I am totally computer stupid. Why is there such a big price difference between sticks? I looked at walmart.com and saw many 2g. Prices were from 3.00 to over 100.00 dollars. Why? Also how do you back up drives? Does this mean flash drives, put them on a larger stick. Thats what Ive done not knowing if thats right.

Here is a link to many different 2 gb flash drives at Amazon. When you read reviews, read the newer one because if there is a problem with a batch it is usually fixed before the next batch. Also, some of the items are for multiples.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr_nr_p_...nid=1259751011

Are you saying she sold you one 2GB flash drive for $20?!? :shock:

The expensive ones have encryption/security features that you won't need. Unless you work for the FBI, and are using it to take files on holidays with you or something... For 2GB drives, you should be paying around $5. Anything more than that is for a fancier case, or features (like security) that you don't need, and might make it not work with your machine.

To back up drives, yes, copy the files to a second location. So you can back up your flash drive to your hard drive or another flash drive, or back up your computer's hard drive onto an external drive, etc. Windows has backup software built in, and larger flash drives often come with backup programs if that works better for you.

Some machine dealers want you to buy the branded stick. "It won't void your warranty" and that costs more.

A lot of the other sticks have some sort of info or other stuff on them. I format the sticks before use as I don't need whatever the files are for. Most of those files won't work with embroidery machine extensions, nor do they handle Photoshop's native or Adobe Illustrator. SD cards have them, too. Sandisk always has extra files on them. I use those cards in the camera, and they don't do anything about RAW format.

If you do find some reasonably priced, buy a couple. They can fail. I've had the USB ends come loose.

My sewing machine dealer sells them for $20 too but not to me! Robbery!

:shock: Oh, my gosh! She probably buys them by the bushel, for dirt cheap! Maybe someone on the QB should buy a bunch and then sell them, for whatever each one actually costs (adding enough for mailing, of course). Every now and then, we receive a free 2GB one with some sort of advertising . . . so you know they're being sold somewhere, for next to nothing. :rolleyes:

Thanks much for that hint...this is a new adventure, and this is a great idea. I have, since posting the question here, looked around and have found a few sources reasonably priced....I don't think I will need a lot of these, but better to have them on hand just in case...thanks all

Our LQS has a cute selection of sewing themed 2G flash drives (measuring tapes, spools of thread).

Cheers, K

I buy mine from oempcworld.com (with free shipping). I prefer to buy the smaller capacity (128MB or 256 MB), for under $4. I have a bunch of them, so there are only a few designs (by category) on each one...it's easier to search through them to find what I want than if I had tons of designs on one flash drive. Just a personal preference (based on a suggestion from my Janome dealer).