USB drive thingies

[whatever]

I want to get another of those USB removabble drives, the ones about the size of a disposable lighter. However, there is a slight problem.

I'm currently in Japan, and the only thing I can understand about them here is their capacity and that many of them are marked "USB 2.0". Now, I'm not sure what version of USB my PC at home has, so the question is, will a 2.0 device work on a (potentially) 1.x PC? What functionality would be lost, is it just a matter of access speed?

Any advice greatly appreciated.

[GregE240]

Yes, a USB 2 device is compatible with the old standard (1.1), it just won't run as fast.

An Extract from Intels Website said:

In the area of Best Emerging Technology, CNET's award goes to USB 2.0. This award does not go to any one company but to all of the industry pioneers that recognize the value of this new standard. The factors that make USB 2.0 so promising are its speed, its backward compatibility with USB 1.1, and its broad industry support. Please see www.usb.org/press/ for more details.

Hope this helps.

Greg.

>> Edited by GregE240 on Wednesday 22 October 08:49

[whatever]

Nice one, ta very much. I'll go shopping, then.

[GregE240]

You're welcome. Must admit the price of the plug in storage is getting cheaper. Still amazed that something the size of a highlighter pen holds more than my ZIP drive. Progress I guess.

Happy shopping!

[robertuk]

I just spotted a new device in a mag.

It basically looks like a credit card and the USB plug flips out. Seems to have more security built in

found it:
www.freecom.com/ecnewsitem.asp?ID=3058