Pocket an 8GB flash drive for $16.99 shipped

Get 8GB of portable storage for just $17.

(Credit: Kingston)

More and more these days, I find myself reaching for my flash drive. Whether it's to copy a few files from one PC to another or rescue an ailing system with emergency tools, the little guys are incredibly handy.

Of course, the higher the drive's storage capacity, the more you can do with it. Buy.com has a Kingston 8GB DataTraveler drive for $16.99 shipped. No rebates; that's your out-the-door price.

The drive includes a loop for attaching to a keychain (my preferred method of transport) and promises "secure cap storage," though in my experience, flash drive caps go missing within 6.3 seconds of unboxing.

Kingston backs the DataTraveler with a five-year warranty. I'm kind of surprised that it's not a lifetime policy, but, hey, do these things ever really go bad?

Just in case Buy.com sells out, Newegg has a similar deal: the Transcend JetFlash 8GB flash drive for $13.99 (plus $2.99 for shipping). And as it happens, this one has a lifetime warranty. Soooo...um, forget the DataTraveler and get the JetFlash instead. My bad. Yes, I'm suffering from too much vacation.

[bnblack]

Rick, I think you were right the first time ... go with the DataTraveler. I've had two or three of these things and love them. The only reason I've bought more than one was to upgrade size or due to a hole in my pocket. I've ran them through the washer and dryer on more than one occasion with no ill effects. You are right, though, about the cap. I've found myself crawling around on the floor looking for that thing more than once.

For only a dollar's difference I'm going with something I can wash and wear. ;-)

I think you were right the first time as well - it is cheaper - the Jet flash in the end is $13.99 plus the $2.99 shipping plus - for me at least there is tax - making the total $18.12 - while the Data Traveler is $16.99 - and nothing more.

[c|net Reader]

The price difference is a penny. If you're not charged sales tax at one site and are at the other, that's hardly a universal condition. Furthermore, many (most or all?) states require you to pay the sales tax not charged by such web sites. So, if you're being honest, and your state requires sales tax either way, there's a penny's difference between the two.

[techfortat]

If the cap is an issue, for just $1 more you can get the data traveler 100 which has a retractable USB connector instead of a cap. I think that's worth a buck.

[U. Tripps]

They do go bad. At least, some do. I do not expect them to last forever--safer to think of them as fallible than the other way around.

[viper396]

My experience with bad USB flash drives have all been the result of the solder joints breaking at the point where the USB plug is soldered to the board. It was usually the result of the plug being flexed while in someone's pocket. (hence a reason to put the cap back on) I've never had a USB flash just go bad on it's own...yet (knock on wood).

[U. Tripps]

@Viper

That might very well be the reason why one of my drives failed. And only one has. But, there must be some gradual degradation of flash drives, or the drive utilization controllers for SSD hard drives would not be so important. The good ones spread data all over the disk, so that certain sectors don't wear out before others. Either way, I have limited time and limited capabilities to break open the plastic case and resolder a connection.

Another USB drive was lost, which was really frustrating. I am much more careful about backing up now.

[Toleran]

Lol I liked the end of the article. Made me laugh

[vonscoot81]

While of different brand, you can pick up a PNY 8GB Flash Drive for $15.97 at Walmart. These are left over from black friday last year, and saves you the wait on shipping.

[viper396]

Lately, I've been getting those mini-SD to USB Flash drive adaptors. The adaptor is ~$5 and the SD-card is whatever I can get. FRY's had 8gb Mini-SD cards for $9 this past weekend. They look and work just like any USB flash drive plus I can swap out the SD card and increase capacity when the time comes.

[BetterPrice]

http://www.meritline.com/adata-8gb-pd30-flash-drive---p-32552.aspx

A-DATA 8GB PD30 Nobility Series USB Flash Drive
Sale: $14.99

Free Standard Shipping

[abundantsnotbob]

I think there was a sandisk 8GB drive for $20 or less at walmart.

[thejokker]

It'd be great for work but the DoD currently has an ongoing ban (since Nov 08) on all flash media

[pninan518]

For about $20 shipped i highly recommend the patriot 8GB flash drive. It is the best! Really strongly built with rubber coating around it. It also comes with a little rope to wear it around your neck, I love this feature because it beats digging around looking for your little usb. Heres the link:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820220252

enjoy :-)

[217]

I picked up SanDisk Cruzer 16gb for $29.99 at Staples last week.

[BetterPrice]

http://www.meritline.com/adata-8gb-pd30-flash-drive---p-32552.aspx

A-DATA 8GB PD30 Nobility Series USB Flash Drive

Item Number: 122-609-001 Free Standard Shipping
sale: $12.99

[jayty97]

Ocz diesel is what I use, super fast (one of the fastest on the market) , strong and small... great drive. Got one on newegg for $17.99 shipped.

[junkmail202]

It's an ok deal. Why not go with 16GB for $24.99 (only 8 bucks more)at Micro Center?

http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0281032

These days flash memory is getting cheaper and cheaper... my experience is once I've filled up my 4gb flash is... darn, I should have gotten the 8gb (so on and so forth). I've seen usb flash as high as 128GB, but those are prohibitively expensive.

[bluemudkipz]

Ouch.
I picked up a 4GB flash drive at Staples the other day for $15, and I thought I was getting a good deal. Well, compared to my old 2GB that I got on Boxing Day last last year for $30, it was.