What is the Difference between Flash Drive and USB Memory Stick

Flash drive(What is the USB Flash Drive and Tips for Use USB Flash Drive) and USB memory stick are two big things in the computer world. USB Memory sticks are generally for such as digital cameras and come in a variety of pin insertion types. These are such as CF (compact flash) If your digital frame has a USB port too, the flash drive can transfer images from your PC and you plug that into the port on the frame. The terms are sometimes used interchangeably but they really don’t refer to the same thing. The word Memory Stick is different from Flash Drive.

Colloquially, people may refer to a flash drive and pen drive as if they are the same device. This is due to the fact that all pen drives are flash drives. That being said, it is important to note that flash drives have usages that extend capabilities.

Generally speaking, a flash drive is any data storage device that holds data with non-movable parts. Before the inception of flash drives, computer users used floppy discs and CDs to store small amounts of data. When a computer user inserts a disk or CD into a computer, the computer reads the devices through movable parts, such as a laser scanning a CD. Since the flash drive has no moving parts, it is less susceptible to damage. Another advantage of the flash drive is that it is almost universally compatible with a variety of devices. To transfer data between two devices both devices need to have a USB port or USB adapter, but most contemporary computers and electronic products have a USB port. This means that in addition to providing backup storage on a computer, flash drives can also be used to store information from video game consoles, mobile media devices, and cellular phones.

The flash drive and memory card are both solid state memory, but each has its own advantages and disadvantages. All flash drives are USB devices, which makes them generally compatible with most desktop and laptop computers. Memory sticks, however, are much smaller and come in a greater variety of shapes and formats that make them fit many mobile devices, such as digital cameras, e-readers, and cell phones. These cards are compatible with computers as well, but require the use of a USB card adapter, or a computer with an integrated card reader, which not all computers have. Some people also find that memory sticks are so small that they are easily lost when not installed in a device; flash drives, being a little larger, are better suited for carrying around.

The physical durability of flash drives and memory sticks is a serious consideration. Flash drive designers intend for them to be in pockets, purses, backpacks and on key chains. You can step on the more durable models then kick them into a lake and they will still work. The weakest part of a flash drive is the USB connector, and most come with a cover to protect that. Memory sticks are not so hearty. Memory sticks designers intend them to be enclosed and sheltered inside a camera or other device.

Compatibility will most likely be the deciding factor for you. Flash drives can be used with anything that has a USB port. Every major operating system, and a great many other devices such as gaming consoles, support flash drives. Memory sticks are device-specific and not directly readable by a standard personal computer unless it has a card reader compatible with memory sticks. However, if a device you are using, such as a digital camera, uses memory sticks, you have little choice but to get one.

Also, most USB memory sticks have increased data transaction rate than flash drives while flash drives usually have extended data storage capacity.