A reader of Mac-a-ro-nies purchased a 128MB Lexar Jump Drive for me from my Amazon Wish List. I scored a second Lexar, a version with a security feature, from a clearance sell at an unsavvy general merchandise retailer who had marked it way down. A third flash device, an EZ-Drive 64MB, was a corporate gift. Now seems like a good time to examine the phenomenon of the tiny drives that can also double as keychains, pens or MP3 players.

The drives consist of miniscule motherboards which contain flash memory operating software and space for storage. Flash memory is replacing modules that required bulky housing such as floppy and Zip drives.

Removable, easily transportable mass storage has gone though significant technological development with the uptake of solid state non-volatile NAND memory as used in CompactFlash and Secure Digital.

. . . USB Drive is now manufactured by numerous companies, each quite similar in the characteristics the offer, however all provide the essential functionality of removable mass storage via the USB port.  What makes the USB drive or pen drive so popular is the wide variety of systems into which it may be connected whilst providing seamless compatibility.  Small and medium sized companies and universities now find the USB drive one of the most reliable methods of transferring data such as PowerPoint presentations between sites or individual computers.

. . .The USB drive flash memory is small and non-volatile.  That is, devices such as the flash drive retain data even after power is non longer made available. 

Most are USB devices, though there is a more expensive type featuring a FireWire connection. The first generation of the drives was USB 1 and still predominates. However, USB 2 drives have become available at a higher price point. The drives are Windows and Macintosh compatible, though Windows computers may require a driver be installed.