What do you call USB flash drives?

[Kenny]

Looks like there are a million ways to call this device. Personally, I go with USB Flash Drive. A lot of people I know call it USB Key, Memory Stick (Sony anyone?), or thumb drive..

Just wondering what OT thinks..

There is a list at Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flash_drive

 

[dug777]

thumb drive or usb key.

 

[arcenite]

Flash Drive. I leave the USB part of it out cause that is usually the assumed medium,

 

[Feldenak]

Jump Drive

 

[pontifex]

i use flash drive for people who might know what i'm talking about and usb drive for people who don't

 

[rudder]

I call it "that little damn thingy with all the pr0n on it so my wife can't find it" stick.

 

[illusion88]

jump drive, although it's not on your list.

 

[Kenny]

Originally posted by: illusion88
jump drive, although it's not on your list.

Added

 

[sdifox]

memory stick... I hate Sony for trade marking this...

 

[DainBramaged]

Flash Drive

 

[j00fek]

flash FTW

 

[Chryso]

Originally posted by: rudder
I call it "that little damn thingy with all the pr0n on it so my wife can't find it" stick.

I hope you don't call it that when asking your wife where it is.

 

[DougK62]

All of the ones you list are OK except for "USB Key" - that's something similar but definitely different.

 

[GeekDrew]

Originally posted by: DougK62
All of the ones you list are OK except for "USB Key" - that's something similar but definitely different.

Except, of course, the advertisements and manufacturers who advertise them as USB Keys.

They're "USB Flash Drives", to me. I've concluded that it's the only relatively unambiguous way to refer to them.

 

[Nick5324]

thumb drive for me.

 

[NaOH]

i call it whichever comes to mind first (jump, usb, flash). But I mainly call it a flash drive because it makes more sense then Jump Drive and USB drive could be anything.

 

[dullard]

USB drive works for 99% of people. So that is what I call it. Sure it is ambiguous for the 1% of us who know more about computers. But that 1% is also smart enough to know what I'm talking about. So it always works.

You can't say that about any of the other terms. There will always be a signficiant amount of people confused that it isn't worth using those other terms.

 

[stu1811]

Originally posted by: rudder
I call it "that little damn thingy with all the pr0n on it so my wife can't find it" stick.

:laugh:

 

[Mayfriday0529]

Flash drive

 

[oboeguy]

I admit it's lame, but "USB key". It makes little sense, no? I suppose it's short for "USB keychain drive".

 

[FoBoT]

windows calls it a USB device, so that is what i call it

i voted USB drive

 

[middlehead]

Flash Drive

 

[KeithTalent]

Flash Drive or USB key, depends on my mood or who I am talking to.

 

[jadinolf]

Pen Drive