Portable Data Storage with a USB Memory Stick

I remember the days when shopping for school supplies meant crayons, pencils, a ruler, and some loose-leaf paper, but it seems as though those days are long gone. Now my kids routinely come home with school supply lists that read like a page out of the latest high-tech catalog! I think it's safe to say that a USB memory stick is going to become as necessary for our kids as a three-ring binder was to us.

Our children's teachers want the kids to be able to tackle a wide array of computer projects at school and at home, using software ranging from Excel to Word to PowerPoint. But if they're working on a project, how do they cart the files back and forth from school to home? A USB memory stick is the perfect answer. It's relatively inexpensive, wonderfully portable, and can hold stunning amounts of data. My only challenge was figuring out how to choose the best thumb drive for the job.

I've discovered that shopping for flash drives requires a little bit of homework. The latest USB memory sticks available on the market are versatile little pieces of machinery, with all sorts of applications for both business and personal use. Storage capacities often start at 64 MB and go all the way up to a whopping 32GB. But not all drives are created equal, and I've learned that it's important to make sure whatever USB memory stick I buy is fast as well as being capable of storing mounds of information.

Durability has to be key when buying any sort of digital device for kids. Our first USB memory stick purchase included a handy lanyard, so that my daughter could hang it around her neck. Unfortunately, the plastic that shields the connection port broke after about two days. I say go with a drive that has its own carrying case for protection, and make sure to label it well.

I learned a lot about the technology that's available when I started shopping on the Internet. I found fast drives with the right amount of storage space -- at rock-bottom prices to boot. In fact, I got some other parents at school involved when I learned that we could actually buy in bulk, and that every kid could have a USB memory stick with our school logo imprinted on it at no extra charge, all for a guaranteed low price that I couldn't beat at any bricks-and-mortar store. Plus, finding these sources has been great when we've had to purchase software or other peripheral items. I'm no tech guru, but with the help of my kids, I'm well on my way!

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