Thumb Drives

[tobacco]

With them gaining in popularity, thought a poll on them was in order to help those thinking of getting one or in my case, overcoming a bad first experience (completely died in less than 3 months) and looking at purchasing another. Your usage input would also be valuable here as well.

So, let's get started shall we ;)

Bought a cheapo (on sale for $10.00 and i see why :( ) Kingston Data Traveler 4GB that died after just a short time. Was using it as an additional backup source and was just starting to experiment with portable apps - running Firefox from the drive.

If you answered yes, please include the following:

- brand name
- how long you have used it
- any positive/negative experiences
- your favorite portable app ( just 1 )
- besides data transfer/backup, portable apps - have you found additional usages ?? Please specify!
- do you have it protected with encryption

[Eice]

Using a 4GB drive; a generic, unbranded product from one of the local factories. It's been with me for two years and still working well. I store all my data on the cloud (Gmail + Google Docs + Facebook), and the drive itself has a configured copy of Ubuntu installed on it, as well as a handful of Windows apps in case the machine I'm working on doesn't allow USB boot.

[Carver]

I bought 2x2GB SanDisk cruser 2 years ago for Data transfer and to backup a couple of data bases and anything else I have to do and it was a 20.00 each special at staples.

[njespo]

i've got all kinds and sizes....hp, pny, etc....i use them for backup, transfer files, readyboost, etc....

[TOMxEU]

I use an old Voyager 4GB as a setup USB for Windows 7, I find it better than DVD.
I have Pretec 8GB Bulletproof on my keychain for backup, portable apps, data transfer.
It is a pretty durable little thing - resistant from water, fire, bullet and any heavy impact.
I just had to glue up a screw-bottom part, because I almost lost it, no idea why it was like that.

I prefer a file encryption, I have set NTFS file permissions not to allow writting to root, so no autorun viruses allowed, I have allowed only writting to specific folder.
Favorite portable app? Well that is hard to say, they are all handy, so you can not really pick just one. I can not wait for an affordable USB, like 256GB Kingston.

[nikanthpromod]

4GB Transcend JFv10 & 4GB Kingston Datatraveller For Data tansfer Only8)

[Woodgiant]

I have a 32GB Toshiba USB Flash Drive that I use for backup and for my RoboForm2Go password manager. I have never had any problems with my Usb stick, which I have had for a couples of years. Even my son have played football whit it, "serysly" :ouch: For Protection I use Ninja USB Protection . :)

Best Regards to all

[tobacco]

Nice to see thumbs still working fine after a couple of years. Anyone using Rohos Mini Drive??

[Sully]

I have many of them. My favorite are Corsairs - fast fast fast. My least favorite are DanElec. I have 512mb - 16gb ones. I have bought a lot of cheap ones just to have them on hand. I have found that if I am serious about using one though, it is better to buy a good and fast one. Saves time and money in the transfer rates.

I have also been using SD memory lately. The ultra speed III stuff is pretty snappy and finally coming down in price to rival thumb drives.

Sul.

[tobacco]

-{ Quote: "I have also been using SD memory lately. The ultra speed III stuff is pretty snappy and finally coming down in price to rival thumb drives.

Sul." }-

Hmmm..... never thought of that. Though card readers aren't as available/common as usb ports.

[Noob]

I think i voted for the wrong option xD
Anyways, i got like 5 thumb drives, most of them are used for data transfer.
But 2 (The biggest ones 16GB) are for data backup :P
Like my music library etc ;D

[AvinashR]

I use them for several things ...

I have 1 GB, 4 GB and 8 GB USB Drives (aka Thumb Drive) ..

[CiX]

1 4 GB Thumb Drive here (Sandisk CruzerBlade). I use my thumb drive for data transfer and running portable apps.

[wtsinnc]

I have five- five different brands.
One each Crucial, PNY, Kingston, Transcend, and SanDisk.
Capacity: (1) 2gb, (2) 4gb, and (2) 8gb .

I use them for software installer archiving, file transfer, temporary storage- all of the usual stuff except rescue.
I use the Paragon, Macrium, Kaspersky, or a Linux-based CD for that.

[acr1965]

U se thumb drives mainly to play my music in my car stereo.

[Mr.PC]

For several things (i.e. Storage/Back-Up, running portable Apps, Corp. Presentations etc.)
-Corsair Voyager/128 GB.
-Kingston/256 GB (I just ordered it! ;D).

For the time being, I use No External HD or SSD.

[YeOldeStonecat]

Love em, been using them for years. Very reliable, very handy.

Main reason they fail on people? Improperly "powered down" via the GUI in the systray, before physically removing from the slot.

[wat0114]

Two 8 GB drives; one for ReadyBoost (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ReadyBoost) and the other for data backups.


Used both for 6 months
Brand: Patriot & Silicon Power
2 GB Truecrypt file on the data backup drive
Only positive experiences

[tobacco]

-{ Quote: "Two 8 GB drives; one for ReadyBoost (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ReadyBoost)" }-

How much ram you packin?? See a diff with readyboost??

[Osaban]

-{ Quote: "

- brand name
- how long you have used it
- any positive/negative experiences
- your favorite portable app ( just 1 )
- besides data transfer/backup, portable apps - have you found additional usages ?? Please specify!
- do you have it protected with encryption" }-

Many:

1X SanDisk cruzer micro 16 GB - almost 2 years - physical size is inconvenient (too wide) as it can't be plugged next to an other USB plug- no encryption.

4X LG XTick 4GB - less than a year - very cheap - no encryption

1X IOCELL 2GB - more than 3 years - very small - no encryption

No problems so far. I use them mainly for data transfer and temporary storage.

[wat0114]

-{ Quote: "How much ram you packin?? See a diff with readyboost??" }-

2 GB and my answer here :) :

http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?p=1748437#post1748437

[xxJackxx]

I have 2 of them and use them solely for the purpose of transferring data between machines when they are not all on at the same time. ReadyBoost never made a measurable difference and they are far too small for backup. I use portable hard drives for that. I do like the thumb drives for the ease of use and reliability.

[SirPeterPan]

- 8GB Sony Micro Vault Click USB flash drive
- 2 years
- No issues at all, always working as expected
- SafeKeys (http://www.aplin.com.au/)
- ReadyBoost can be good on low-end PCs
- No, but the backup inside is hidden and encrypted