Goodbye floppy disks, hello to fast flash drives

FORT WORTH, Texas —

Ask a co-worker or your kid for a floppy disk or a writable CD and you might hear: "Who uses those anymore? Where's your flash drive?"

Flash drives — also known as USB drives, thumb drives or jump drives — are an increasingly popular alternative for transferring and storing digital files, including music, photos, documents, PowerPoint presentations and videos. Using a flash drive, you can even run your computer while sitting at someone else's, without leaving a trace of information behind.

Pricing for these drives has dropped dramatically in the last few years, which makes them a more attractive option. Just five years ago, a press release from Lexar had a 64-megabyte JumpDrive at $79.99. Today, a 1 gigabyte Lexar JumpDrive sells for $18.99.

Most of the drives available today will work on both Mac and Windows systems, but know what you're buying: If the drive includes software, make sure it will work with your system.

Easy to use (just plug one into the USB drive of the computer) and fast, flash drives are also, well, fun. They come in a wide variety of sizes and shapes, and you can even find them on key chains and money clips.

Here are some of our favorites. Note: All of these flash drives are available online from the manufacturers' Web sites; most of those sites also include lists of local electronics stores that carry the products.

Lexar JumpDrive Mercury

Features: Keeps track of available storage capacity with a meter that works even when the drive is unplugged. Includes PowerToGo software to install and run many Windows programs from the drive.

Warranty: Two years, limited

Size & price: 2GB, $89.99

Online and local shopping info: www.lexar.com

Imation Clip Flash Drive

Features: One of the smallest drives, encased in a durable rubberized shell and attached to a handy carabiner clip for backpacks, shoulder bags or belt loops.

Warranty: Five years, limited

Price: 2GB, $30

Online and local shopping info: www.Imation.com

Buslink 64GB PRO 2 USB 2.0 Flash Drive

Features: As of this writing, it's the biggest flash drive I can find that will carry a large amount of data in a pocket or on a key chain, all in the size of a pack of gum.

Warranty: One year

Size & price: 64 GB, $4,800

Online and local shopping info: www.buslink.com

Sushi Disk USB drive

Features: Simple storage space in a piece of fish — but don't eat it. Comes in a variety of sushi types.

Warranty: One year

Size and price: 512MB, $99

Buy online at: www.dynamism.com

Victorinox SwissMemory 1GB memory stick

Features: Included with the storage drive in this Swiss Army pocketknife is a blade, nail file with screwdriver, scissors, key ring, LED minilight and a retractable ballpoint pen.

Warranty: Lifetime, limited

Size and price: 1 GB, $78

Online and local shopping info: www.swissarmy.com

Kingston DataTraveler II Plus

— Migo Edition

Features: With the drive's Migo software, works on multiple PCs in different locations, using your own desktop's Outlook e-mail contents and Microsoft Internet Explorer settings, plus your files. When you return to your PC, it automatically synchronizes your work to keep your versions current.

Warranty: Five years

Price: 8GB, $95

Online and local shopping info: www.kingston.com

Sony 2GB flash drive/MP3 player

Features: Along with the storage and MP3 player is a built-in FM tuner with presets. The 2GB of storage can be used for any data or up to 1,350 songs. A quick battery charge gives three hours of playback.

Warranty: One-year parts warranty

Size and price: 2 GB, $79.95

Online and local shopping info: www.sony.com