What is Custom USB Flash Drives

Question: What weighs less than an ounce can be used as a key chain and stores thousands of photos?

Answer: A USB Flash Drive!

With storage capacities ranging from 64 MB, all the way up to 256 GB and prices starting as low as a few dollars per unit, USB Flash Drives represent the latest technology available for storing and transporting data.

PSI is now offering customized USB drives. There is almost no limit to the variety of shapes, styles and colors that are available. The best part is that a USB drive can be custom printed with your artwork, company logo, etc.

The drives are available without any content or we can preload them with almost any type of file. However we usually suggest file types that are easily opened by any type of computer and operating system (PDF, MP3, Mpeg, etc.)

What is a USB Flash Drive?
A USB Flash Drive (aka jump drive, thumb drive, keychain drive) is an easy to use, lightweight, plug and play storage device that is about the size of your thumb. It uses flash memory to store your data. The flash memory is integrated with a USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface enclosed in a compact plastic, metal or rubberized case. When a user plugs a USB flash drive into their computer, their operating system will recognize it as a storage device and automatically assign a drive letter to it.

Potential Uses

• Ad specialty item/giveaway: While many ad specialty items (pens, memo pads, stress balls) may be quickly discarded, the recipient of a USB drive will see it as a valuable gift. Most likely they will keep it and use it continuously. And every time they use it they will be reminded of your company.
• Tradeshows: When you are competing for marketshare at a tradeshow, your giveaway needs to stand out. Instead of printing your brochure, put it on a USB drive.
• Documentation and media distribution: Many companies and organizations distribute USB drives that are preloaded with documentation, training materials, mp3 files and video.

Advantages of USB Flash Drives

• Compact size: While the size can vary, most USB Flash drives weigh less than one ounce and are less than 70mm in height and 20 mm in width.
• Reliability: Data stored on flash drives are impervious to scratches and dust.
• Durability: Compared to hard drives, flash drives use little power and have no fragile moving parts.
• No software required: Flash drives implement the USB mass storage device class that so most operating systems can read and write to them without installing device drivers.
• Storage capacity: Flash drives have the ability to hold more data than 365 CDs or 54 DVDs.
• Speed: Flash drives can copy and write files up to 10 times faster than other traditional portable storage mediums.

Disadvantage of USB Flash Drives

• Compact size: Although the size may be an advantage, flash drives have become so compact that they can be easily misplaced or lost.
• Price: As the storage capacity of a Flash Drive approaches 50GB, they begin to exceed the price of an external hard drive of similar capacity. However, these prices will start to go down as the demand increases and the cost of manufacturing goes down.
• Lifespan: Flash drives have a limit to the number of write/erase cycles before they begin to fail. However, with most flash drives allowing for almost 500,000 write/erase cycles, you will most likely lose your device before it wears out.