Re: USB flash drives
Originally posted by NP3
... looking into buying a USB flash memory drive.
He goes from mac to pc and back... can you recommend a good one for a teacher (probably around 128 MB)
Happily, you have some amazing options of late, including alternatives.
If speed is not a factor, browse the MacMalls online and make a list of who has what for how much.
http://www.macmall.com/macmall/shop/custom/memory_deals/compact_flash.asp
Or, go over to your nearest Fry's Electronics and check out the dozen vendors hocking their wares on peg boards & shelves. Tons of choices.
SPEED CHOICE. In a straight USB Flash Memory, there is slow USB 1.1 and Fast USB 2.0, with appropriate price differential. Slow flash is slow.
Lexar Media
JumpDrive 64MB USB 1.1 portable flash drive Only $14.99
Faster USB 2.0 is highly recommended.
NO Reader required!
ALTERNATIVE. If the teacher has a
Digital Camera (Nikon, Pentax, Fuji, etc.) especially an SLR ($1,000 up) using CompactFlash, or
SecureDigital (SD) consider
speed rated Lexar media cards from 12x up to 40x (unspecified cards are only 1x or 2x and are
very slow); other flash media have no speed rating so assume SLOW.
Lexar Media 256MB 32x high-speed Secure Digital (SD) card_with a minimum sustained write speed of 4.8MB/sec, 32X speed rated SD cards offer higher performance than standard SD cards Only
$75
Lexar Media 256MB 40x Professional CompactFlash card with Write Acceleration (WA) Technology_which allows digital cameras and CompactFlash cards to work together perfectly to pass and store images more quickly and achieve image-write speeds never before possible. Only
$78 40x is only $3 more than 32x !
512MB 40x Professional CompactFlash card Only $169.99
1GB 40x Pro CompactFlash card Only $299.99
4GB 40x Pro CompactFlash card with Write Acceleration (WA) Technology, Type II_
Only $1,559
http://www.macmall.com/macmall/search/product_list.asp?id=2546
Fast CompactFlash use FireWire 400 readers to take advantage of the speed, often there are deals that give you a reader FREE. Otherwise, $40-50
USB 2.0 readers 8 in 1 are under $40.
http://www.lexarmedia.com/readers/index.html
PC/Mac cross platform, some faster media require download of drivers on each platform which enhance speed of transfering data.
Digital Film Designed for the Professional Photographer
For the professional shooter who needs immediate confirmation they've captured "the shot" or wants to identify accurate exposure, levels, or bracketing range - Lexar Media's patented 4X, 12X, and 40X speed
( 1X=150KB/sec.)
( 4X=600KB/sec.)
(12X=1.8MB/sec.)
(32X=4.8MB/sec.) and
(40X=6.0MB/sec.) transfer rate respectively) is critical. Ideal for fast-paced applications such as photojournalism, sports and fashion, Lexar Media's High-Speed Series and Professional Digital Film brings out the ultimate performance from your professional equipment. Pros cannot afford to wait to review their photos while SLOW cards crunch data. Hence, high-speed Pro cards.
PREDICTION: Hard Drives are old technology and have hit a technology wall for speed and size. Flash Memory has no parts and will eventually replace mechanical hard drives.
Ten years ago a 128 MB hard drive was a big deal, today drives are measured in GB, not MB.
Flash Media have already progressed from 64MB to 4GB, while large cards are expensive, cost will come down. Camcorder manufacturers are chomping at the bit for large flash memory cards (40GB+) at reasonable prices. DV tape is all but dead, HD are dying, 35mm film is all but dead for recording images, FLASH is the future!!!
