulk to the equipment's small design are becoming increasingly affordable.

The Convenience of Portable USB Flash Drives

USB flash drives were initially developed as an alternative to the floppy disc, which was becoming obsolete thanks to its relative unreliability and small memory capacity. Since USB flash drives don't have moving parts, they are able to retain data more reliably, with high-end models offering users up to one million write-and-erase cycles.

These convenient electronic products are, in essence, a small printed circuit board that is encased in plastic, metal or rubber. Generally, they are priced according to their storage capacity--a 512mb drive will usually retail for much less than a larger 1 gb drive. Structurally speaking, these drives consist of four main components: a male-type connector, a storage controller, a NAND memory chip and a crystal oscillator. Some USB flash drives even come with unused space, allowing the user to add a second memory chip at a later date if an increased storage capacity is desired.

CD Dimensions Inc. stocks a comprehensive inventory of electronics products for a complete range of data storage and replication applications. The online resale company was founded in 1996, and has since grown to service more than 30,000 accounts around the globe.