Flash memory offers non-volatile data storage and thus is capable of retaining it's data even when it's power source has been turned off. This makes it ideal for devices such as digital cameras where batteries go dead often. With being able to retain data even when power is lost you can rest assured that all your pictures will still be kept safe on the memory card. Examples of flash memory cards include Secure Digital (SD) memory cards, Compact Flash (CF) memory cards, and Sony's Memory Sticks (MS, M2, MS Duo, MS Pro, and MS Pro Duo) to name a few. Other examples of proprietary and permanent flash memory devices include memory cards for video gaming systems.
Flash memory is extremely small, fast, lightweight, and makes no noise or have any moving parts, unlike hard drives. However, hard disks can hold considerably more data and its cost per megabyte is much cheaper although prices are quickly dropping as capacity grows larger for flash devices daily. Yet flash memory is quite reliable and allows you to specify which data you want to keep.
USB flash drives are known as the floppy disks of the 21st century. You can see people walking around with them dangling from key chains, backpacks, and even around their necks. These are more resistant to physical abuse than the media cards used in digital cameras.
They're also an improvement over optical storage like CDs and DVDs, which are easily scratched. Prices of the drives have come down so much that many companies give them to clients instead of printing reports and wasting paper and ink. In some schools, students are required to have them. At Newegg, we stock a wide variety of flash memory. Browse our site to find the lowest prices on the flash memory you want.