What Do YOU Call a USB Drive? - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Redjake · 08-23-2008, 03:49 AM

I've noticed that everyone at work calls them "jump drives." I think this is really annoying, not sure why. I call it a "USB drive." What's your preference? Flash drive? Memory stick? USB stick?

Edit: I'm asking the mods for a poll! This should make it more interesting!

Plaid13 · 08-23-2008, 04:02 AM

Have always called them flash drives. Sometimes usb drive but not as often. never jump drive though. But have heard them called thumb drives as well. Whatever they are called they are very handy to have. Love being able to run firefox and a messanger off them.

Daniel_ · 08-23-2008, 11:01 AM

I call them USB drives, because that's what they are - a USB device that shows up as a drive on a windows PC.

Seems easy enough.

ols · 08-23-2008, 02:16 PM

usb refers to the interface, technically its flash memory. you could have usb optical disks (external hardrives). i think the type of drive it is should be designated by the way it stores info, imo

yellowmac · 08-23-2008, 03:06 PM

Wow, there's no way I can vote in this poll. I think I oscillate between "jump drive", "memory stick", and just "stick"... If I had to pick one, I'd probably say "memory stick" more often...

snowy · 08-23-2008, 03:08 PM

Seems to me most people around these parts call them jump drives, myself included.

meanSpleen · 08-23-2008, 05:30 PM

... memory key

don't ask why. I have no idea either!

telekinetic · 08-23-2008, 05:41 PM

Thumb drive. My wife just calls them a "USB"

To me:
Jump drive: uh, what?
Flash drive: internal solid state hard drive
Memory Stick: RAM comes in sticks, flash memory does not
USB Stick: see above
USB Drive: All my 500-750 gig external hard drives are USB also...they are what I mean when I say USB drives.

highthief · 08-23-2008, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by meanSpleen

... memory key

don't ask why. I have no idea either!

I always used to refer to it that way too, but more recently seem to use "flash drive".

Hain · 08-23-2008, 07:54 PM

For a long time I just used whatever someone else said so that I didn't confuse them, but if I say it, it is either USB drive, but more often than not I call it by the product name: my Cruzer 4GB flash memory stick is my Cruzer; my Lacie 1TB external hard drive is the Lacie; etc.

spindles · 08-23-2008, 08:33 PM

thumb drive or sometimes flash drive

ottopilot · 08-23-2008, 10:21 PM

I call my USB drive Steve.

Moyaboy · 08-24-2008, 02:06 AM

I call them flash drives. I work in the printing industry. So many of my customers can call them all of the above and more. I agree that the way it stores the data is what you should call it.

What else would you call a hard drive? Although I have heard my grandmother call a computer a hard drive. That term to her encompassed the whole computer. Excluding the monitor, mouse and keyboard. Those were the TV, Mouse and typing keys.

Charlatan · 08-24-2008, 05:33 AM

Thumb drive...

I have never heard the term jump drive.

Tully Mars · 08-24-2008, 06:15 AM

flash

Esoteric · 08-24-2008, 06:57 AM

Flash drive. I've never even heard the terms "jump drive" and "thumb drive" to describe it until now.

ratbastid · 08-24-2008, 06:59 AM

I don't really know why, but I call it a thumb drive.

Anxst · 08-24-2008, 07:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daniel_

I call them USB drives, because that's what they are - a USB device that shows up as a drive on a windows PC.

I do the same, occasionally using 'external drive' instead. It's irrelevant to me if it's a flash drive, or optical disk, or whatever. It's an external data storage device accessed by USB. USB drive.

snowy · 08-24-2008, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ottopilot

I call my USB drive Steve.

Mine is actually named Pippin.

jewels · 08-24-2008, 09:47 AM

Jump drive.

Before I actually knew they existed, my kids were using the term to describe them.

NeoRete · 08-24-2008, 09:59 AM

I call mine thumb drives, USB drives are larger external HD's. My favorite name given to them by a colleague: geek keys (affectionately referred to because all the techs in our departments wore them on lanyards along with our ID badges).

mrklixx · 08-24-2008, 10:04 AM

The title of the thread totally sounds like thwe beginning of a nerd joke. Some thing like "What do you call a usb drive inserted in your rectum?"

"An I/O error"

Lasereth · 08-24-2008, 06:00 PM

Thumb drive. Everyone I know calls them that too.

MiSo · 08-24-2008, 06:09 PM

flash drive.

shakran · 08-24-2008, 06:15 PM

i call them "lost."

I can't keep track of the damn things for more than 2 weeks at a time.

On the rare occasion that I know where mine is, I call it a thumbdrive.

CinnamonGirl · 08-24-2008, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shakran

i call them "lost."

I can't keep track of the damn things for more than 2 weeks at a time.

I know the feeling... the one I recently lost had all my English papers on it, too

I say flash drive. Occasionally USB disk. Even though there's nothing disk-ish about it...

LoganSnake · 08-24-2008, 07:59 PM

USB stick/drive. It varies.

guthmund · 08-25-2008, 09:11 AM

I've used all of those at one time or another with no preference to any....

Whatever I call them, no one around here ever has any clue what the hell I'm talking about the first time through the conversation.

PonyPotato · 08-25-2008, 09:18 AM

Flash drive, generally. My boss usually calls it a thumb drive, sometimes I call it a USB drive.

Dragonlich · 08-25-2008, 09:30 AM

Over here, most people I know call it a USB stick, or stick for short.
I've heard most of the other names too, but I've never heard anyone call it a "jump drive".

Leto · 08-25-2008, 10:18 AM

thumb drives primarily. Intermixed with USB sticks.

Frosstbyte · 08-25-2008, 11:10 AM

I call them USB keys, which apparently makes me a ridiculous outlier because it's not even on there. Sad day for me. My wife and I (though we don't use them much anymore) always carried them on our keychains, so I just started calling it a key. yeah, I'm weird. I'm ok with that.

LoganSnake · 08-25-2008, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frosstbyte

I call them USB keys, which apparently makes me a ridiculous outlier because it's not even on there. Sad day for me. My wife and I (though we don't use them much anymore) always carried them on our keychains, so I just started calling it a key. yeah, I'm weird. I'm ok with that.

That's what I call them mainly. Always have my 2GB SanDisk with me.

MontanaXVI · 08-25-2008, 08:43 PM

I call them a USB drive or thumb drive, but more USB drive than thumb.

View Poll Results: What do YOU call a USB drive
Jump Drive	4	6.25%
Flash Drive	21	32.81%
Memory Stick	2	3.13%
USB Stick	6	9.38%
Thumb Drive	16	25.00%
USB Drive	15	23.44%
Voters: 64. You may not vote on this poll

08-23-2008, 03:49 AM	#1 (permalink)
Redjake I'm a family man - I run a family business. Location: Wilson, NC	What Do YOU Call a USB Drive? I've noticed that everyone at work calls them "jump drives." I think this is really annoying, not sure why. I call it a "USB drive." What's your preference? Flash drive? Memory stick? USB stick? Edit: I'm asking the mods for a poll! This should make it more interesting! __________________ Off the record, on the q.t., and very hush-hush. Last edited by Redjake; 08-23-2008 at 04:00 AM..

08-23-2008, 11:01 AM	#3 (permalink)
Daniel_ Evil Priest: The Devil Made Me Do It! Location: Southern England	I call them USB drives, because that's what they are - a USB device that shows up as a drive on a windows PC. Seems easy enough. __________________ ╔═════════════════════════════════════════╗ Overhead, the Albatross hangs motionless upon the air, And deep beneath the rolling waves, In labyrinths of Coral Caves, The Echo of a distant time Comes willowing across the sand; And everthing is Green and Submarine ╚═════════════════════════════════════════╝

08-23-2008, 03:08 PM	#6 (permalink)
snowy Kick Ass Kunoichi Location: Oregon	Seems to me most people around these parts call them jump drives, myself included. __________________ If I am not better, at least I am different. --Jean-Jacques Rousseau

08-23-2008, 05:30 PM	#7 (permalink)
meanSpleen Squid hat! Location: A Few Miles Away From Halx	... memory key don't ask why. I have no idea either! __________________ Like TFP? Donate To Keep It Alive!!

08-23-2008, 04:02 AM	#2 (permalink)
Plaid13 I want a Plaid crayon	Have always called them flash drives. Sometimes usb drive but not as often. never jump drive though. But have heard them called thumb drives as well. Whatever they are called they are very handy to have. Love being able to run firefox and a messanger off them.

08-23-2008, 02:16 PM	#4 (permalink)
ols Insane	usb refers to the interface, technically its flash memory. you could have usb optical disks (external hardrives). i think the type of drive it is should be designated by the way it stores info, imo

08-23-2008, 03:06 PM	#5 (permalink)
yellowmac Insane Location: left coast	Wow, there's no way I can vote in this poll. I think I oscillate between "jump drive", "memory stick", and just "stick"... If I had to pick one, I'd probably say "memory stick" more often...

08-23-2008, 05:41 PM	#8 (permalink)
telekinetic zomgomgomgomgomgomg Location: Fauxenix, Azerona	Thumb drive. My wife just calls them a "USB" To me: Jump drive: uh, what? Flash drive: internal solid state hard drive Memory Stick: RAM comes in sticks, flash memory does not USB Stick: see above USB Drive: All my 500-750 gig external hard drives are USB also...they are what I mean when I say USB drives.

08-23-2008, 07:54 PM	#10 (permalink)
Hain has a plan Location: middle of Whywouldanyonebethere	For a long time I just used whatever someone else said so that I didn't confuse them, but if I say it, it is either USB drive, but more often than not I call it by the product name: my Cruzer 4GB flash memory stick is my Cruzer; my Lacie 1TB external hard drive is the Lacie; etc.

08-23-2008, 08:33 PM	#11 (permalink)
spindles Mine is an evil laugh Location: Sydney, Australia	thumb drive or sometimes flash drive __________________ who hid my keyboard's PANIC button?

08-23-2008, 10:21 PM	#12 (permalink)
ottopilot let me be clear Location: Waddy Peytona	I call my USB drive Steve. __________________ "It rubs the lotion on Buffy, Jodi and Mr. French's skin" - Uncle Bill from Buffalo

08-24-2008, 02:06 AM	#13 (permalink)
Moyaboy Crazy Location: Charlotte, NC	I call them flash drives. I work in the printing industry. So many of my customers can call them all of the above and more. I agree that the way it stores the data is what you should call it. What else would you call a hard drive? Although I have heard my grandmother call a computer a hard drive. That term to her encompassed the whole computer. Excluding the monitor, mouse and keyboard. Those were the TV, Mouse and typing keys. __________________ "With or without religion, you would have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, that takes religion." - Steven Weinberg

08-24-2008, 05:33 AM	#14 (permalink)
Charlatan Getting it. Super Moderator Location: Lion City	Thumb drive... I have never heard the term jump drive. __________________ "My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars." - Old Man Luedecke

08-24-2008, 06:15 AM	#15 (permalink)
Tully Mars Living in a Warmer Insanity Super Moderator Location: Yucatan, Mexico	flash __________________ I used to drink to drown my sorrows, but the damned things have learned how to swim- Frida Kahlo Vice President Starkizzer Fan Club

08-24-2008, 07:59 PM	#27 (permalink)
LoganSnake We work alone Location: Cake Town	USB stick/drive. It varies. __________________ Maturity is knowing you were an idiot in the past. Wisdom is knowing that you'll be an idiot in the future. Common sense is knowing that you should try not to be an idiot now. - J. Jacques

08-24-2008, 06:57 AM	#16 (permalink)
Esoteric Tired Location: Florida	Flash drive. I've never even heard the terms "jump drive" and "thumb drive" to describe it until now. __________________ From a head full of pressure rests the senses that I clutch Made a date with Divinity, but she wouldn't let me fuck I got touched by a hazy shaded, God help me change Caught a rush on the floor from the life in my veins

08-24-2008, 06:59 AM	#17 (permalink)
ratbastid Darth Papa Location: Yonder	I don't really know why, but I call it a thumb drive.

08-24-2008, 09:47 AM	#20 (permalink)
jewels Eponymous Location: Central Central Florida	Jump drive. Before I actually knew they existed, my kids were using the term to describe them. __________________ We are always more anxious to be distinguished for a talent which we do not possess, than to be praised for the fifteen which we do possess. Mark Twain

08-24-2008, 09:59 AM	#21 (permalink)
NeoRete Crazy Location: Cape Cod	I call mine thumb drives, USB drives are larger external HD's. My favorite name given to them by a colleague: geek keys (affectionately referred to because all the techs in our departments wore them on lanyards along with our ID badges). __________________ Charlie was a chemist but Charlie is nomore, what Charlie thought was H2O was H2SO4

08-24-2008, 10:04 AM	#22 (permalink)
mrklixx President Rick Location: location location	The title of the thread totally sounds like thwe beginning of a nerd joke. Some thing like "What do you call a usb drive inserted in your rectum?" "An I/O error" __________________ This post is content. If you don't like it then you are not content. Or perhaps just incontinent. This is not a link - Do not click here I hate animated avatars.

08-24-2008, 06:00 PM	#23 (permalink)
Lasereth Knight of the Old Republic Location: Winston-Salem, NC	Thumb drive. Everyone I know calls them that too.

08-24-2008, 06:09 PM	#24 (permalink)
MiSo Psycho	flash drive. __________________ - this space for rent -

08-24-2008, 06:15 PM	#25 (permalink)
shakran Tone.	i call them "lost." I can't keep track of the damn things for more than 2 weeks at a time. On the rare occasion that I know where mine is, I call it a thumbdrive.

08-25-2008, 09:11 AM	#28 (permalink)
guthmund big damn hero	I've used all of those at one time or another with no preference to any.... Whatever I call them, no one around here ever has any clue what the hell I'm talking about the first time through the conversation. __________________ No signature. None. Seriously.

08-25-2008, 09:18 AM	#29 (permalink)
PonyPotato Soaring Location: Ohio!	Flash drive, generally. My boss usually calls it a thumb drive, sometimes I call it a USB drive. __________________ "Without passion man is a mere latent force and possibility, like the flint which awaits the shock of the iron before it can give forth its spark." — Henri-Frédéric Amiel

08-25-2008, 09:30 AM	#30 (permalink)
Dragonlich 42, baby! Location: The Netherlands	Over here, most people I know call it a USB stick, or stick for short. I've heard most of the other names too, but I've never heard anyone call it a "jump drive".

08-25-2008, 10:18 AM	#31 (permalink)
Leto Junkie Location: The Danforth	thumb drives primarily. Intermixed with USB sticks.

08-25-2008, 11:10 AM	#32 (permalink)
Frosstbyte Winter is Coming Location: The North	I call them USB keys, which apparently makes me a ridiculous outlier because it's not even on there. Sad day for me. My wife and I (though we don't use them much anymore) always carried them on our keychains, so I just started calling it a key. yeah, I'm weird. I'm ok with that.

08-25-2008, 08:43 PM	#34 (permalink)
MontanaXVI Junkie Location: Go A's!!!!	I call them a USB drive or thumb drive, but more USB drive than thumb. __________________ Spank you very much