What's the best flash drive?

I need a flash drive for history for when we go to do research in the computer lab. I'm searching for something 512mb to 4GB, it doesn't need to be fast but if it is that's great, i also want something pretty sturdy but it doesn't have to be military grade. It needs to work with xp and vista, so i can use it on my school computers (xp) and my home pc (vista). I've currently got my eyes on one of three sizes of Memorex drives which are a 1GB for $15, a 2GB for $20, and a 4GB for $40. My budget goes up to $40 maximum. Thanks guys, i really appreciate all your help.

 

I've got a Kingston 2GB. Very happy with it. Its decently sturdy and has no U3.

 

Can you specify model #, or give me a website link so i can check it out?

 

Just go to best buy at the thanksgiving sale.. run over everyone, and get yourself a flashdrive for like $2.
If you just want to store data, you don't need anything fancy... I have like 4 usb drives that I all got for free.. one I bought at best buy for like $0 after rebate, one that my college gave me in their welcome-package, one given to me for signing up with a bank, and another that was included for free with the hard drive I purchased.

If you want a solid-quality one... I kind of like the retractable sandisk ones just because theres no caps to lose. The titanium 2gb is solid w/ more than enough storage at $30. The U3 software is un-installable...

 

I have the sandisk titanium 2 Gb drive and I love it! No probs out of it whatsoever!

 

Mark down another vote for Sandisk Cruzer Titanium. Metal case, no cap to lose, enough storage for me (2gb in my case... I believe there is a 4gb).

It does come with U3 installed, but that is easy enough to remove; I believe Sandisk even provides the app on their website. Just google it, takes maybe five minutes to get rid of it all.

 

geek squad brand 2gb

it has U3 and it works perfectly with vista

 

I like the Sandisk Cruzers myself, but I think the titanium ones take it a bit too far. The plastic one weighs a whole lot less, and is nearly as resistant to damage. Unless you run it over with a car, it's not going anywhere.

The Geek Squad ones are made by Sandisk as well, so the quality is there. To be honest though, most flash drives are the same.

 

fastest is the ocz rally or corsair voyagers.

 

Every single flash drive i own has always been the cheapest one available in the size i wanted. I really don't think there is that much of a difference between drives. Whether from a no-name brand or a name brand, they seem to be around the same, i haven't had problems from either type

 

This is all you need, and it's only $11.99.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820100001

 

Ive got a sony micro vault, Its lite weight, but I regret it. It feels like if I squeeze it with enough pressure it will will break in two. Has anyone tried an Ironkey yet? They look pretty cool, but start at $79.

 

+1 for the Cruzer Titanium. I have the 2 gig, and looking for more. I seriously hope they continue the Cruzer Titanium line.

 

I have a Kingston Datatraveler 1GB and i think it's great. It's made out of plastic, but it seems sturdy enough to me. But then again, I'm very careful with my stuff.generaly, all are very similar, so the best advice i can give you is this: avoid rubber ones. They may be shock resistant, but they're very vulnerable to flexing.

 

You cant go wrong with a Sandisk, Kingston or Transcend.

 

Wow a lot of people are recommending the Sandisk Cruzer Titanium. I'm going to check it out, a product with this many fans has to be good.

 

It is good, but has U3...

 

Liquid steel said U3 was easy to remove from it. Also i've been reading reviews about it and there are no significant gripes. the only problem is the extremely hard to push usb connector, but it gets easier over time.

 

This one is better quality, if that's what your after,
Better Quality!

 

$40 for 1GB? No thanks. Also the Cruzer seems to be tough enough for daily use as it can withstand 2,000 pounds of pressure, and is made of titanium as it's name suggests.

 

That was the MSRP!

Here,
Good Deal!

 

I have a 1gb Kingston Travel drive. Cost $13. Got it off newegg about a year ago.

Works great.

 

For the time being for $5 more i can get a 2GB cruzer so until the cruzer deals run out and it becomes too expensive for my tastes then i'll check out the lightning.

 

i got a 2GB Sony for $20 today

 

From office depot right? Well i was going to get the Ativa 4GB drive for $35 but it was all sold out at my office depot which i thought was very lame. So far that office depot has been very slow, and un-helpful so i think i'll complain to office depot hq or something.

 

Third for the Sandisk Cruzer Titanium. I have a 2GB one and it's been good to me. Not to mention it has a pretty fast transfer speed too.

 

I think its better to wait until the 32GB SSD based flash drives are released. The current 2 and 4GB just do not cut it.

 

buy.com has the kingston data traveler 2GB for $16.95, dunno if its still available though but amazon.com has the same price now i think

 

My Corsair Flash Voyager GT *ROCKS* for both speed and security. It's got a full rubber case which really does protect it from falls, shock, etc. It's spacious and has one of the fastest file transfers of any drive.

It's a winner - I've had about a dozen flash drivers, and this is my favorite. The worst of the lot were three 1GB A-Data "My Flash" drives overtime (they came in a bundle pack), and they all died and broke within months from standard use

Right now, I've got an 8GB Flash Voyager GT, and its been a lifesaver for me.

I had a Corsair Flash Voyager 4GB prior to this, but it and my chair had a falling out. Just remember: officechair > anything. Even tanks. But I loved it so much I upgraded to the next best Flash Voyager, and never looked back.

 

The selling point for the Cruzer [for me, at least] was the lack of a cap. I can't tell you how many flash drives I have sitting around with no caps; sucks.

Titanium was just a few bucks more than the plastic version, might as well 'upgrade' imo.

 

my vote goes to the Sandisk cruzer micro 4GB.
I got it at Office Depot for ~$40 after MIR

 

I also have a SanDisk Cruzer (plastic, not titanium) and like it very much. The best thing about it is that it is light weight, no cap to lose, and compact. I carry mine around on my keychain everywhere I go. Mine is a 4 GB one that I purchased for $40.00 at Radio Shack.

 

For those of you that bought the Sandisk Cruzer Micro, did you uninstall U3 the moment you got it? Just curious...

 

yes...u3 sucks. i've had good experience with pny though.

 

I've actually heard U3 was very good for organizing files and running stuff like Firefox off the stick. Though the reviewer did have XP i've heard people say U3 is now vista compatible. =\ I don't know, i'll try out U3 if it works with vista but if it doesn't then oh well.

 

Just remember that U3 is essentially a dead end and dying technology. I recommend that you do not invest any money into any additional non-free software for it. There are much better free alternatives to U3 out there; they are non-proprietary, and are more compatible with various operating systems, including Linux.

 

Well i'll be sure to ask you about them when i get my drive.

 

And use google checkout at buy.com and you'll get it for 6.95 SHIPPED. 2gb flash drive for $7 is damn good. I just received mine a week ago, I really like it.

 

Wow, that's a great deal!

 

Yeah, U3 is supposed to be replaced with something Sandisk and Microsoft are working together on. It's supposed to be released sometime in 2008, that's what I heard.

 

i like my flashdrives to be free of any programs so i can store mines...

 

4GB cruzer micro w/readyboost for $38.59 at buy.com

the thing about that google checkout thing is that you can only use that $10 off once as a new customer, after that you dont get anymore discounts

 

I don't like it when Microsoft collabs with other companies to do something. It usually means there will be monopoly involved. Oh and i just got the Cruzer titanium 2GB guys, and darn is it small! I mean, it's small! It's tiny! I'm going to try it out.

 

GNU is the way to go.

 

You mean open source right?

 

Yes Sir!

 

I use a 4GB Corsair Voyager I bought online for $40.00 last year, but if you want a steal of a deal check out this 4GB Kingston for $30.00 . That's a weekly Buy.com deal I got on Oct4 so you'd better order it quick if you want one.

 

I already bought my flash drive Pronto. it was a sandisk cruzer titanium 2GB. So it's been very good for me, i've uninstalled U3 because i didn't need it, and it's been very fast, also some of the problems mentioned in reviews on the net are obsolete such as people saying that it's hard to slide out the usb prong because they made a revision to it and now it's much easier, and the key chain is already implemented into the corner of it.

 

I have 1GB gernero flash drive that I got free with a rebate from BestBuy a year and a half ago. It had a cheap plastic casing on it, but that went pretty fast. The chip itself got loose and slid into the casing, so I pried it out to get some data off of it. I have been using it caseless for over a year, and have had no problems with it. It has even gone through the wash and dryer several times and been submerged in water, and functions perfectly.

 

Well i don't know if the sandisk titanium is water proof, and i'm not ready to test that out but if i ever need to swim with my flashdrive then i'll get a gernero.