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USB Flash Drives
1:09 PM EDT 7/28/05
Coming from another thread, this is a bit out of context, but I thought I would forward in case it might be of interest to others:
This (Computer-On-a-Stick (COS) -- http://www.fingergear.com/computer_on_a_stick.php ) is basically a (Linux) bootable USB (flash) drive (see the user guide -- http://www.fingergear.com/downloads/COS_User_Guide_v1.0.pdf ) -- i.e, a USB drive with its own operating system. The one that I am keeping an eye out for is one that also includes a *processor* (see "You can take it with you" -- http://www.guardian.co.uk/online/insideit/story/0,13270,1363841,00.html ).
The COS is still somewhat interesting both from a thin client perspective and for possibly supporting the public use of COS-like flash drives.
As for the thin client potentiality, I am not sure whether the price / performance would be good enough to justify it over other options, but still worth exploring.
On the public support side, they would not work on our public access machines as currently configured. We don't support booting from USB devices (or from CD-ROMs). If we did allow this, the set up would need to be similar to that for wireless devices, and patrons would need to know that they were facing similar security issues as to those presented when using wireless.
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Re: USB Flash Drives
12:54 PM EDT 7/28/05
as a reply to Ross Riker.
Yes, would be interested myself to hear if libraries are using these COSs as thin clients, or for public use.
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Re: USB Flash Drives
5:18 PM EDT 7/28/05
as a reply to Chrystie Hill.
I love the idea of a computer on a stick. We are heavy users of USB drives in our library (everyone on staff carries one, we encourage our patrons to use them)... this just seems like a whole new level. Thanks for sharing.
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Re: USB Flash Drives
5:43 PM EDT 7/28/05
as a reply to Janie Hermann.
These Live CD's or COS were also mentioned as one of the trends at the Top Tech. Trends session. Once they can be installed with the Windows O.S.--maybe they are already available with Windows--they will really start to sell particularly to the general public and less techie population.
It would be helpful to know if any libraries out there are starting to see patrons bring in these devices. Sounds like there are still some big security issues...
Rose
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Re: USB Flash Drives and more...
6:07 PM EDT 7/28/05
as a reply to Rose Nelson.
This just came in on my RSS feed, thought it was in the same vein of our discussion:
This is the annotation of the article in Wired. (See Wired, August 2005 edition page 93 for the article)
"Kevin Kelly has an interesting article over at Wired on the development and future of the web. In it, he argues that in ten years the desktop OS will become obsolete in favor of a Web based one, and that content on the web will be automatically customized according to the device being used to access it (PDA, smartphone,etc)." From the article: "Today the nascent Machine routes packets around disturbances in its lines; by 2015 it will anticipate disturbances and avoid them. It will have a robust immune system, weeding spam from its trunk lines, eliminating viruses and denial-of-service attacks the moment they are launched, and dissuading malefactors from injuring it again. The patterns of the Machine's internal workings will be so complex they won't be repeatable; you won't always get the same answer to a given question. It will take intuition to maximize what the global network has to offer. The most obvious development birthed by this platform will be the absorption of routine. The Machine will take on anything we do more than twice. It will be the Anticipation Machine."
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Re: USB Flash Drives -- "USB for your car"
1:43 PM EDT 9/26/05
as a reply to Ross Riker.
Although this looks at music, I would think it would work for audiobooks in MP3 format, and possibly other things:
"USB for your car"
http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/09/16/techbits.ap/index.html
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Re: USB Flash Drives
9:31 PM EDT 9/29/05
as a reply to Ross Riker.
This article requires (free) registration to access. Also, I think the full content is usually only available for seven days {then it is no longer free :-( }
"Bargains in a Flash" By DAMON DARLIN, NYTimes.com
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/29/technology/circuits/29flash.html
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Re: USB Flash Drives
3:45 PM EDT 10/4/05
as a reply to Ross Riker.
"Cards neither rock nor roll" -- http://www.wired.com/news/business/0,1367,69011,00.html
It is necessary to scroll down to this section -- the heading for the article is "Nano Scratches a Nano Problem". It talks about the release of the new Rolling Stones album on a copy protected flash memory card.
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Re: USB Flash Drives
4:52 PM EDT 10/4/05
as a reply to Ross Riker.
Well, here is a longer article:
"Update: SanDisk puts DRM on flash cards" --
http://www.infoworld.com/article/05/09/28/HNsandiskdrm_1.html
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Re: USB Flash Drives
1:42 PM EDT 10/24/05
as a reply to Ross Riker.
Hopefully, this article is accessible --
"Starting Your PC in a Flash"
By Eric Hellweg, October 21, 2005
http://www.technologyreview.com/articles/05/10/wo/wo_102105hellweg.1.asp
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Re: USB Flash Drives
10:10 PM EST 10/30/05
as a reply to Ross Riker.
The article is accessible - thanks for posting it!
We were talking today about some first experiences using the Internet - over slow connections - and the feeling of being excited about it despite the fact that it was SO SLOW. Now that I have lived with high speed, however, I have no tolerance for slow connections. I wonder if this will happen with booting times, too - we'll soon be wondering how we ever put up with waiting for a few minutes for the computer to boot.
Brenda
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Re: USB Flash Drives
12:48 PM EST 11/30/05
as a reply to Ross Riker.
Article: "Storage Grows in a Flash" By Kate Greene
http://www.technologyreview.com/InfoTech/wtr_15939,294,p1.html
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Re: USB Flash Drives -- "Credit Card" USB Flash Drive
11:35 AM EST 1/16/06
as a reply to Ross Riker.
Article: "Carry a USB Drive in Your Wallet" January 10, 2006, By Brian Livingston
http://itmanagement.earthweb.com/columns/executive_tech/article.php/3576366
Walletex:
http://www.walletex.com/Walletex/index.asp
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Re: USB Flash Drives -- "Credit Card" USB Flash Drive
11:52 AM EST 1/16/06
as a reply to Ross Riker.
Nice, although I'd worry about the ability of such a device to actually survive for long in my wallet - I think i'd be afraid to store anything really important there 
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Re: USB Flash Drives -- "Credit Card" USB Flash Drive
12:21 PM EST 1/16/06
as a reply to Dale Musselman.
Have you seen the new [url http://www.thetechzone.com/?m=show&id=477 ]Flash wristbands[/url] --very fashionable if you like the look of blue plastic.
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Re: USB Flash Drives -- "Credit Card" USB Flash Drive
12:52 PM EST 1/16/06
as a reply to Betha Gutsche.
Nothing says 'geek chic' like flash drive wrist band!
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Re: USB Flash Drives -- "Credit Card" USB Flash Drive
1:16 PM EST 1/16/06
as a reply to Betha Gutsche.
No, but we had patrons who came in after Christmas with flash MP3 player watches :-)
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Re: USB Flash Drives -- computer on a stick
12:50 PM EDT 9/28/06
as a reply to Ross Riker.
Article: "RingCube touts software that squeezes a PC onto iPod or keychain" By Associated Press, Tuesday, September 26, 2006 -- http://www.technologyreview.com/read_article.aspx?id=17543&ch=biztech
From the article:
"Making even the latest pocketbook-sized ultra-mobile personal computers look more like lumbering giants, RingCube Technologies Inc. unveiled software that can virtually squeeze a PC onto an iPod, USB keychain drive, cell phone or any gizmo with digital storage space.
RingCube's MojoPac software mirrors a computer's personal settings, programs and data on a storage device. Then, when it's connected to any computer running Microsoft Corp.'s Windows XP operating system, the virtual desktop will run in a window of the underlying PC."
******************************************************************************************************
MojoPac: There are many links that may be of interest on this site. Here is just one:
http://www.mojopac.com/portal/content/how/requirements.jsp
******************************************************************************************************
I realize that this can be done without this particular software. However, this appears to be a rather slick implementation. Security issues would be a major concern. However, if you set some PCs up as if they were effectively similar to a wireless setup, that might be an option.
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Re: USB Flash Drives
12:59 PM EDT 8/2/07
as a reply to Ross Riker.
This blog talks about varying *write* speeds the author encountered while using a flash drive and some of the solutions/information he learned. YMMV, but some of the "TALKBACKS" might also be of interest.
Blog: "Flash drives: your mileage WILL vary" --
http://blogs.zdnet.com/storage/?p=166
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