USB flash drives

[[Corporal Dan]]

Are USB flash drives SUPPOSED to be notoriously unreliable? (avg lifespan, 6 months?)

I've had three with connector damage (broken solder points == intermittent contact)

and one that just DIED. (memory module dead, im guessing)

[Know Nuttin]

I guess it depends on how often you use them

I have had mine over a year, no issues but I only use it maybe once/twice per day.

[Highendtoys]

Maybe you just need to get a really good one made to take the abuse like this one. (http://www.avault.com/hardware/getreview.asp?review=corsairflash20&page=1)

[[Corporal Dan]]

HOLY CRAP

The think took the full furious wrath of a GE range?

That's pretty cool. Now to find it for a good price.

[Martel]

I have put mine through the washer and dryer. The casing on it wants to fall off. But, it still works perfectly. :shrug:

[Bios24]

I got a 64mb stick in late 2001. I used it all through college and still use it today. Generally I'd say thumb drives are very reliable. (unlike floppies or cd's that can get scratched)

Like any other device you get what you pay for, and some models break more than others.

[Quailane]

I have a generic 512MB that I have been using for about a year with no troubles at all. I have even used it caseless a slew of times just for fun.

I think it is more reliable than a HD.

[Kurz]

One thing though. Dont save actively to it.
Let say you are writing a paper and you keep saving to the flash drive instead of the harddrive. It may kill the lifetime if you do this.

So Only save to it when you need to.