Sandisk memory sticks for both PC and smartphones

[Box Brownie]

Hi all

I spotted these two variants of a Sandisk product that caught my eye..................though at 256GB (for the largest available) they do not store all(?) I or any TP member is likely to want to backup/keep safe it is a nice large amount of storage to be able to put in your pocket and perhaps keep safe image files seen as most important (as part of an overall backup strategy

SanDisk Ultra 256 GB Dual USB Flash Drive USB 3.0 Type-C
This one as I understand it is aimed at both PC/Mac users with Apple phones i.e. phones with C type universal connectors

ULTRA DUAL USB DRIVE 3.0
This one is more(?) standard i.e. for PC/Mac and Adroid phones with mini USB connectors

Now my Moto Phone uses the mini USB though I think more modern Android models have the C type USB???

But back to the point, at 128GB or 256GB @ <£90 they seem a decent pocketable storage solution but is anyone using these sort of higher capacity memory sticks and what do you think of these dual ended products???

 

[neil_g]

You could just get an otg cable and connect whatever USB drive you want. Watch the power drain on USB powered devices though such as 2.5" disks, although an SSD isn't too bad for a quick transfer.

 

[Box Brownie]

You could just get an otg cable and connect whatever USB drive you want. Watch the power drain on USB powered devices though such as 2.5" disks, although an SSD isn't too bad for a quick transfer.

Hi Neil

Ah! did not know about the OTG cable for smartphone connections.

However my first thought was usage as one additional pocket-able backup method for the PC and at 256GB they match an SSD for capacity but are smaller and less expensive than an SSD, as far as I can tell

 

[Eloise]

backup/keep safe it is a nice large amount of storage to be able to put in your pocket and perhaps keep safe image files seen as most important (as part of an overall backup strategy

I wouldn't trust a USB memory stick for reliable long term storage.

 

[Box Brownie]

I wouldn't trust a USB memory stick for reliable long term storage.

Though for now very high capacity storage is HDD but SSD are a growing technology and will likely become more dominant as capacities increase (analogous to the step change from CRT to flat panel and it's development).

But why do you say the above and what if I had spoken of an SSD?

 

[Nod]

AIUI, USB memory sticks are pretty much small capacity SSDs and are likely to suffer the same problems as their big brothers.

I use the double ended SanDisk things for short term, non critical storage, mainly films on a tablet during flights. The USB3 allows fast transfer from the desktop to the stick and the other end can be plugged straight into most non fruit based tablets and smartphones without the need for any extra cables.

 

[Box Brownie]

Hmmmm!

Is it the general 'received wisdom' that HDD are better/best as backup external drives than SSD technology based ones................bearing in mind for backup the access reads & writes are infrequent but the SSD's smaller & more portable and AFAIK less prone to shock damage???

 

[Eloise]

A couple of years old but... https://www.pcworld.com/article/292...ally-need-to-worry-about-ssd-reliability.html

PS. I was talking about “archival” storage.
PPS. As Ned said yes essentially USB sticks are small capacity SSDs and so they have the same issues as SSD though multiplied being “cheaper” designed devices.

 

[Nawty]

Just to point out that Apple phones do not use the USB-C connector, they (rather annoyingly) use the Lightning connector.

And then also, due to the way IOS works you can't just use an external drive as plug and play storage for the phone.