This may be a little off topic but I gotta know

[csterns]

This may be a little off topic but I gotta know if I'm missing something. Whilst( I like that word) out last night catching an after dinner coffee this guy comes in with an I-Book and plugs in one of those USB key fab storage things into his USB port and begins using his computer.

Question:

1) Why with a hard drive would you need to use one of those things?

2) Is it possible to load a program on it (like MS Money) and run the program from there?

3) If you could do that, and we have an SD slot, you could accomplish the same with an SD card but how reliable would it be?

[neuroscoot]

quote:1) Why with a hard drive would you need to use one of those things?

Ever own a 3.5 inch floppy disk? Same idea, but bigger and faster. Also, much easier to write and erase files on a USB stick than a CD-RW. With the tablet PC, that uses a peripheral floppy drive or CD-ROM drive, the USB stick offers a memory storage drive alot easier to use than lugging my other peripheral drives around. And the size of the USB memory sticks, 1 Gig+, makes them ideal for backing up sensitive info on the road in case your machine crashes.

quote:2) Is it possible to load a program on it (like MS Money) and run the program from there?

Yes. The computer recognizes it as a different drive.

quote:3) If you could do that, and we have an SD slot, you could accomplish the same with an SD card ...?

True, but the different format for memory cards makes transferring files from one computer to the next dependent on having machines that use the same size card, or having multiple adaptors. USB is ubiquitous on current machines.

[borg] But of course, you realize that if you use someone elses memory stick, its like you're using the memory stick of all their prior partners as well. Practice safe memory stick![:I]

[Cold Turkey]

Hmmm, Well i use a extenral 2.5 usb2 hard drive, 40 gigs, and theres no need of external power, i can install whatever i want on it. programs, or games it dont matter. Or just fill it up with mp3's or tv episodes. it doesnt require any drivers and its just plug and play, with windows xp anyways. i love it. Bout the same size as a POPTART.

[WNewquay]

csterns

Maybe what you saw was a security "dongle"

quote:Originally posted by csterns

This may be a little off topic but I gotta know if I'm missing something. Whilst( I like that word) out last night catching an after dinner coffee this guy comes in with an I-Book and plugs in one of those USB key fab storage things into his USB port and begins using his computer.

Question:

1) Why with a hard drive would you need to use one of those things?

2) Is it possible to load a program on it (like MS Money) and run the program from there?

3) If you could do that, and we have an SD slot, you could accomplish the same with an SD card but how reliable would it be?

[csterns]

? Security dongle? I don't think I am familar with that. I'll assume it locks out any access unless you have this security dongle? What happens if it gets damaged or lost? I guess, like keys, you could have a "hide a dongle"? But then you'd have to figure out where to hide your dongle? Sorry couldn't resist that one.