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open to opinions
Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2007 6:34 am
by skier
why are flash drives also called USB drives, Thumb Drives, travel drives, Zip drive etc. and what are the differences between ones that are actually different?
Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2007 6:43 am
by Skippman
To my UNDERSTANDING Flash drives refer to the type of memory inside them. Thumb Drive, Travel Drive, Etc are trademarked names for them.
It's kinda like calling all cola Coke or Pepsi.
As for Zip Drives, I've never heard them called that and I'd be really suprised to find a vendor who actually DOES as that would seem to warrent an immediate Trademark Infringment lawsuit from Iomega the company who made the Zip Drive. If you're to new to the game, Zip Drives were the only choice for large scale (100mb +) storage before CD Burners became cost effective and prevelent.
Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2007 6:45 am
by TristanM
USB drive - because they plug into USB ports.
Thumb drive - because its about the size of yer thumb.
Travel drive - because you can take it with you.
Zip drive - misnomer as far as I'm aware, there used to be something called a zip drive way back about the mid-90's that was at the time the latest in portable storage.
I could be wrong.
Edit - someone beat me to it, and with a better answer.
Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2007 6:51 am
by skier
im pretty sure ive heard people call a flash drive a zip drive, mabie im remembering wrong
Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2007 7:28 am
by Darkstar
hey you might have, i have heard some one refer to a thumb drive as a thumbnail drive lol
Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2007 5:10 pm
by Alathald
I've also heard them called a jump drive...
Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2007 6:19 pm
by prozac26
The all basically mean the same thing AFAIK.
Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2007 8:01 pm
by Skippman
I have nothing else useful to contribute to this post.
Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2007 9:18 pm
by DaddyRabbit
Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2007 12:32 am
by Gamble
Now those "flash" technologies are being applied to Solid State Drives...faster performance, and no worries about a head crash. Samsung(?) has already realeased a 32gb model for mobiles I believe...
Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2007 9:16 pm
by DaIceMan
TristanM wrote:USB drive - because they plug into USB ports.
Thumb drive - because its about the size of yer thumb.
Travel drive - because you can take it with you.
Zip drive - misnomer as far as I'm aware, there used to be something called a zip drive way back about the mid-90's that was at the time the latest in portable storage.
I could be wrong.
Edit - someone beat me to it, and with a better answer.
The 90s? Holy hell... do history books date back that far?!?
Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2007 10:10 pm
by Skippman
I'd feel old if I hand't just read the demographics of the site.
Anyone for a lager and a smoke?
Posted: Thu Apr 05, 2007 2:35 am
by TristanM
DaIceMan wrote:TristanM wrote:USB drive - because they plug into USB ports.
Thumb drive - because its about the size of yer thumb.
Travel drive - because you can take it with you.
Zip drive - misnomer as far as I'm aware, there used to be something called a zip drive way back about the mid-90's that was at the time the latest in portable storage.
I could be wrong.
Edit - someone beat me to it, and with a better answer.
The 90s? Holy hell... do history books date back that far?!?
Hahaha... dunno about the books but my memory does - I guess that makes me old... but not according to the demographics thread
Posted: Thu Apr 05, 2007 5:22 am
by KnightRid
TristanM wrote:DaIceMan wrote:TristanM wrote:USB drive - because they plug into USB ports.
Thumb drive - because its about the size of yer thumb.
Travel drive - because you can take it with you.
Zip drive - misnomer as far as I'm aware, there used to be something called a zip drive way back about the mid-90's that was at the time the latest in portable storage.
I could be wrong.
Edit - someone beat me to it, and with a better answer.
The 90s? Holy hell... do history books date back that far?!?
Hahaha... dunno about the books but my memory does - I guess that makes me old... but not according to the demographics thread
Hell i still HAVE a USB Zip100 drive
wanna buy it
Mike