Portability

• The lightweight and micro characteristics of a USB drive have made it a highly portable data storage device. It can easily fit into a purse or wallet, or fitted into a key chain. These devices can be easily carried from place to place and are ideal portable work devices for varied user segments. Users can load or save important files on a USB drive and work and exchange/transfer data in multiple locations without needing to be tethered to fixed work locations or computers.
  
  

Data Transfer Function

• A USB drive can be plugged into the USB port of a laptop computer or a USB extension cable attached to a desktop. The USB port acts as an interfacing medium. Using the drag-and-drop feature, files, documents, presentations and data stored in different folders can be transferred at high speed from the computer to the USB drive. This USB drive can then be accessed on other workstations elsewhere and, if needed, select files can be transferred again.
  
  

High-Capacity Storage Capability

• New-generation USB drives have memory capacity ranging from 4GB to 32 GB. Mobile workers, frequent travelers and other users can use 4 GB or 8 GB USB drives to store thousands of Word documents, basic PowerPoint presentations, Excel spreadsheets, PDF documents and other low-capacity media files. Media and creative industry professionals, independent IT technicians and others with high-capacity storage needs can purchase 32 GB USB drives to store photo collections, graphics-heavy documents, utility tools, diagnostic programs, music videos, movie clips and TV entertainment episodes.
  
  

Back-up Storage Device

• The latest USB devices offered by manufacturers such as SanDisk, PNY, Sony, Kingston and Transcend have password encryption and sturdy design features which offer long-term storage possibilities. Users can back-up scanned legal documents, family medical history documents, personal digital photo collections and other important files on a USB drive. Nonprofit organizations, small and medium-sized business owners and social advisory agencies, among others, use inexpensive and high-capacity USB drives to back-up mission-critical data and files.
  
  

Other Uses

• A high-capacity USB device loaded with a computer operating system (OS) can be used as a booting device to restore a PC's OS in case of a malfunction or other issue. The AutoPlay command feature available in most modern USB drives can be used to run programs and applications directly from the USB drives. Businesses and organizations are regularly using compact and affordable USB drives as promotional and marketing devices; these drives are loaded with product fact sheets, marketing literature, multimedia files and distributed at industry marts, conferences and job fairs.