| The USB flash drives were first introduced in 1998. | | | | external power supply or the batteries. The drives do |
| The popularity of USB drives has increased since | | | | not depend upon the platform. In order to make |
| then. The USB drive is actually a plug and play device | | | | compatible the USB drives to the older systems that |
| used for storage purpose. USB drives use flash | | | | do not have the USB ports, the manufacturers have |
| memory. The USB drives are so lightweight that you | | | | added some additional features to the USB drives. |
| can even attach it to a key chain. The popular names | | | | These features are like the downloadable drivers and |
| of USB drives are the keychain and flash drives. The | | | | password protection. |
| USB drives are alternatives to the other storage | | | | The USB drives benefits its users because it can |
| devices like the compact disk, zip drive and floppy | | | | retain the data for longer periods after being |
| disks. These USB drives are easily compatible as the | | | | unplugged from the computer. The data in the USB |
| operating system of the computer recognizes the | | | | drive is also retained when the drive is left in and the |
| USB drive when it is plugged into the USB port. The | | | | computer is powered down. That is why the USB |
| operating system recognizes the USB drive by | | | | drives are considered as the most convenient drives |
| assigning a removable drive letter to it. The USB | | | | for backup needs and the transferring of data. The |
| drives are compatible with both computers and digital | | | | USB drives are the substitutes for the floppy disks. |
| cameras. These drives are very compact. To store | | | | The USB flash drives are faster, reliable and can |
| data, the USB drive usually uses USB 1.1 or 2.0 | | | | store more amounts of data as compared to the |
| interface. | | | | previous devices. |
| The USB flash drives are the form of NAND type | | | | The USB drives usually have 3 components. The first |
| flash memory. This type of flash memory was | | | | component is the type A male connector. This |
| developed for the purpose of transferring of data | | | | connector interfaces with the host computer system. |
| information. The NAND type memory has the new | | | | The storage and the balance of information are done |
| and latest technology to record huge amounts of | | | | by the USB mass storage controller. The USB mass |
| data and also has fast writing/erasing speed. USB | | | | storage controller increases the process of data |
| drive is composed of small circuit board which is | | | | transfer, encryption and decoding. The USB flash |
| sealed by a secure case made of metal or rubber. | | | | drive provides the best quality of output with the |
| The purpose of the ssecure case is to protect the | | | | help of the crystal oscillator. |
| inner circuit board. It also has a serial bus connector. | | | | The floppy disks had the problem of not being |
| The new and advanced design of the USB drives | | | | properly read by the floppy drive, and therefore, it |
| help them to record more amount of data. The USB | | | | caused problems to its users while transferring of the |
| drives provide ease and convenient to its users. | | | | data. The floppy disks had many parts inside them |
| After its attachment to the system, it does not | | | | that were movable that is why most of the time the |
| require the system to reboot like other removable | | | | floppy drives were not able to read the data. The |
| drives require. These USB drives also do not rely on | | | | USB drives have overcome this problem. |