Key drives are one of the newer backup technologies out there. Unfortunately
there is not yet a standard name for key drives, so you might also come across
names such as key-chain drive, flash drive or flash card. Despite the name
differences they are all the same thing.
A key drive is an external drive which is very small, about the size of a
key or key-chain (hence the name). Key drives vary in the amount of data they
are able to hold. Smaller units will be able to hold about 16 megabytes, while
larger units can hold up to 2 gigabytes and more.
The major plus of the key drive is its portability. It is very small, so you
can take it wherever you go and keep a hold of your files. It connects to your
computer via the USB port, and in most newer operating systems (Windows 2000
and beyond) it doesn’t even require and special drivers to operate on a
computer. Just plug it into the USB port and you are ready to save and retrieve
data.
For the amount of storage you receive, however, key drives can be a bit on
the expensive side. $50 for 16 megabytes of storage space is somewhat high.
Prices are going down though, and it is often possible to find them for quite a
bit cheaper.
It is a very safe backup medium, however, as there are little chances of it
breaking and it is highly reusable, working just like any normal drive. If you
want your files to be extremely portable in your backups, it is an excellent
option.
Data Storage Space: 16 megabytes – 2+ gigabytes
Ease of Use: Very easy to use
Physical Storage: Very small and portable
Reusability: Reusable
Cost: Averages between $40 and $400, depending on size