Many people are surprised to hear that flash drives are still very popular. However, the market for them is growing by 7% a year.
It is a good idea to recognize the benefits of flash drives, as well as some of the things that you can do to ensure they work well. Keep reading to learn more.
Why Are Flash Drives Still Popular?
There are a number of major benefits of using flash drives. Some of the biggest reasons they are so popular are listed below.
They Are Very Cost-Effective
Another major benefit of flash drives is that they are very cost-effective, even though they can store a huge amount of data. They are great options for people that want to store on limited budgets. You can get even more bang for your buck if you are buying bulk flash drives.
They Are Very Portability
Flash drives are more portable than many other storage units, because they are small and don’t weigh a lot. They can easily be stored in a pouch or even a keychain.
They Are Easy to Use
Flash drives are easy to use, because you don’t have to take a lot of steps after putting them in your computer. All you have to do is plug it into the USB port on your computer. Your computer will quickly recognize it as a USB device, so you don’t have to change the settings on your computer to start using it.
They Are Very Versatile
Flash drives can be used with many different types of devices. You can use the same USB device on your PC, laptop and smart TV. You may even be able to use it with audio system on your car. This can save you the hassle of needing to buy a different storage option for every device that you own.
They Can Store a Ton of Data
The first flash drive was invented in 1999, when they could only store a few megabytes of data. However, they have evolved and can now store far more data.
Flash drives store a tremendous amount of data. Even the smaller ones will usually store at least several gigabytes of data. The larger ones can store up to several terabytes. You should have no trouble storing even massive multimedia files.
They Are Very Durable
Traditional hard drives are very fragile because they have a lot of moving parts. If any of these parts fail, then the entire storage unit will stop working. Flash drives, on the other hand, do not have any moving parts, so they are a lot more durable and are less likely to stop working if they are struck.
They Can Transfer Data a Lot Faster Than Other Storage Devices
Flash drives can transfer data much faster than most other storage devices. This is important when you are copying or transferring large files to another device, such as your PC or laptop.
They Are Highly Secure
Most of the flash drives that are sold on the market these days are extremely secure, because they have a lot of extra protections such as hardware encryption and password protection. Therefore, they are an attractive option for people that would like to store confidential data.
They Do Not Require Any External Power
Flash drives receive power from the device that they are connected to, which means that you do not need to use an external power source to operate them. This saves you the trouble of needing to use them in a setting where there are power outlets or other power sources around.
They Are Great for Backing Up Files
Flash drives can be great options when you need to backup sensitive data that is already stored on other devices. Since it is easy to transfer data from them, it is also easy to quickly copy the data to another device that want to back this data up on.
They Are Easy to Customize
Another major benefit of flash drives is that they are easy to customize. You can buy flash drives in various colors, sizes and shapes. This may not be the biggest advantage of them, but it is a good reason to consider investing in them.
They Have a Long Lifespan
Flash drives have a relatively long lifespan when compared to some other storage media. With proper care, they can last for many years.
Tips to Make the Most of Your Flash Drive
While there are a lot of great reasons to use flash drives, they are not perfect. You still need to take the right steps to make sure they last a long time and can store as much data as you need. Here are some important tips that you should follow if you are trying to get the most of them.
Always Format Your Flash Drive Before It
You should always make sure that your flash drive is properly formatted before you start using it. Most flash drives already formatted when you buy them, but you should still double-check and format them manually in case they are not.
Make Sure That You Remove Your Flash Drive Safely
You should never pull your flash drive out of your device without using the “Safely Remove Hardware” option first. If you don’t select this option, then you may corrupt your data.
Always Make Sure Your Data is Backed Up on Other Devices
Flash drives may be highly durable, but they can still break or be corrupted like any other device, so you will need to backup your data. It is a good idea to backup nonsensitive data on the cloud. More sensitive data can be stored on another password protected device.
Run Portable Apps
There are a lot of portable applications that you can install on your flash drive and then run when you connect the drive to your device.
Make Sure Your Sensitive Data is Encrypted
Many flash drives have encryption features, but you have to actually use them if you want to keep your data secure. Take some time to learn how they work and use them to protect your most sensitive data.
Clean Your Flash Drive Regularly
It is a good idea to regularly remove files that you are not using anymore if you want to make sure that your hard drive continues working optimally.
Label Your Flash Drives
You can run into a lot of confusion if you have a lot of different flash drives. You want to make sure that your drives are properly labeled, so that you can keep track of the different types of files stored on each.
Take Malware Threats Seriously
Flash drives are vulnerable to malware just like any other electronic device. You will want to use malware protection tools to screen them carefully for viruses, keyloggers and trojans.
Remove Them Gently
You want to remove your flash drive from your device as carefully as possible. This will help reduce the chance that it will be damaged.
Make Sure Your Device is Compactible with Your Flash Drive
Flash drives are very versatile, but that doesn’t mean that you won’t have any combability concerns. You should still make sure that your flash drives and devices are compatible before using.