What Is Flash Memory?
What is flash memory? It's a good question, and one I kept asking too. After all, long before I actually started using flash memory, I'd heard about it. People talked about it like it was the most amazing thing ever, like they had discovered a new center of the universe.
None of them, however, seemed to be able to tell me exactly what is flash memory. I tried looking it up on the internet, but I started getting confused and off-center by all the names. Punch in "flash memory" on a search engine, and you get USB pen drives, key chain memory, stick memory which was it?
What Flash Memory Is
Turns out flash memory is all of the above. Pen drives, key chain memory, stick memory; they're all the same thing. Flash memory is an amazing tool that goes by many names. But at the center of all the names and confusion is the simple fact that flash memory is a form of EEPROM.
"Sure, EEPROM," you might say, "What the heck is that?" Or maybe you might not say that, but I did when someone at the computer center finally told me that's what flash memory is. EEPROM is a type of ROM, or Read Only Memory. And what's Read Only Memory? We'll get into that on the next page, Pen Drive Basics.
Pen Drive Basics
So I made a page called What Is Flash Memory, and said flash memory is basically a form of EEPROM, which is a type of Read Only Memory. But I'm guessing some of you are still (understandably) confused on what this has to do with pen drive basics, so I'll go into things a little more. I'll start with the center of the problem, which is "What is Read Only Memory?"
Read Only Memory and Pen Drive Basics
Read Only Memory, or ROM, is the special kind of memory at the center of a pen drive. ROM can hold information in storage even without power. Because of this, you can take your flash memory USB pen drives anywhere, and it will hold your data for at least ten years.
Now, continuing our pen drive basics talk, there are a few letters in EEPROM that I have yet to discuss. I can't help it; it's a big acronym, and much easier to swallow in smaller bites. The "P" means that the particular breed of ROM at the center of flash memory is Programmable.
Now we're left with the two "E's." These stand for Electrically Erasable. Thus, we discover that flash memory is really Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory. And when it comes to pen drive basics, that's pretty much the center of it all.
About USB Memory
The first thing I can tell you about USB memory is that you use it by plugging it into your USB port. This means that in order to take advantage of USB flash memory, it helps to know a little about these ports. Where the USB port is centered on your machine may vary, but the port itself is small and rectangular, and you should be able to find it easily.
USB ports are specifically used to carry low speed data, which makes them perfect for flash memory sticks. They're often also used for other peripherals, such as joysticks, web cameras, or keyboards. But we're talking about USB memory, so we'll stick with that as the center of our USB discussion.
USB Flash Memory
By choosing a USB pen drive, you take perfect advantage of the USB port. A great thing about USB memory is that you don't have to go to your control center and reboot your computer for it to recognize something inserted into the USB port. You can keep working as you insert your flash memory stick and retrieve a file you need.
That said, it's usually best to turn off your flash memory stick before you unplug it from the computer. This is because at any given time, you may well have static electricity on your body, no matter how many Bounce sheets you used in the dryer. Static electricity can mess with the pen drive's center and ruin your stored data, so you want to make sure it's off before you remove it.
USB Flash Memory
One of the many excellent reasons to use USB flash memory is the ease of the USB port itself. Unlike other ports, like parallel ports, you can use a practically endless number of USB ports. It is possible to use splitters and plug up to 127 different USB pen drives or other peripherals into your computer work center at one time.
Using USB Flash Memory
At the moment, most people use floppy disks as the center of their computer storage and transfer system. For example, if you want to transfer data from one computer to another, what do you do? If you aren't yet using USB flash memory, you most likely take several boxes of floppy disks, and use them to move your data.
Another data-movement option for those without USB flash memory is email. Email was the center of my existence for awhile when it came to data transfer. It's effective, but it also can take a long time to download all those files.
But when I learned about USB memory, my whole outlook on data transfer changed. With a flash memory pen drive, it has never been easier to transport data. A pen drive can easily support about 710 times more data than a 1.44MB floppy disk, which will quickly make it the center of your data transporting system.
Key Chain Memory
The coolest thing about key chain memory is clear by the name: it's a center for flash memory that you can actually carry on your keychain. But unlike most keychain decorations, a memory stick is a plug and play device that you can plug into any USB port. Once you insert your pen drive, your computer should automatically detect it.
With the help of your keychain memory center, you can easily read, write, copy, delete and move data from your hard disk drive to the flash drive. You can also move data from your flash pen drive to your hard disk. You can even play MP3 files, run applications, or view videos directly from the pen drive.
Keychain Memory And The Cool Factor
With most computer hardware, there's not much of a cool factor. Sure, when Apple came out with the iMac in all their colors, there was a cool factor, but for the most part, finding computer components has centered around what they can do, not how they look. But with keychain flash memory, that may all be changing.
When something's dangling from your keychain, you want it to look cool. And choosing a USB pen drive for keychain memory gives you that opportunity to grab the cool factor. Keychain flash memory centers come in many styles and colors, so you can make a fashion statement even while upgrading your computer storage capacity.
Memory Stick
If you went to a learning center and took a course in Compact Flash Memory 101, one of the first things you'd learn about would be the memory stick. The memory stick is probably the most common form of compact flash memory. It's small, convenient, and plugs simply and easily into a USB port.
A pen drive memory stick is so compact that you can carry it with you anywhere. This makes it ridiculously simple to keep all your important computer files ready, should you need access to them. Anyone who needs to transport files will want a flash memory stick at the center of their computing world.
Memory Stick Capacity
You can get flash memory drives with many different capacities. Some only need a memory stick with 128 MB storage, while others will want as much as 1 GB. Only you can judge how much of a flash memory center you need, and buy accordingly.
Honestly, you'll be amazed by how much a flash memory center such as a memory stick can change your daily life. I, for one, have cut out floppy disks altogether. I also no longer drag my laptop to and from work, since I easily transport all my necessary files via my keychain memory pen drive.
Choosing A USB Pen Drive
There are many things to consider when choosing a USB pen drive. However, no matter which of the USB pen drives you choose, you’ll be wowed by their convenience. All USB flash memory centers are free of batteries, free of additional software or cables, and are compatible with any computers that have a USB port.
So You’re Choosing A USB Pen Drive…
Let’s say you’ve read this site, done some research on your own, and decided it’s time to set about choosing a USB pen drive. Naturally, you’ll want to look closely at all your USB memory stick options. The first thing to consider when looking into a flash memory center is the amount of memory you actually need.
Flash memory centers come in a wide variety of storage capacities. You can find memory sticks that hold just 128 MB, or ones that hold 1 GB. Before spending the money and choosing a USB pen drive, you want to look at your actual storage needs, so you make sure you buy a pen drive with enough memory to accommodate them.
As you think over your flash memory options, you’ll also want to look at style. Perhaps you want to carry your flash memory center on your keychain for convenience. Flash memory is one of those areas in which you don’t have to sacrifice style for substance; you can have an excellent memory stick that also happens to look terrific.
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