| Do you remember 3.5" floppy disks? Chances are, if | | | | around with you (a hassle), you couldn't use it with a |
| you are at least twenty years old, you do. Despite a | | | | new computer unless you installed the correct drivers |
| confusing name (they were stiff, not floppy, and | | | | first. |
| square, not a disk), the stalwart floppy disk was simple, | | | | CDs were slightly better. Most computers had CD |
| cheap, and universal. Several attempts to replace it, | | | | drives and could read the CD. Not every computer, |
| such as with Zip Disks and Rewritable CD burners, | | | | however, had the CD-RW Drive necessary for editing |
| failed - consumers preferred the floppy disk. Then | | | | files on the CD. Even when using a computer equipped |
| USB flash drives came along, and the venerable floppy | | | | with a CD-RW drive, you couldn't edit the files unless |
| disk went the way of the dinosaur almost overnight. | | | | you were using the same CD-RW software that the |
| Why? Why were USB Flash Drives successful where | | | | CD was created with. Rewritable DVDs have similar |
| other technologies has failed? In a nutshell, because of | | | | problems. |
| their convenience, simplicity, and storage capacity. | | | | USB Flash Drives, on the other hand, require no special |
| Flash Drives come in a wide range of storage | | | | hardware to connect to a computer, and no special |
| capacities, for an equally wide range of prices. A | | | | software to view or edit the files saved inside it. As |
| floppy disk held less than one and a half megabytes. | | | | long as the computer has a USB port-and any |
| USB Flash drives today contain storage measured in | | | | computer built in the last ten years does-you can |
| gigabytes! If they are holding only one or two | | | | connect your USB Flash Drive to the PC in a matter |
| gigabytes, USB flash drives can be bought for less | | | | of seconds. True, the computer has to have the |
| than ten dollars. | | | | correct driver to access and use USB Flash Drives, |
| In comparison, Zip Drives never held over 750 | | | | but most operating systems today have those drives |
| megabytes (and at a hefty price, too!). Blank CDs, | | | | already built in-so unless you come across a computer |
| although cheap, topped out at 700 megabytes, and | | | | still running Windows 98, you can be sure your USB |
| even blank DVDs have a limit of 4.3 gigabytes of | | | | Flash Drive will work. Best of all, no special software is |
| storage space (8 for the expensive double-layer | | | | needed to save or edit files to USB Flash Drives-just |
| discs). And, of course, you'd need at least 711 floppy | | | | drag and drop! |
| disks to match the storage capacity of even a | | | | Finally, flash memory drives are very convenient to |
| one-gigabyte USB Flash Drive. | | | | use. They are more durable than CDs and DVDs, |
| USB Flash Drives are also much more easy to use | | | | which can be broken easily and scratched even |
| than their competition. Floppy disks lasted so long | | | | easier. USB Flash Drives are much smaller than Zip |
| because every computer (back then, at least) had a | | | | Disks or floppy disks. USB Flash Drives are about the |
| floppy drive, guaranteeing you could read and edit the | | | | size of a small pack of gum, and get smaller and |
| data on your floppy disk on any PC. Zip Disks could | | | | slimmer from there. Many are designed to attach to |
| only be used on computer that had Zip Drives-and | | | | your key chain, making it hard to lose it and |
| most didn't. Even if you carried an external Zip Drive | | | | guaranteeing you'll always have it with you. |