Flash Drive, USB Drive, Flash Memory, Removable Mass Storage Device, (or as my daughter calls it, the Zippy Pluggy Thingy:-) that stores data, pictures, and music files. A flash drive is a very small memory device that will plug directly into the USB port of your computer (more convenient when you have a USB port on the front of your computer, but you could run an extension cable from the back). Where a floppy disk holds 1.44MB of data, a flash drive will hold 64MB - 256MB (maybe more). It is small, easy to use, easy to carry around (most come with a lanyard to hang around your neck), holds a LOT of data, and is apparently quite durable as far as the external case is concerned. They usually cost about $30-$60. I've had mine for a couple of years and don't want to do without it. However, I only use mine for transferring data from one computer to another, sharing to someone else's computer, and short-term back-up until I can burn to a CD. I am concerned about using it as a long-term permanent back-up solution because, as Rod shared with us, his developed a loose contact, and his laptop stopped recognizing it. I've also heard (from a large corporation's System Administrator) that they eventually lose the ability to retain data reliably. Think of using a floppy disk over and over and over, reformatting, reusing, reformatting reusing . . . . . You would eventually run it into the ground. However, for the amount and purposes that I use my flash drive, I think it is a wonderful tool, and I will continue to use it and then get a new one if I need to. I just won't use it for long-term permanent storage. Hope this helps, Sherrie Mary Gagne wrote: > What exactly is a flash drive? > > Mel