10 Inexpensive Flash Drives from Sony, HP, SanDisk

Kodak 2GB USB Multimedia Drive ($14.99) For those who don’t need massive storage capacity, this 2GB Kodak drive still gives you plenty of room to store documents and media like photos or music. PC and Mac compatible, the ultra-portable design measures just 1.7 inches long and 0.2 inches thin and slips into a pocket or attaches to a keychain for easy portability.

Hewlett-Packard 16GB USB Flash Drive ($32.99) While more expensive than most USB drives, this HP stick packs a whopping 16GB of storage space into its compact frame, enough for 4,000 songs. The drive is 2.2-inches long and like most USB flash drives, requires no drivers, cables, batteries or external power. It’s also backed by a two-year warranty.

SanDisk 2GB USB 2.0 Flash Drive ($11.99) With a retractable USB connector and U3 ability, high-speed USB 2.0 interface (backward compatible with USB 1.1) and ReadyBoost-enabled to make computers running Windows Vista faster by using a USB drive as temporary storage, the SanDisk offers a wide selection of features for the price. It also comes with a CruzerSync synchronization tool, SignupShield password manager, Skype VOIP (voice over IP) software and AVAST virus scan.

PNY 8GB USB 2.0 Flash Drive ($41.99) Also enhanced with Windows ReadyBoost technology, this flash drive sustained read speeds up to 9MB/sec. and write speeds up to 4MB/sec. Compatible with PCs an Macs, it measures less than 3 inches long and weighs less than an ounce.

Geek Squad 4GB USB 2.0 Flash Drive ($27.99) Big box retailer Best Buy’s technology brand, Geek Squad, offers this flash drive, which offers driverless operation for both hot-swap and plug-and-play compatibility. Backed by a two-year warranty and compatible with Mac and PC.

ATP EarthDrive 2GB USB 2.0 Drive ($19.99) Designed with bio-recycled plastics with a fully recyclable housing, this drive also features System-In-Package technology to protect against water, shock, dust and electrostatic discharge; it also offers resistance to extreme temperature. With each EarthDrive sold, ATP will donate a portion of the profits (about 50 cents per unit) to help plant trees in order to help offset the carbon footprint and restore the environment.

Sony 32GB Micro Vault Click ($108.88) While priced at the upper end of the market, this 32GB flash drive offers a whopping 32GB of storage space. It also offers Virtual Expander, designed for Micro Vault to automatically compress/decompress files moved to and from the device. It enables you to virtually store up to three times as much data.

SanDisk Ultra Backup 16GB USB 2.0 ($99.99) If you’re looking for some extra security in a flash drive, you might consider this “ultra backup” model, which features a one-touch back up button as well as password protection and AES hardware encryption, which helps keep critical business files safe.

PNY Swivel 4GB USB Flash Drive ($19.99) Get style and substance with this drive, featuring a sleek, capless design and key fob to attach to a keyring. It measures just 1.2 inches long and weighs 1.6 ounces, and comes in a variety of subdued colors.

Transcend JetFlash V30 4GB ($6.22) For the real bargain hunters out there, this flash drive is one of the cheapest on the market, but still offers features like DataBackup Function, which allows you to backup, restore and synchronize data using the JetFlash Elite Software, and is fully USB 2.3 compatible.