| Back then, floppy disks were the popular medium for | | | | as actual storage instead. |
| taking files on the go and transferring them from one | | | | USB Technology |
| computer to another. These cheap storage mediums | | | | The USB technology isn't anything new and started |
| weren't so reliable since the disk capacity was so | | | | out with mice and other peripherals adopting the |
| low, transfer speeds were slow and they can easily | | | | technology for better compatibility and speed. USB |
| be damaged. Optical discs started replacing the floppy | | | | devices were most famous for their easy usage as |
| disks boasting higher capacities and serve as great | | | | soon as the device gets plugged in. No complicated |
| backup mediums, but the data needs to be burned | | | | setups or drivers were needed which is why it was |
| and that can be time consuming depending on both | | | | the port of choice. Unlike other ports, USB ports act |
| the drive and the disc. Rewritable's were more reliant | | | | as a source of power providing low power to |
| for travelling, but the data needs to be completely | | | | devices which is just enough for flash devices to |
| wiped out for new data to come in. All optical discs | | | | operate without any external power source like the |
| can still be subjected to damage from scratches and | | | | bigger external hard disks. The fact that they are |
| harmful elements as well. | | | | solid-state storage devices explains this since there |
| All of these issues were about to be solved with the | | | | are no mechanical parts inside. |
| introduction to USB flash drives and due to their | | | | Both Technologies Combined |
| decreasing costs and higher storage capacities while | | | | The power of the flash memory and connectivity of |
| maintaining their small profiles, USB flash drives are | | | | the USB make the perfect connection to a reliable |
| the most popular storage devices for easy | | | | storage device at a cheap cost. Both of these are |
| transferring and worry free travelling. Here is a look | | | | technologies that have been in existence since the |
| on the technology that powers these amazing | | | | earlier days of computing, but none of them are |
| devices: | | | | going away anytime soon. The technology continues |
| Flash Memory Technology | | | | to grow as USB devices are upping the storage |
| Flash drives are bi-products of recent advances in | | | | capacities, making the transfer speeds faster, |
| microprocessor technology. They are not simply | | | | externally modifying them to last longer and take |
| miniaturized versions of standard sized hard drives | | | | more abuse and add better security features. |
| where moving parts are included. Instead, flash drives | | | | Microprocessor technology is also showing signs of |
| use a type of electronic memory known as flash | | | | advancement allowing USB flash drives to be thinner |
| memory. This same technology that powers flash | | | | and smaller than ever, yet still manage to maintain |
| memory is also used by computers, digital cameras | | | | high storage capacities. This is why flash drives have |
| and gaming consoles as RAM (random-access | | | | become so popular amongst regular and heavy |
| memory) because they are fast and easy to access. | | | | computer users. |
| USB drives take advantage of that speed and use it | | | | |