Be Smart

Until recently, my thinking about USB flash drives went something like this: Why buy a dozen small capacity flash drives, when you can buy one really rugged 16GB or even 32GB flash drive that you can use for everything? Until . . . one day . . . I go to insert my super duper, rugged, weather-proof flash drive into my laptop . . . and it breaks into two pieces - just at that point where the rugged part ends and the USB connection (which of course is exposed when you're using it) begins. Betrayal! (Never mind that I may have been a bit heavy-handed and impateitn with it - the point is, it was supposed to be tough.)

So, now I buy throw-away flash drives and treat them like large capacity floppy disks. I don't commit, I make no promises - that way, I can't be disappointed. They're fun while they last.

These JT Baby USB flash drives are so tiny and flat, they can fit into little slots in your wallet, on a keychain, or on a cell phone. Pick them up from the site that sells all things USB -- Brando.com ($22 for 2GB, $37 for 4GB).