Posts Tagged ‘portable storage devices’
June 9th, 2009 | 
Author: One important and inevitable fact about computer hard drives: they are not always reliable. Sure, hard drives can store large amounts of data. But your hard drive can reach its storage limit, succumb to virus and spyware infections, or fail for some unknown reasons. When your hard drive experiences one or two of these situations, then most likely you will lose all your important files. What a big waste of time and resources, isn’t it? That is a big no-no if you use your computer for business or any money making venture.
Wondering how to prevent losing your important computer files and documents? You can backup computer data using various portable storage devices such as CDs, DVDs, flash drives, and external hard drives. However, the problem with these storage devices is that you still run the risk of losing your valuable files due to fire, theft, or other unforeseen circumstances. Also, viruses and malicious software programs can easily wipe out all information stored in your flash drives or floppies.
It’s recommended that you try an online data backup service. It’s the best and safest way to prevent computer data loss whether for personal or business use. This backup computer data service automatically and regularly stores all critical files in a remote server.
An online data backup service offers a lot of advantages over storage devices. First, it enables you to access your documents from any computer. That is possible because the online backup service uses Internet connection to save your files.
Backing up your files is also easier with online backup services. Imagine spending hours saving large files on your flash drive, burning files on CDs, and labeling them. Storing files using an online backup service is definitely a hassle-free experience. All it takes is installing a program in your computer, and that’s it! The service will then start backing up your data on its remote server.
Using an online backup computer data service, you can easily share pictures, songs, and videos to your family and friends without worrying about security and privacy problems. This service gives you the option to pick only those files you want to share with other people. An online backup service can help you keep your files safe and secure because it offers password protection and encryption.
What’s more, online data backup services are affordable. Some are even free. The best ones can provide unlimited data storage space. Investing in a good online backup service is a wise move in making sure that critical business files are kept safe and secure at all times. And when you need to retrieve the files, you can do so in a matter of minutes. Just make sure that you have a fast Internet connection before you subscribe to an online backup service.
If you don’t want your files to disappear in a blink of an eye, then don’t think twice about getting an online backup computer data service. It can definitely save your business from losing profits due to lost files.
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Article Source: Backup Computer Data-A Must Have Service
In the age of computers it is essential to know about the various accessories that are used in a computer. Pen drive is one such accessory which has made the carrying and transfer of files from one machine to another very easy and fast. In a `pen` you can literally carry your entire office.
Pen drive is integrated with USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface. It is a NAND (which stands for `Not and`) type of flash memory technology that excels at reading, writing and erasing data from flash memory. Their size ranges from 1 inch to 4 inches or 2.5 cm to 10 cm. They are much smaller than floppy discs and weighs less than 2 oz.
The storage capacity of a general pen drive ranges between 64 MB to 64GB. While they show a steady increase in storage and price per gigabyte, some pen drives have a capacity of one million re-writes or erase cycles with a ten year data retention capacity when connected to USB 1.1 or USB 2.0.
The major advantages of USB pen drives over other portable storage devices such as floppy discs or DVD/CD is their compact shape and size, they operate faster and can hold more data. As the pen drives are not associated with any moving parts, they operate more reliably.
In recent times, the more updated computers lack floppy disc drives while USB ports appear in every current mainstream PCs and Laptops. Most of the pen drives use the USB mass storage system which can be supported by any modern Operating System such as Windows, Mac OSX, Linux and other Unix oriented systems. Pen drives using USB ports function faster than the optical disk drives.
The pen drive contains a minute circuit board which is protected by plastic, rubberized or metal case. Such sturdy protection shields the pen drive while being carried in the pocket or key chain. The USB connector is shielded by a removable cap or it can be automatically retracted into the body of the drive. This prevents it from being damaged even when exposed.
Most of the normal pen drives use standard A – USB connection. These storage units combine a number of older technologies with low cost, low power consumption and small size possible now by the recent advancements in micro processor technology. The memory storage is based on earlier EPROM and EEPROM technologies.
Hardware designers later developed pen drives which carried their own micro processor system. These are the miniaturized version. This form of miniaturization was facilitated by the development of high speed serial data interface. In computers using pen drive, the controller system has full control over the stored information bank.
However, the actual EEPROM writing and erasing procedures are still quite similar to the earlier mode of operation. The fastest pen drive currently available use dual channel controller. The over all file transfer speed varies considerably and are measured in megabytes or megabits per second. The essential components of a pen drive are male type USB connector, USB mass storage controller, NAND flash memory chip and crystal oscillator controlling the device`s data output.
Additional components are test pins and jumpers, LED`s to indicate data transfer, write protecting switches, unpopulated space, USB connector cap or a cover and a transport aid. The USB pen drives have been integrated into other commonly carried items such as watches, pens and can even be fitted into novelty toy cars.
Their small size and affordable price makes these drives increasingly popular peripherals. Pen drives are primarily used for data transfer, secure data storage in application and software files. They are particularly popular among system and network administrators and also enjoy notable success in PC repair field as a means to transfer data recovery and anti-virus software.
You can have access to portuguese articles about pen drives from page Pen_Drive
Roberto Sedycias works as IT consultant for www.polomercantil.com.br
Article Source: Know Why A Pen Drive Is A Necessity These Days
USB Flash drives are multi-functional and portable storage devices for everything and anything you do on your computer. Carrying it along is much like carrying your office files with you- all in a pen-like device. They present a reliable, convenient and stylish alternative to carrying papers, notes and heavy laptops.
As you go on meetings, USB flash drive applications eliminate the need to carry those bulky manila folders. USB flash drives serve as a filing system that you can carry anywhere you go. Today, these data and file storage tools are used by everyone on everything they do. They have become so popular among students, teachers and corporate executives that it has taken a variety of designs to specifically complement its users or owners. From leather, wood, sheet metal to plastics, the designs and materials used for USB flash drive bodies and shells are limitless. For every personality, there will surely be a complementing USB design that will meet one’s style preference.
The designs available for USB flash drives vary in shape, colour, form, material and application features. Custom shape USB flash drives are those that are made virtually in all known shapes, much like a full colour 3D decal of symbols, food, cartoon character, logo and other items that appeal to its target market base. Most of the USB flash drive brands are opening their eco line. This is the USB flash drive design that uses real wood as a green alternative to the traditional body construction. To create a stand out design, USB flash drive designs are created on various themes such as sports, food and other customizable items. Beyond aesthetics, multi-functional features present a more practical USB flash driveline; these are the storage devices that offer other functional features besides file and data storage such as digital clock, light pen applications and audio play.
Here are some common designs available for USB Flash drive:
oThe Twister:
With its 360-degree rotating feature, it eliminates the use of cap for USB Flash drive protection. Hence, there’s no more cap to lose. Most twist USB flash drive designs include a small split ring on its end to allow easy attachment to keys or a neck strap.
oThe Lizzard:
This refers to the USB flash drive that doubles as a flexible wristband. This is a very fashionable design as it is carried by popular USB flash drive brands in a number of colour selections, making it popular among young costumers. Its brandable areas make it a great promotional device.
oThe Capless:
It is important for everyone to make sure that his or her flash drives have long life. The capless USB flash drive has presented a fashionable and practical alternative to capped memory sticks. The capless design is primarily focused on creating sleek and sturdy USBs that are easy to use and store.
oThe MP3 players:
Talk about multi-functional USB flash drives, these are cheap alternatives to branded MP3 players. Depending on the application features, this line of USB flash drive is compatible to popular audio file format such as the MP3, WMA and WAV files.
oUSB Pens:
This multi-functional and EPOS-enabled USB flash drive design delivers the benefits of a digital pen with full flash memory capabilities. When used with compatible software, it allows its users to enjoy a portable writing and sketching tool that also captures and stores written and drawn files in real-time speed.
Derek Rogers is a freelance writer who writes for a number of UK businesses. For a wide range of logo branded USB Flash Drives, he recommends Flashbay.com.
Article Source: The Different Designs of USB Flash Drives
The usb flash drive is the perfect companion for your computer. These portable storage devices allow you to simply transfer data from your computer to the built in memory on the usb drive. The memory capacity varies according to budget and manufacturer but the majority of suppliers will keep them in a range of sizes which range from 128mb up to a huge 8gb!
There used to be a time when all flash drives looked fairly similar, but as demand has grown they are being manufactured to suit a variety of tastes! Gone are the boring beige plastic shells that seemed issue for everything I.T related, instead we now have an overwhelming choice of materials and colours.
One of the most recent ideas to come from a range of manufacturers is the recycled usb drives. They are exactly the same as a standard flash drive, but they are made from recycled plastics.
Obviously this is a great selling point for the manufacturers, especially as in recent times we have become more and more aware of our impact on the environment. Every company wants to be seen to be “green” so these are the perfect opportunity to replace your existing usb drives with a new eco friendly drive.
The recycled flash drive is still a fairly new concept for the retails market, but i’m sure you will see these eco friendly usb drives hitting the shelves near you very shortly! The promotional industry however has been dealing with the eco usb drive for a few months now and they have been a big success.
Technology Gems Macintosh Computers Brand by Apple Inc
Article Source: Recycled Flash Drives
USB Flash Memory storage devices are a practical and highly portable method of storing and moving data between places. Flash Memory is highly practical for this task as it has no moving parts, supports fairly large storage and if used properly has very little chance of failing in any serious manner.
Recently though the reliability of these devices has come under a lot of scrutiny as the failure rate of what is normally very reliable technology has escalated to previously unseen levels. Data recovery companies around the world are fielding increasing number s of enquiries and have geared their operations to cope. So what is the problem here?
USB memory sticks are dropping in price all the time as with any technology as it ages and gains mass market adoption, and year on year growth in shipment of these devices has a run rate of around 100% meaning by the end of this year unit sales are expected to be in the region of a staggering 300 million.
With the higher number of units in the market place it goes without saying that that the actual physical numbers of failures of portable storage devices will increase, double the units = double the failures. However along side the number of failing units of more concern is the increase in the ratio of failed units that is being seen.
Given the previous reliability of USB storage media why then is there an increase in the ratio of failures? Investigations tend to have a common theme and a common result. In a majority of reported cases the actual flash memory in the device has not failed at all and is in perfect working order.
The failures are normally attributed to poor manufacture quality by mushroom companies in Korea, Taiwan, Singapore and China. These devices often make their way on to the market as unbranded devices, however there are huge problems with fake devices.
These fake devices are intended to appeal to the greed emotion that is prevalent in all but a few consumers , but just because it is cheaper does not mean it is better. The manufacturing process may be cheaper in different world economies but the other factor that is immeasurable by the consumer is the quality of the components.Lower standard components are cheaper but just don’t last the distance in a lot of cases.
The best advice that anyone can give you here is to buy branded devices if the cost is affordable (which it generally is). And also ask your self this question, is the risk of losing all my data really worth risk of saving a relatively small amount of money?
About the author: Mike White is a technology journalist specialising in business computing, Raid Data Recovery, Raid Recovery consumer electronics and design and technology trends.
Article Source: Fake Pen Drive – How Can You Spot Them?