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Please, does anyone use one of these things ? My student son is trying to convince me it is a 'must have' ! However, I'm not convinced, and would appreciate some unbiased, non-teenage advice from you knowledgeable folk !  ;D
Also, does he really need the expensive 256MB, or would half that size, at half the price do ??

Many thanks.
Di

With no expertise at all I would say that, for peace of mind, yes. Daughter lost a year's paintings when a CD got scratched. But size is arguable. Our 'tame' expert has a thing the size of a lighter, on which he has a large number of programs which he needs when he is on his rounds sorting people out. Carries it on his key-ring. I think it's 125MB.

For no good reason, other than 'start big', ours is 20GB. = Tim

Looking back on this, I think I should add that it was intended for someone in medical research - not me!

The idea of a portable USB storage 'gadget' is to be able to copy files from one computer and download them onto another one. If you wanted to bring work home from the office, it's a very easy and handy way to do it. For a student to bring work home or take the results back to Uni it's an ideal way to do it. These devices not only copy written files, they can be used for transporting music and picture files too. Far better than carrying around CD's or floppies. As to size, well it depends on what you're wanting to transport and also wanting to long-term store in it. As a guide, a 512MB pocket/keyring device will hold around the equivalent of 350 floppies.

Nice to have the experts on tap.

But am I not sensible to use it as in-house back-up? Or is there a more logical way? = Tim

We take a laptop on hols with us so we can download photos from the digi cam and once home use one of these USB key thingies to transfer them from the laptop to my PC.  It's absolutely brilliant for that.  I'm not sure I'd want to store anything on it long term tho'.

Have to say I use mine all the time (for transporting files to and from work, or from my work PC to someone else's in the college).

They're not that expensive either - Amazon have one for less than twenty quid http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0002XP62W/qid=1101387791/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl/026-9495216-5297211

Thanks for the info everyone. Looked at the link Doc, read the buyer reviews, very helpful !

Convinced ! We are sharing  ;D  Just realised I can transport my photo files to friends and relatives and bore them silly !  ;D

One thing to warn about for other prospective buyers, USB cable is not usually included, so, if like me, you have to crawl on hands and knees to access back of tower to swap plug-ins, it is a must have extra !  :)

Gosh Di, I think I've been lucky then ;D ;D ;D  USB cable came with key storage thingy and two USB ports in the front of my Dell PC for easy access.

Thanks for that Jill, just looked at the front of my Dell, and lo and behold, 2 USB ports! An I have been scrabbling around the back of the tower like Magpie Di!! (Duh me!) :-\ :-[

As you say - thank God for the frontal things. You'd have a job to scrabble here!!  = Tim

OK Tim, whats the little square box you have to the left of your screen? DP

Chuckle - knew someone would ask!!  
My TV. = Tim

Wow! It is TINY!

I have TV through my PC monitor that came with the Adaptec VidioH editing thingamibobbywhatchamacallit ;D you can freeze frame,zoom in out, pan and record real cool gizmo 8)

- and write a letter at the same time?? = Tim

Yep! can reduce the window to accomodate, although I have never sat in front of my TV whilst writing letters, I normally use my bureau. ::)

My new desktop buddy, an alien called Hub, complete with his own flashing stick !!  Haha !  ;D

Hello Di,

Not sure how to send you a message and hope you get this.
Many thanks for the marigold seeds!  thanks !!!
:) :) ;)

You're welcome Marian !

btw. Found you in the Swap Shop too !!   ;)  ;D