Cautions!! When Buying a Pen Drive

[Dharamsi]

hi there

Just tell me that I want to install an OS into the pen drive so I can travel it around, and boot the computer with it, and this should effectively kill key loggers, as I will not run the OS from the computer's hard disk which may be infected by some malicious files.

Right now, I don't have any pen drive. What I like to ask is what all things one should look for while buying a pen drive. Is there a limited number of times you can read or write to a pen drive?

Please help me regarding this query

Also provide few brands so that i can go for one of them

[Bon-Z]

a pen drive can be used for loading an operating system. linux editions are available. i think even windows xp can be made to boot from a pen drive with some effort.

any pen drive 'should' work as long as it has enough capacity.

as for viruses. i have not seen any pen drive that have locking mechanism just like we had with floppies. you might find some model that comes with it.

locking might cause problems as the OS running from the pen drive might need swap space for temporary data while loading and operating.

[Gonzo]

you might not be able to use the pen drive as your OS at cyber cafes... some potential problems:

cyber cafe might have crappy computers with older hardware that might not allow booting from the pen drive.

cyber cafe owners might now allow you to use that pen drive.

cyber cafe uses a mode of connectivity that might not work from your pen drive... for example... you might need a proprietary driver or an application.

external hard drives are available. some work with just the usb port like pen drives, other requires power supplies through an adapter. they are as usable as pen drives but consume more space and are more prone to failure if not carried around safely.

[Pugsly]

Identify how you’ll use a pen drive. Typically, they’re used to copy large amounts of data from one computer to another. Note that copying files or folder with your pen drive is comparatively faster.

2. Remember that pen drives are mostly compatible with Windows (ME/2000/XP), Mac OS (8.6 and above) and Linux Kernel (2.4 and above) without drivers.

3. Note that the pen drives have different capacities. Normally, pen drives can hold between 32 MB and 2 GB. Older versions have 64 MB, 128 MB and 256 MB of storage capacity. Most older ones have now been taken off the market by reputed brands. If you want to store regular data files and excel sheets, a 512 MB memory pen drive is ideal. If you want to store video clips, MP3s and other large files, choose one with 1 GB or 2 GB.

[Regina]

Check to see if the pen drive you want can be password protected. The latest models can. You can choose to protect specific data within the drive for additional security.

Learn more about the features and prices of various pen drives by referring to online buyer’s guides. Browse through reviews and compare prices. Some popular buyer’s guides are NexTag, Windows Marketplace, MySimon and Epinions

Browse through blogs and tech discussion forums. These are good avenues for gathering more information on features, trends and other insights on pen drives.

Only buy a pen drive after comparing prices in different stores online and offline. Search for online vendors using engines like Google or Yahoo. Browse through popular online stores such as CompUSA, Best Buy and Circuit City

Confirm the pen drive’s warranty and guarantee period. Usually, they come with a year’s warranty.

[Simond]

Warnings:

1. A pen drive is also called a flash drive, keychain drive, key drive, USB key, USB stick and memory key.

2. Make sure the pen drive is easy to handle. Some pen drives can be difficult because of their size.

3. Ensure that your computer has a USB port before buying a pen drive.

4. Pen drives are plug-n-play for OS Windows XP and higher. If you are using lower versions, you will have to install the driver using the installation CD.

5. Avoid direct sunlight or heat when using your pen drive. It can diminish its efficiency in the long run.