I have written several times about jump drives (see my past articles at http://blog.eogn.com/eastmans_online_genealogy/2009/07/jump-drives-bigger-capacities-and-cheaper-than-ever.html and at http://tinyurl.com/y9qzeba). These tiny devices are also called thumb drives, USB drives, flash drives, memory sticks, and a number of other names. They are all about the same, regardless of name used. These devices are great for short-term backups and for transporting data from one computer to another. Want to copy data from your desktop to the laptop computer? Use a jump drive. Want to copy data from your cousin's genealogy database and take it home with you? Use a jump drive.
In fact, floppy disks have been obsolete for some time and now even CD-ROM disks are becoming obsolete. Jump drives are much cheaper, smaller, faster, more rugged, and easier to use. Prices have always been dropping but today I saw perhaps one of the best prices I have seen in a while.
Staples is now selling a 4 gigabyte USB Flash Drive for $6.99 after rebate. Yes, you do have to fill out a rebate form and stuff it into an envelope and all that, but $6.99 is a good price for a tiny device that stores more data than 2,700 floppy disks or more data than 6 CD-ROM disks. You pay $12.99 in the store and then later receive a $6.00 rebate.
I found the 4 gigabyte jump drives on display at the checkout stand at a local Staples store. I assume they are available nationwide. The Staples web site also shows the same sale at http://www.staples.com/Staples-4GB-USB-Flash-Drive/product_842339?cmArea=home_box2. Click on the "Check in Store Availability" link to see if they are in stock in a store near you. You could order online but shipping charges will eat quite a bit of the savings.
This is a sale price and I have no idea how long the sale lasts.
I am not paid to write about this. I just think it is a good deal and want to make sure anyone who doesn't yet own a jump drive or doesn't yet own enough jump drives hears about this offer.
