Take all your data with you.
By Parrish Reinoehl, Pathfinder Networks
November 2005
In last month’s article I discussed the various types of Random Access Memory (RAM for short) that are used in a PC. This month I will be discussing another type of memory- Flash RAM.
Flash RAM, and the devices that use it, is on the verge of becoming the next “big” thing in computers. Flash RAM is a memory technology that allows data to be written to a very small microchip. What’s different about Flash RAM is that it does not require external power to retain it’s storage of data. And, because of its extremely small size, it is very portable as well.
Devices using flash RAM have been on the market for years. Most of the devices were used in the digital camera market. These devices included the Compact Flash and SD cards used to store your digital photos. Many PC users are familiar with these cards. You take photographs with your digital camera then you remove the Compact Flash or SD card from your camera and plug it in to a special card reader on your PC. This allows you to transfer your photos directly to your PC. While this functionality has revolutionized the photography market we are now seeing a great influx of new devices that is set to revolutionize the personal data market.
These new devices use the same type flash technology but house the microchip in a USB enabled package. You may see these devices called Flash Drives, Thumb Drives, or Pen Drives. Many users are already familiar with these flash drives and can not function without them. I carry one on a daily basis myself. I use the flash drive to store my entire collection of PC diagnostic and repair utilities. This flash drive is about the size of a pack of gum and has enough storage to hold every piece of software I need to perform my job. It is also extremely simple to use. All I need to do is plug the flash drive in to a USB port on the PC I am working on and a new drive letter is quickly installed on that PC. By accessing this new drive letter I am able to see all the software on that flash drive. Think of the flash drive as a floppy disk on steroids. Your typical floppy disk can hold about 1.4MB (megabytes) of data. The flash drive I use can hold 512MB of data- or about the same as 400 floppy disks- all small enough to fit conveniently in my pocket!
Flash drives are now available in a wide range of sizes starting at 128MB up to 2GB. Prices range from about $25 for the smallest size up to about $150 or more for the 2GB versions. Many PC users use these devices as portable backup storage devices for their critical data. They copy their critical business files to these drives on a weekly or daily basis and take the flash drive with them. Others use the drives to transport data between their home PC and their work PC. Being that you can store any type of data on these drives, be it Word or Excel documents, photos, mp3’s, programs, databases, etc, the uses are nearly limitless!
There are now companies that are developing new uses for these flash drives. One of these companies, U3, is working with software vendors to create a flash device that will allow you to install your favorite programs and data to the flash drive and use those programs and data on any Windows XP or Windows 2000 PC that has a USB port- all without needing to install those programs on the PC. For example, you are on vacation and wish to check your email while at a hotel. All you would need to do is to plug your U3 enabled device in to one of the hotel’s courtesy computers. When you plug the U3 device in to the PC you will see your own desktop appear on the screen, yes- the desktop you are used to using at your home! This desktop will contain the programs you are used to using and will contain your own documents, photos, etc. Once you are finished with your work you simply unplug the U3 flash device and all traces of your work are erased from that hotel PC. Think of the U3 device as a PC on a chip! You can visit http://www.u3.com/ for more information on this great new technology.
In the years to come we will see more and more uses for these devices and their storage size will continue to grow to tremendous amounts. It is even conceivable, especially when considering the work U3 is now doing, that the function of our PC will drastically change over time. It may come to pass that we will no longer need to install software on our PC. We will, instead, install the software on our personal flash drive and be able to use those programs and data anywhere we can find a PC. The PC’s of the future may just be a terminal that has limited functionality until we plug our personal flash drive in to it- then it would become our own customized PC. Then, when you remove the flash drive, it goes back to its basic functions and is available to the next flash drive user. The possibilities are nearly endless.
If you’d like more information about these great devices stop by our store in Belle Plaza and we will be happy to show you how they work and how they can benefit you.
About the Author:
Parrish Reinoehl is President of Pathfinder Networks; a Niles based technology consulting firm specializing in providing affordable computer services to small businesses and home users including networks, PC support, sales, and service. Pathfinder Networks can be reached at 269-684-7696 or via email at parrish@pathfindernetworks.us
Pathfinder Networks website is http://www.PathfinderNetworks.us
Visit our retail location at 1920 S. 11th St., Niles, MI (in Belle Plaza).
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