Web Resources
Flash Drive Branding
All of our drives can be branded with your company’s logo and web address and each drive can be preloaded with a file or presentation.
Our metallic drives can also be engraved with your company’s logo and URL as an alternative to a printed design.
Branded Neck Straps
Why not have your neck straps branded with your company logo and contact details?
Many sizes and designs to choose from.
Contact one of our sales staff for more information.
USB Drive Info |
Do you have question about USB Drives |
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What is a USB Flash Drive? >> A. USB flash drives are compact and easy-to-use flash memory data storage devices integrated with a USB interface. The term "USB flash drive" is a generic term used to describe these products without specifying a particular manufacturer. USB flash drives are sold by many different companies under a variety of different proprietary product names such as JumpDrive, DataTraveler and Attaché, to name just a few. The term "USB flash drive" is used in the same manner that the term "DVD" and "CD-RW" are used; to describe the technology in generic terms. Other common names and terms are pen drive, memory stick and thumb drive. They're virtually universally compatible with all Laptop and Notebook PCs running Windows 98SE and higher, as well as many MAC OS systems that have a USB port. USB flash drives sales in 2006 are forecasted to reach 150 million units, with that number growing to 340 million in 2008, consisting of approximately 75% smart drives, according to Web-Feet Research. Q. Why do I need a USB flash drive? A. There are many uses for a USB flash drive, including for personal data storage and for portable desktop computing. The small size of USB flash drives makes them ideal for personal, portable and powerful computing. From mom carrying around picture of her kids, to business travelers carrying their files and desktop with extreme ease and convenience, a USB flash drive is a personal, portable and powerful device. Q. What are the advantages of USB flash drives? A. Flash drives for storage offer several advantages over competitive devices:
Q. How secure are USB flash drives? A. USB flash drives with password protection and/or encryption software are offered by multiple manufacturers. Many USB flash drives allow the user to have a public and private partition- the public part is always accessible, while the private part is secured though password or encryption technology. Check with specific manufacturers for security details of specific USB flash drives. Users can also download encryption software onto USB flash drives from the Internet. Q. What is the difference between a USB flash drive and a USB smart drive? A. A USB smart drive is a USB flash drive with additional capabilities, typically software, that enable it to run active programs from the drive, from encryption technology to personalized Web browsers to Instant Messaging services. Users can purchase USB smart drives, or download software from the Internet that enables existing flash drives to be upgraded to "smart" drives. Q. Where can I get a USB smart drive? A. USB smart drives are available at most consumer electronics retailers, as well as available from many online retailers. Q. Who makes USB flash/smart drives? A. USB flash drives are available from a variety of manufacturers. For a list of members of the USB Flash Drive Alliance, please visit: alliancemembers.html. Q: How can I tell if a USB flash drive is "smart"? A. A USB smart drive is any drive that includes additional bundled software/applications that enables programs to run from the USB drive when plugged into a computer. Check the drive's packaging to determine if a USB flash drive is "smart," or ask a sales representative for assistance. Q. Are "smart" drives more expensive than standard USB flash drives? A. As smart drives are being introduced into the market, they are expected to be priced similarly to standard USB flash drives. Pricing will vary by product and manufacturer, and the additional features, such as storage capacity, will vary pricing. Q. Are there standards for USB smart drives, so software can be interoperable? A. UFDA members are united in support of an open platform and standardization for USB smart drives, allowing maximum interoperability and innovation to drive development. Q: Do USB smart drives compete with U3 drives? A. USB smart drive is a category term for multiple products and technologies from USB flash drive manufacturers. U3 is actually a type of USB smart drive software/hardware developed by SanDisk and M-Systems, which requires applications to be modified for the platform. UFDA advocates open standards for smart technology to encourage maximum innovation. Q. If I use a USB flash drive on a public/shared computer, will the files I open be traceable? A. Virtually all USB "smart" drive applications are designed to not leave any information behind on host computers. As long as no files were saved to the host computer, the data should not be traceable. Q. How can I protect my computer from possible virus corruption when using a USB flash drive? A. In general, the best way to protect your computer against virus attacks is through various available security methods. These may include an Internet fire wall, a virus scanner and other tools screening incoming files for viruses. In the case of USB flash drives, you might want to consider running a virus scan on the contents of the drive before accessing any files. Threre are even some anti-virus applications that can be run directly from the USB "smart" drive to ensure that your drive won't get corrupted by a "host" system that may have a virus. Q. I have an older computer-where can I find a driver to download so I can use a USB flash drive? A. Most USB flash drives use mass storage class drivers. These are included in Windows 2000 and Windows XP. In order to operate under Windows 98 SE, a USB flash drive typically requires a driver that you can obtain from the manufacturer of the USB flash drive, through their customer service support number or Web site. Q. Can I use a USB flash drive as a backu-up for significant files? A. USB flash drives have many usage models, including functioning as a backup of your important files. Q. What is the general architecture of a USB flash drive? A. A USB flash drive consists of non-volatile memory, a controller, clock generator, led indicator and some additional components. Beyond this minimal configuration, other components might be integrated depending on the functionality of the drive, such as an MP3 player, fingerprint sensor, etc. Q. Where can I find the information necessary to write a generic USB flash drive driver? A. Most USB flash drives use the mass storage class drivers incorporated into Windows Millennium, Windows 2000 and Windows XP. The specification for mass storage class devices can be obtained from www.usb.org. Q. I'm looking for a USB flash drive that will work on my Linux OS. A. Most USB flash drives use mass storage class drivers that are supported in newer versions of the Linux operating system. Please check your system configuration for support of mass storage class drivers. Q. What makes a USB drive bootable? A. There are three elements to make a USB drive bootable on a system:
Q. Where can I find technical specifications on USB flash drives? A. In general, USB flash drives work like USB hard disks, using mass storage class drivers. The technical specification for mass storage class devices can be obtained from www.usb.org. Typically, manufacturers provide specifications for their specific products. Please check with your USB flash drive manufacturer for further information. Q. Are USB flash drives intended to be hot-swappable(i.e. you can plug one in, or remove it with the computer already on)? A. The USB interface standard was created with the hot-swappable feature in mind. Any USB device can be inserted or extracted while the computer is on. This applies to USB flash drives as well. It is recommended that they not be removed while data is being read or written to/from the drive. |
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