I would like to get one of the little plug-in things that allows you
to back-up and transfer data between computers; it should be idiot
proof and compatible with all sorts of computers, and cheap would also
be good. Can you advise on brand and size?

?Memory Stick? seems to be Sony?s propriety name, which also serves as
a generic, but so does ?flash memory? and ?flash drive?. Assuming
they?re all pretty much the same as Thermos and Hoover,  then this bit
isn?t important.
 
There seems to be a difference between USB 2 (good) and USB 1.1 (not
so good). I don?t know what sort I?ve got, or what I?ll be plugging
into. Is this where the separate reader/writer comes in? If it doesn?t
make much difference to the user, then this bit isn?t important
either.

Size and brand do seem to be important. Sony offer a PRO at around
£100 for 512mb, but Buffalo?s 512 is only £43 (including VAT and P&P),
and their 218mb is a cheery £17. Sony?s 512 does DVD quality, but as
I?ll only be moving text and other thin stuff around, this seems
excessive. My whole Documents Folder seems to have grown to only 145mb
in 15 years. So, would 218mb do the trick? And I?ve never heard of
Buffalo; safe? Or should I go for a big brand?

Thankyou.

Hello cherry,

    It sounds as if you are mixing Flash memory with Pen drives here.
Let me break each kind of memory down into categories.


==================
Compact Flash (CF)
==================
  Compact flash, while useable for data, is  primarily used in digital
cameras. The cards come in many storage sizes, such as 32mb, 64mb, up
to the gigabyte range now! I?d stick with a brand name. I?ve had
excellent luck with SanDisk, Lexar, and Kingston, using the same cards
for years, but I?ve had off brands go bad, after working well for some
months. For use in a digital camera, I prefer several small to
midrange size than a very large card. Larger than 256mb takes more
time writing to the card?not good when taking many pictures! This kind
of memory can be used on many devices, such as cameras, some Palm
Tops, and some MP3 players.

See an illustration here:
http://www.kingston.com/products/cf.asp

==================
Sony Memory Stick
==================
Memory sticks are proprietary to Sony, used only in Sony devices, and
is not interchangeable in other brand?s devices. Generally speaking,
it is intended for cameras only, but recently there have been cell
phones and TVs that can read Sony memory sticks. The memory sticks
come in various storage sizes, and are now made by several
manufacturers.
See a photo here:
http://www.memoryx.net/sonmemstic.html


==========================
SD Memory (Secure digital)
==========================
SD memory cards are smaller than compact flash, and are used in
digital cameras, PDAs (Palm Tops) and MP3 players. They can be used to
transfer data from a Palm Top and MP3s to and from computers, and also
come in a large range of storage sizes.
See photo here:
http://www.memoryx.net/secdigflasme.html


The types of memory mentioned above CAN be used to transfer data to
and from computer to computer, but they would require that the
computer have either a built in multi-card reader, or an external
multi-card reader that plugs into a USB port. Most computers do not
have built in readers, until very recently. To use an external card
reader on several computers, you would have to take the reader, with
the card. Some PCs would require drivers installed.

===
USB
=== 
  Now, onto USB. USB 1.1 is not ?bad?. It is the older USB protocol.
USB 2.2 is much faster than USB 1.1  The good news is USB devices are
backward compatible, meaning you can plug in a USB 1.1 device into a
USB 2.o port. It will function at 1.1 transfer speeds.  USB 1.1
transfers at 12Mbps, while USB 2.0 transfers at a theorectical rate of
480Mbps. However, this can be deceptive! Read this: ?Unfortunately,
the phrase "USB 2.0" does not necessarily mean 480Mbps of throughput.
USB 2.0 now has three different signaling rates: Low Speed (1.5Mbps),
Full Speed (12Mbps), and Hi-Speed (480Mbps). The marketing and
advertising departments of product manufacturers like to put the words
"USB 2.0" on all of their product packages. This can be really
deceptive since most consumers will see USB 2.0 and compare it to an
older product with the USB 1.1 moniker and think "USB2 must be better
than USB 1.1!" Naturally, the consumer is unaware of the difference
between "Full Speed" and "High Speed" (this is something akin to the
old naming snafu with floppy disks: does "double density" or "high
density" hold more?).? (Found at the bottom of the page. Near the top
of the page, are photos of variable USB drives)
http://arstechnica.com/reviews/hardware/flash.ars/1

==========
USB drives
==========
   Now we?re talking! I believe this is the device you really want!
They are known as thumb drives, pen drives, geek sticks, portable USB
drives, and cigar drives. These drives work on any Windows XP
computer, without the need to install drivers. These drives also work
on Windows 98 computers, but may need a driver (supplied with the
drive, or downloadable from the manufacturer?s website.) You may need
to reboot after plugging it in on a Windows 98 computer, but not on an
XP computer. I adore my pen drive, and use it to transfer all kinds of
data, photos, and MP3s from computer to computer. My daughter brings
photos over to my house on her pen drive, to print them out on my
photo printer! At work, I hung my drive from a lanyard, around my
neck, allowing me to have my data handy!

  Stick with a good brand. A pen drive of any well known brand will
do. I actually have an off brand that has served me well, but I always
worry a bit. (My data is always backed up though!)

  Since you don?t seem to have a large amount of data, you can survive
nicely with a smaller, and cheaper drive.

I see from searching the UK, that you have some brands available in
the US, and some that are not. Lexmar, Belkin and Sandisk are
available in the UK, and have a good reputation. I?d recommend a 256mb
USB 2.0 for your needs, and if you can afford it, get the next size
up, a 512mb drive! You may find you want to transfer data from other?s
computers as well, when you find out how well these nifty little
devices work! Remember, a USB 2.0 drive will also work in a USB 1.1
port!
http://computing.kelkoo.co.uk/ctl/do/compareNext?partner=kelkoo&brand=I&nbResult=20&maxprice=&catId=100333823&keyword=&type=Pen+Drive&y=6&x=26&catPath=uk%2Fstorage&from=shopbot&page=2

 Something else you may not have thought of, is using e-mail to
transfer files of the size you have. Using a web-based e-mail, such as
Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo mail, and the such, you can e-mail files to
yourself. When you get to your destination, log onto  your web-based
e-mail and retrieve the file. This is a great ?FREE? method of
transferring data.

I hope this sufficiently answers your question. Is any part of this
answer is unclear, please request an Answer Clarification, before
rating.

Regards,
crabcakes

Search Terms
USB pen drives
Compact flash memory
Sony memory stick
SD memory

---

Request for Answer Clarification by cherry-ga on 08 Jan 2005 11:56 PST

Hi crabcakes-ga. Is it too late to ask for a clarification? 

I?m getting stuck with read/write speeds. 

So far I?ve found what look like pukka hi-speed USB 2 pen drives that
specify a transfer rate of 480Mbps, only some of them also give read
and write rates. These range from 6-19Mbps (read) and 4-13Mbps
(write). I've only looked at 512s from SanDisk, Kingston etc and the
variation crops-up even here. Advice please, Cherry.

---

Clarification of Answer by crabcakes-ga on 08 Jan 2005 15:03 PST

Hi again Cherry,

Normally, you would be expected to ask a separate question, once a
question is rated, but I?d be happy to answer this for you!

I do believe you *may* be confused with Mb vs Kb, when you say
?specify a transfer rate of 480Mbps, only some of them also give read
and write rates.?

The speed you may have seen, 480Mbps may have actually been 480Kbps,
which would be considerably slower, but still relatively fast.
Considering this entire answer and clarifications is 44Kb in size, it
would transfer in about a tenth of a second, even at a ?slow? speed.
As you can see from the following examples, the read and write speed
will vary slightly depending on the speed of the host computer. The
read and write speed is almost unnoticeable when transferring
documents.

When you save an open document onto the pen drive, you?ll click on
?Save?, from within your program, and when the window pops open,
you?ll select ?Removable drive?.If transferring data already saved,
you can simply drag the file from your C drive (Or whichever drive it
is stored on) to the removable (pen) drive. You will not notice a lag.
I certainly can not discern the difference in write speed of 1Mbs from
5Mbps, especially when most documents are so small as to be measured
in Kb, not Mb.


?  Read speed up to 9Mb/s 
?  Write speed up to 5Mb/s
http://www.pc-memory-upgrade.co.uk/new-prod/usb-flash-drive-usb2.asp

1MB/s(USB2.0),870KB/s(USB1.1)
http://shopping.lycos.co.uk/search/usb_pen_drives.html

High Performance: DataTraveler Elite is built for speed. Designed to
utilize the high bandwidth of the USB 2.0 Hi-Speed interface, the
DataTraveler Elite cuts to the chase when transferring your data with
its impressive read and write speeds of up to 24MB/sec. and 14MB/sec.
http://www.card-media.co.uk/usb+datadraveler.htm

?Typical USB 1.1 read speeds 1-10 Mbps, write speeds 0.5-2 Mbps (USB
2.0 ~ 10 x faster)
http://members.ozemail.com.au/~leemshs/flash.htm


?  Data Reading Speed (depending on PC system) - 5.5MB/s (USB2.0),
1.0MB/s (USB1.1)
?  Data Writing Speed (depending on PC system): 1MB/s (USB2.0), 870KB/s (USB1.1)
http://www.flash-memory-store.com/cigpro12usbf.html

Hope this helps! I truly would not worry too much about read/write
speed for transferring documents to a pen drive. Now, transferring
photos/MP3s to a very large pen drive or burning data to a CD---then
I?d pay attention to speed. As long as you are transferring text only,
you will be satisfied I?d say, with any read/write speed.

Regards,
crabcakes

By the way, I could not find "Pukka" brand pen drives!

A perfect answer. crabcakes-ga spotted my confusions and conflations
and cleared them up with a series of simple explanations. Now I
understand enough to know what sort of product and brand to look for.
Great!

Thank you for the stars! Have fun!
Sincerely,
crabcakes

Thank you so much! Armed with all this new knowledge, I will use it to
select a modestly priced gizmo for my daughter, a median one for my
husband, and the swanky SanDisk Titanium for myself. I know. Shallow.
Sorry about the pukka reference; I?m not a closet Raj imperialist, but
I?ve just finished my PhD in International Relations, and stuff rubs
off.

Take Care, Cherry

Glad to have helped, and there's not a thing wrong with each family
member having their *own* pen drive!

Congratulations on your doctorate! My daughter got her PhD in
International relations a few years ago (Latin American Politics).

Regards,
crabcakes

I promise this is the last (otherwise GA will think they have a chat-room going!)

Aren't brilliant Doctor Daughters brilliant? I hope she's doing
something good with it. I'm planning to turn mine into a book, so
watch out for International Relations' answer to Steven Hawkings on
Physics(only mine will be more accessable). And you don't look like a
slouch in the Dr department either!
XXX

No need to answer, Cherry... I'm throwing caution to the wind!
Brilliant doctor daughters ARE brilliant! If I were any more proud of
mine, I'd explode into a gazillion proud mother shards!  LOL

My daughter loves academics, and is a wonderful professor with high standards!
She actually answers questions at Google Answers when she can find the
time! Some of her IR answers may interest you!

We'll  both keep an eye out for your book!
Regards, crabcakes

Oooops! I was so busy bragging about my daughter I left out the link
to her answers!

http://answers.google.com/answers/ratings?user=66420698208

Ta ta,
crabcakes