USB Thumb Drives Now Available on Campus

E-Shop stocks a variety of these compact backup devices

Now that major manufacturers like Dell are signalling the phase-out of floppy drives (see "Floppies Going the Way of the Dinosaur" on page 11) you may already be looking for reliable alternatives.

One convenient new option for storing and transporting your essential files is the lightweight USB Flash Drive.

These colorful translucent drives, barely bigger than your thumb, are small enough to fit on your key chain and can be plugged into any USB port. No power supply or cables are needed. In spite of their toylike appearance, the drives have a lifetime of up to one million rewrites and can retain data for up to 10 years.

The Electronics Shop (E-Shop) stocks USB thumb drives in three sizes: 128MB ($50), 64MB ($30), and 16MB ($15). You can purchase them at the E-Shop reception desk in 151 McKenzie Hall any time between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

For more information, call E-Shop technicians Rob Jaques or Robert Bennett at 346-3548, or send an email message to hardwarehelp@oregon.uoregon.edu

Detailed product information is also available at the vendor’s website: http://usbkeydrive.com/USB_Drive.htm