Having never used one, I'm really not up on what they can do, nor what specs to look for when purchasing one, so I figured I would just ask at my favorite info spot. Sounds like a handy item to have to me, just wanted to hear what you all think, as well as how you use them.

I was just looking at this one at NE while ago:
Kingston DataTraveler I 1GB Flash Drive (USB2.0 Portable) Model DTI/1GB - Retail $13.99
Item #: N82E16820189033

I have a little one, 512M...Not sure when I got it or even the brand now (I think it was Centron or something like that, the name has since rubbed off the outside). I got it when USB2 ones first came out. I love it for totting files I need for working on machines. Only thing I can say bad about it is I have been know to leave it in the back of a customer's machine. I have it one it's own little key ring so I hopefully won't do it that much. :D

Definitely a quick and easy way to carry/move files.

The only negative I have seen is they are easy to misplace or loose. I have not lost mine, but know of several folks that have misplaced and never found theirs.

can't go wrong with a cheap one per the above advice. I don't like the one's that attempt a secure connection... Find a nice slim model and it's better if the cap is connected somehow, first thing lost.... We put ours on a neck lanyard sometimes and you can wear it like dogtags if you are using it for a project. 1GB is very large for normal use....should do you well

I have 2...512mb each, and I luv 'em. They're super-handy. $13.99 is good $ for 1gb.

The only spec I looked at when I bought mine was capacity and $. Didn't even know who the mfgr. was.

FYI they work just like the old floppy disks did... you plug it in, let you computer find it for a sec... click on My Computer and find the drive (might be called different things on your computer)r: Removeable etc... You can drag and drop, save, copy, paste, etc.. just like any window...

you cant go wrong with any of them. get the most memory you can get for the least $$.

Try TigerDirect.com I bought a 4 GB around christmas for $15 after rebates there and a 2GB for about $10 after a $30 rebate

I have a text file on mine called "If found please read.txt" or something like that. If an honest person finds it, they can get my contact information from the file so they can get it back to me. It can't hurt. :)

Slonaker

Great little item. Watch the sales circulars in Sunday's paper for great deals at your local stores like Best Buy, Circuit City, Staples, Office Depot. Find the best deal. MAKE SURE the low price *does not* reflect a "mail in rebate" - go for the instant rebates (you rarely get a mail in rebate back anymore)

Sandisk makes great items, as do a ton of others. Many of them use the same internals, but a different outer shell, so ... not a huge amount of difference.

You should be able to get a 1GB stick for around $20-30 on sale.

I got a couple 1GB ones from walmart at their annual 5 hour sale before christmas. 13 bucks each I think is what they cost. Staples had them for $7.99 ea at their 5 hour sale but I drove by and decided I didn't want to risk my life getting in there to get 'em. LOL

Haven't used 'em much yet but I just seen a car stereo, (again at Wally world), that has a SD card slot and a USB receptical.
Made me wonder if I can download a few songs on the flashdrive and then plug it into the stereo. Would the stereo recognize it?

It should recognize it. Most of the newer JVC units support USB sticks and SD cards. I just dislike JVC's products, so I haven't picked one up to try it.

I didn't notice that Kingston product up therre ... I must have missed that one. I was so busy at newEgg buying 500GB hard drives that I didn't get any memory sticks :D