If you are trying to back up memory and files on computer then the best thing to do is buy a flash drive. Flash drives are not expensive and can be found at almost any retail store that sells electronic. I would recommend that you get a flash drive with at least one gig of memory or more. This type of flash drive should only cost you twenty bucks or so.

I would recommend that you get specific size of flash drive for different types of memory. If you are planning on backing up videos, then you need to get a removable hard drive in place of a flash drive. If you are using a removable hard drive then the directions are the same as using a flash drive. Just complete the same step in the same order just like a flash drive. If you are planning to store many images then either a high-end flash drive or a lower end hard drive is recommended. If you are planning to store office documents and other written materials, then a low to medium priced flash drive will work fine.

Videos need 100 gigs or more. Pictures need between 3 and 15 gigs. Word documents and other office documents should not take more than one gig. I would also be concerned with the transfer speed if you are planning to store videos.

To start you need to insert the flash drive into your computer through the USB port in either the side, back, or front of your computer. The USB port you plug the flash drive into does not matter unless you know that a specific USB port does not work.

After the flash drive is in the computer, go to “my computer” in windows and double click on shared documents folder. Browse though the folders and find the specific file, files, folder, or folders you want to back up with the flash drive. Select “send to”, and then highlight the removable disk or removable memory. Once you select this, the files should start to transfer to the removable disk.

After the memory you are backing up is completed with the transfer, do not just take the flash drive out of the USB. You need to right click on the icon that says “removable device” and select the eject button. This will allow windows to safely eject the flash drive without causing any harm to the computer or the flash drive.

After you have hit eject and safely removed the flash drive or hard drive, you will have a memory back up that is good as long as you store it room temperature and do not submerge  it in water. It is always a very good idea to back up and data that is important on your computer. One last thing you want to remember is that generic brands will work just fine on everything but video memory backup. This will save you money too.

USB Engine Hub

(Photo credit: Witty)

Tired of looking at the conventional USB hubs? Why don't you have a motorbike engine or USB engine hub on your desk? This device comes with 3 ports to enable you to connect to any laptop or PC via a USB port. When you plug it into the USB port, the engine revs up to tell you that it is connected. The main feature of this device is that it has a starter pedal and gearshift which make realistic engine noises when pressed. Perhaps, the video here will demonstrate it better for its engine sounds and powerful vibrations.

Donut Flash Drives

(Photo credit: Technabob)

Are you hungry? Would you want to have some donuts? You can choose from three flavors: traditional chocolate frosting, strawberry and a weird green color. These delicious looking donuts are not served for you to bite on as it stores bytes and bits instead of calories.

Gundam USB-Powered Air Ionizer

(Photo credit: Yanko)

Are you a fan of the Gundam anime series? If yes, you will fall in love with this device. This USB-Powered ionizer is useful to keep the air around you ionize as long as your computer or notebook that it is plugged to is turned on.

USB Lighter Flash Drive

(Photo credit: TechIT)

This USB Lighter Flash Drive might not be caused you concern as it does not use a flammable liquid. Rather, it builds on the same concept as the lighter in most cars. It uses small resistance coils powered by a rechargeable battery, in which you can plug it into an available USB port for recharging purpose.

The Smallest USB hub

(Photo credit: WonderIT)

This USB hub is claimed to be the smallest USB 2.0 hub in the world, which is designed to help you connect more peripherals to the PC without occupying too much desktop space. It measures 5.8mm x 28mm x12mm to make it travel-friendly. Though it is small, it manages to cram in four USB 2.0 ports. From the above picture, you can see that it's shorter than the length of two SD cards, weighing about 21 grams.

USB Fibre Optic Christmas Tree

(Photo credit: Compwee)

This USB Fibre Optic Christmas Tree will definitely get you into the Christmas spirit. When you plug this device into an available USB port, you'll experience a warm glow as the tips of the branches glisten with a bright blue shimmer. The sparkling lights from this Christmas tree will give you soothing as well as hypnotic effects besides adding a festive spirit.

USB Owl

(Photo credit: Parker)

This USB Owl is a cute and friendly-looking little owl which is one of the weirdest USB products. The owl will blink sagely, move and roll his eyes around, and rotate his head which will definitely provide you inspiration to any home and office computer users.

USB “Timeless Watch”

(Photos credit: Nakamura)

This USB “Timeless watch” is a combination of a digital watch and a USB. It was designed by the Czech designer, Ondrej Vaclavik. The watch is lightweight while providing time and information. After connecting to a computer or a notebook, it will remain the status of charging.

USB Animal Drives

(Photos credit: Feber)

These USB drives are Swedish products. They're shaped into animals like a gorilla (Fredrik), a sheep (Jan), a turtle (Göran), and a pig(Maud). Each of this USB drive is available in four memory sizes: 1GB, 2GB, and 4GB.

USB Eternal Love Rings

(Photo credit: KimJong)

Are we matched to each other? How long will our love last? Now, let's synchronize these USB Eternal Love Rings to a laptop or a computer to “connect” our mutual love.

USB Hub Photo Frame

(Photos credit: Joey)

This USB Hub looks like a digital photo frame. It comes with four ports and is USB 2.0 compatible. It matches the photo size of 62x 53mm. It's one of the devices to put on your desk to brighten your memories. Besides that, its back light picture frame will brighten up your paper pictures anytime and anyplace you get it plugging into your laptop or computer.

USB Mini Fan

(Photos credit: Erfan)

This super cute USB Mini Fan is shaped into animals like a little pig and a little ducking. If your indoor air is not thoroughly ventilated, don't forget to let this cute little pig or a little duckling to ventilate your surrounding air.

2008 Beijing Olympics USB Flash Drives

(Photos credit: XinChen)

In conjunction to 2008 Beijing Olympic, the USB flash drives took a theme of the Olympic Games in China. They were released with a very limited edition. The 4GB thumb drive of the Olympic torch features the game logo in its centre, with some swirly red cloud around its surrounding. The Mascot-series which consist of 4GB flash drives have their front side printed with images of Fuwa besides the Olympic logos.

Mini cars USB Flash Drives

(Photos credit: FareWi)

These mini cars USB flash drives are one of the weirdest products of USB. They won't take you go downtown but they help to store data of pictures, MP3 and some movie files as well.

(Photo credit: FareWi)

When you plug this mini car into a USB port, its headlight will be immediately lighted up. It's cool, isn't it?

(Photo credit: FareWi)

They also come in a freight car and a patrol car. It's such the weirdest and coolest products ever made!

The Thumb Drive

Another name for the USB flash drive is the thumb drive. That is probably the reasoning behind this thumb designed flash drive.

The Teddy Bear Drive

This is a modded drive that you probably won't find for sale. The either gutted the drive and inserter the contents where the head should be, or they just stuck the casing and all in place. It's not exactly portable, and would almost make a portable hard drive more practical, but it would still be good for a few laughs at work or school.

The Swiss Army Knife USB

This new Swiss Army Knife USB has to be one of my favorites. While it would not be acceptable for minors to be carrying around, it would be a nice USB drive for those who actually carry a Swiss Army Knife anyways. These come with storage capacities of 64mb to 1gb and are sold online.

The USB Watch

Nothing like carrying and displaying your USB drive on your wrist wherever you go. You probably won't forget this at home, but it would be very strange to be walking around with a USB on your watch.

The Lego Brick

This was one of the original modded USBs that got people thinking, but I believe you can now purchase them online for about the same price as a normal USB. What can a Lego brick not do or make?

The NES Controller USB Drive

These controllers are used more for geek oriented mods than they are for gaming at the current time. This is just one of the many USB styled drives made from a NES controlled. If you mod it correctly you can even still use the controller.

Backspace USB

Another common modded drive would be with old keyboard keys. They give it a real computer styled look. If you have a friend who isn't computer savvy you can use the enter key with the arrow pointing to the side you stick into the computer to pick a joke at their inexperience with computers.

Chapstick USB

A common item you'd find in your pockets was turned into a USB. It was a custom mod that you may need to order a special sized USB to get it to fit. It's not the front part that would be cutting it close, rather the insides of your USB.

Chewing Gum USB

Rather easily done, but unique to say the least. There are several different gum and mint containers that are easily transformed into a new USB case. Simply cut a hole for the front to stick out, and secure your USB with glue or tape.

Disposable Lighter USB

Do you have a bunch of these disposable lighters lying around that don't work anymore? You can turn them into a cool looking USB drive with little work. Just gut the insides and cut the hole and you're finished.

Every week people are creating more unique variations of the USB. There are two ways to mod a current USB to create one to your style. You can simply secure it in its current casing, or remove it from the casing completely for the tighter fits. Experiment with different casings until you find one to match your style. Who knows, maybe if you put a picture of it up on the internet you'll see it going viral on the tech blogs.

Image source: Michael Tan

At the first glance, I mistakenly took it as the sound card, network interface card, TV tuner card or any sort of cards. I could hardly guess what this thing was, and finally someone told me that this is a masterpiece of a Japanese company. It is known as PCI Disk Card which is inserted into the PCI slot of a computer or a laptop. It is indeed a magical imagination. Such invention really makes me wondering the unique as well as the creativity of the Japanese imagination.

Isn't it strange from its aluminum appearance? It looks like mosquito spray.

(Image source: Michael Tan)

What's this? Can you guess? Perhaps you will think that it's a mosquito spray as what I've thought of while looking at this bizarre stuff. I'm sure that you haven't seen something like this so-called USB anti-mosquito spray elsewhere. Now, something makes you doubt about this. Where got USB anti-mosquito spray, never heard of it before. If not, is this an USB exploding device? No, impossible, its line is too short to have even burnt your hand when you light it up. Then, what on earth is this crazy thing?

(Image source: Michael Tan)

Well, this is actually called USB sound card with its external appearance fully coated in aluminum. It was a product of Hercules Audio which is named as USB External Soundcard. This is cool, right?

Is this a blue hoop or a life buoy? What's its connection to IT?

(Image source: Michael Tan)

Crazy! What's this? Is this a blue hoop or a life buoy? Impossible, a hoop or a life buoy will not have two-legs attached at its bottom. Instead of saying it's a two-leg appliance; it seems more like two wooden rods. You will never know what this thing is by just judging from its external appearance. I'm certain that you'll have problem to guess for this thing if I decide not to tell you the answer. Well, this is a stereo headphones launched by a company called Tube. Though it may look small, it has 5.1-channel audio capability to enhance its performance. It's indeed shocking to know that it has 6 built-in speakers. Due to its extraordinary audio capability, it will cause you about 150 Euros.

Is this a product from an alien planet?

(Image source: Michael Tan)

I'm sure that every one of you may have watched science fiction movie of Minority Report 2002 directed by Steven Spielberg and starring by Tom Cruise, Colin Farrell, Samantha Morton, Max von Sydow, and Lois Smith. You would come across with numerous technologically advanced gadgets in this movie, but this gadget with a blue semi-translucent cap attached on its top is somewhat looks like the film projector in the science fiction films. Now, you will be amazed to learn that this is a high-tech product of a Caller Display invented by Olympia InfoGlobe, and it is a model of OL 3000 caller display device. Whenever there is an incoming call, the caller ID (or calling number identification) will be automatically displayed on its screen.

What're you saying? A golden ladybird is used for a computer?

(Image source: Michael Tan)

This golden ladybird gives me a good feel to look at it. Though it's not made of the pure gold, it's manufactured with an excellent artwork to give you a delicate and sophisticated sensation.

(Image source: Michael Tan)

It's not for MP3 as you couldn't find a headphone slot to fit its plug into your laptop or computer. If not, what's this? Please guess, dear friend! Hmm, this is a U-beetle or in a simple word, U-dish. It's attractive and yet strange, right?

What's this stuff then? Its transparent body is packed with many “top secrets.”

(Image source: Michael Tan)

A first touch on this stuff made me thinking that it's a USB hub. However, this couldn't be a USB hub as its circuit is designed to be more complicated than the USB hub. As this gadget has a D-Sub interface, then it must be a graphic card. However, this guess is not true. The graphic card is an important part of the computer, it couldn't be connected externally. Even for a modern computer nowadays, there isn't any standard I/O interface that could meet the data transmission speed in this manner. The next possibility guess is that it's a screen. Again, it's incorrect as the screen will require more than one D-Sub interface but this device only has one. In fact, this is an external graphic card designed by the Japanese. A bit incredible …….Well, this stuff is not manufactured for you to play games; rather it's a dual mode, enabling multiple displays with different contents via a computer or a laptop. I don't think it could meet the requirement for 3D data processing speed, as it uses USB 2.0 interface so its speed is far behind the former mentioned earlier.

Besides showing time, what can this stuff do?

(Image source: Michael Tan)

You need no my answer and you'll tell me that this is a watch. You're right! This is a simple designed watch judging from its external appearance. Of course, its function is to show time. But, wait, my friend; don't make this as your final conclusion. Let me telling you that this is not just a watch, it's a product resulted from a micro-electronic technology. Not only it's a watch, but it has a close link to a computer. Now, at this point, you may challenge me for talking rubbish here.

(Image source: Michael Tan)

This thing is not hard to guess instead. If you keep yourself abreast with the IT news, I'm certain that you'll know that this is a U-watch. Again, this is a U-disk which is cleverly made convenient and portable for you to bring along elsewhere but it has a limited capacity for data storage.

Is this an insect of Y2K?

Image source

I can't imagine that this gigantic insect got to do with a computer. It's amazing to find that it's a computer's mouse. When you lift up its wings, it doesn't show you that it's a mouse. Instead, it looks like a housefly or any types of insects with a typically known six legs.

(Image source: InTozgc.com)

It's regarded as an insect of Y2K. Because of this invention, I've to accept the fact that human thinking is complicated and beyond the imagination. Needless to say about this Y2K's insect, could you imagine that your computer hardware is invented as the smelly toilet ball as listed in Desmonrock21's article entitled Gizmo: Cool Computer Case Mods 2. Gosh, stink, it gets me vomiting to look at those disgustingly designed computer products!

Oops, something totally unknown!

(Image source: InTozgc.com)

Now, my brain is poor enough to guess what this device is. It's not appearing to me as a computer's mouse. If I was not told that it's a mouse, probably I'll mad at guessing at it. And, I may never be guessed it right, I believe.

(Image source: InTozgc.com)

As shown in the above picture, its usage is very easy.

Is this a UFO?

Image source

This pumpkin-like computer product is designed to make it looks attractive as well as delicate to indirectly show the beauty in the art of the modern computer technology. The wooden treasure box which is attached with the pumpkin part looks very antique indeed! This product was on display in the exhibition of the Pentium 4 E3 in 2002.

Run, run! It's going to explode!

(Image source: InTozgc.com)

Wow, this explosive looks grand and elegant! Is this going to explore, I doubt of it. It's so beautiful. Incredibly, you couldn't imagine that it's a computer's mouse. I couldn't figure it out what's the feel when touching on it to move the cursor around the computer's screen.

Yuck, a strange human hand!

(Image source: InTozgc.com)

Yuck, a strange human hand to be your computer's mouse?! I hope this is just a nightmare but it happened to be a real fact that I've to accept while sitting in front of the computer. This hand looks so disgusting and I'm not going to touch on it. I believe that it'll bring a bad luck for me. Could you examine it closely? This strange human hand even comes with a look-real fingernail and some hair on top of its surface. Now, what do you feel? It's hilarious and bizarre though!

Yuck, another scary human body part!

(Image source: InTozgc.com)

The scary story about the designs on the mouse not only stops on a human's hand, but it also extends to the human's mouth. Look, the mouth is attached with two rows of teeth; one is located on the upper jaw, while the other one is located on its lower jaw. Whoever will want this to become his or her mouse? It's so disgusting to look at!

This is a computer and not a Christmas house. Can you believe your eyes?

Image source

Oh, I'm confusing with this device. I couldn't believe my eyes that this is a computer. Its design looks very attractive, but you can't eat the butter spreading over its top roof. While looking at this computer, it reminds me that the Christmas is around the corner.

Hey, are you kidding with me? This is a computer, you said?

Image source

This is a WMD computer, an abbreviation of its name: Weapon of Mass Destruction. From its name, you might judge that its killing power must be very scary and destructive. Why the inventor wanted to design the computer in this manner? Perhaps, the inventor just wants to show its greatest ability in terms of speed, capacity, and its operating systems. Anyway, this design is indeed hilarious!

Wow, what an odd-looking computer!

Image source

Hey, is this really a computer? Where's its CPU (processors)? Its main MOD systems are all attached to the surface of the wall, can't you see? Its motherboard, drivers, hard drives, graphic cards, and even its power cords are all hung to the side wall of the cupboard. I guess this inventor do this to avoid removing out parts of the components too often from his computer. Or else, he must be the weirdest person who feels comfortable to look at the computer in this crazy and illogical manner. See, the label pasted onto the side wall “Intel Outside!” Such a cool and ridiculous bastard!

Wow, what a good idea to have a microwave oven bake your programmes.

Image source

Do you want a microwave oven to bake your “programs?” Interesting stuff indeed! You'll get interested with this cool stuff, I'm sure. It's completely a perfect microwave oven ever designed to become a computer. This computer was displayed in CES Exhibition in 2003. This microwave oven is equipped with a liquid crystal display door. To operate this computer, you just press either its button located from the right side of this image. Its main operating system is “grilling” inside once the power button is pressed. Cool stuff though!

Do you want some cute animals running around your computer?

(Image source: Michael Tan)

Pets such as dogs, cats, hamsters, and etc. no longer will they sit on your lap, palm, or sleep beside or under your table. They are now active enough to run around parts of your computer.

(Image source: Michael Tan)

It must be enjoyable watching these cute animals or pets crawling along the cables, USB flash drive, power cords, external disks, U-disks and other computer's components. The addition of these computer by-products will definitely refresh your feeling while sitting in front of a computer or a laptop.

These are very creative designs!

(Image source: InTozgc.com)

This luxurious car designed mouse will definitely add in a sense of fashion while contributing a constructive design to the IT world. It's so nice and beautiful that I'm going to have one as my new computer's mouse. It can move just as smooth as the sport car could move along its track.

Is anyone hungry here? Would you like some fast food or Japanese delicacies?

In the past, a USB flash drive was shaped into either a rectangular or a square shape. Its shape was limited to a fundamental pattern and design. But, nowadays, the USB flash drive has shaped into a strange, wield and extraordinary pattern to increase its sale in the market. The design of USB flash drive has appeared as a fast food menu that will definitely capture the computer user's attentions worldwide.

Hamburger, Pizza, and Hotdog Menu

(Image source: Korean Monthly Technology Magazine, March 2007)

These USB flash drives take a theme of a fast food menu. They can be ranged from hamburgers, pizzas and hotdogs that you are familiar at any fast food outlets. As their appearance are manufactured in a framework resembles to hamburger, pizza, hotdog and sandwich, and thus they sometimes tempt people to eat them. Presently, these types of USB flash drives have a capacity up to one gigabyte.

A strange Menu of KFC

(Image source: Korean Monthly Technology Magazine, September 2007)

This is not a real set of KFC menu, it is a strange design of USB flash drive. If you examine it closely, you will find that the rice is actually a USB 2.0 Hub with four openings. Each opening is connected to a chicken, pudding and prawns. They are furnished with a ready boost facility with their capacities up to one gigabyte.

Octopus Sushi Menu

(Image source: Japanese Monthly Technology Magazine, January 2006)

The main design of these USB flash drives is an octopus (or tako in Japanese). If you do not examine them closely, probably you will be perceived to believe that they are real octopus. The manufacturer made them so real to give people a convenience feel of their completeness. When you pull out the head of the octopus, you can see the body of the USB flash drive. Of course, the other part of its body is a protective casing for the USB flash drive. When you insert this USB flash drive into the slot of the computer, the body of the octopus will shine or glister in blue light. It is fun and interesting to look at, isn't it?

Sushi Menu

(Image source: Japanese Monthly Technology Magazine, January 2006)

These USB flash drives are shaped into a Japanese cuisine or Sushi menu. Sometimes, you may come across a variety type of Sushi found in a Japanese restaurant which includes kappa(cucumber), California Roll, makizushi (rolls), inarizushi(toppings stuffed into a small pouch of fried tofu), Chirashizushi(scattered sushi), temarizushi (ball-shaped sushi with a filling of fish) and omelette. These USB flash drives have a capacity as big as one gigabyte.

Hmmm, this one looks rather odd!

(Image source: Jackson)

Not everyone will prefer to have their computer designed in a conventional manner, some computer enthusiasts may prefer to have their computers looking weirder than others to show that theirs stand out to be more striking and extraordinary. Despite of this perception, they started modifying their computers in this weird manner as what you see in the above picture is one of the examples. What's your opinion? Do you like this skeleton's computer? Tell me your idea, perhaps someone is going to modify his or her computer in a rather odd manner than all the stuffs I've managed to list here.

Are you worried about what people might find on your USB if it is lost or stolen? Then look no further than this neat little gadget that has military style encryption and even allows you to set a pin number so you and you alone can access the contents of the drive. Perfect for those porno peepers who do not wish to be discovered by spouse or if you are writing that oh so secret diary that no one, but no one can see. That is, of course, until you publish it on your blog so the world, its wife, the sheep and the water melons can read your innermost thoughts about their various uses.

The Love Hippo

Some think the Noble hippopotamus, a somewhat pointless rhinoceros - or at least that was the observation of the poet Winstanley. Hippos have had a bad press of late, what with squishing lots of American tourists, similar in girth and weight to themselves. Is there such a thing as hippo envy one wonders? Whatever the case, this hippo could find herself described in the same way the British rather pompously inscribed their one pound coin. Decus Et Tutamen is the phrase, which means decorative and useful. One for lovers of cute rather than the aesthetes of our little blue planet, I would imagine.

What came first, the chicken or the USB?

A rather frightening addition to the host of strange and peculiar USBs available, this peculiar piece of hardware should neither be confused with the Firefox extension of the same name or the game which is taking the domino world by storm at the moment (I kid thee not, there is a domino world and there is a game called chickenfoot). There is an ancient superstition that if you eat a chicken foot you will become handsome, so perhaps this could be your choice of gift to the geek with the lank hair and the spots who works in your IT department. You know the one. Yes, him.

Doggy biscuit bones

Your tastes may veer more towards the canine so these may be the perfect USB for dog lovers everywhere - and I choose my words carefully. Shakespeare once exhorted us to “Fill all thy bones with aches” and so this may be a great flash drive if you want to catalogue your daily miseries. Or plot, perhaps, your revenge on those who have offended. After all, sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will make me go and sit in a corner and cry for hours. One advantage of these items is that the lid flips over and stays attached meaning that you can never lose the top of your USB, unlike your heart.

Boy racer heaven

Perhaps you are a secret boy racer and have in your fantasies dreamed about zooming, fifties style, around the water systems of some American city while your girl cheers you on to victory against that nasty type with the leather jacket. This model then, may be for you. I have never been sure about the combination of cars and the fairer sex. After all, Albert Einstein once said “Any man who can drive safely while kissing a pretty girl is simply not giving the kiss the attention it deserves.” As possibly the cleverest guy on the planet ever, his words must be taken in to account - at least a little.

Swarovski - AT Your Own Risk

Any gentlemen reading this may find it a hoot to give the above Swarovski crystal USB to the lady of the moment. However, give it a thought or two before you do - receiving this as a gift may increase the expectations of the lady in question to an unfathomable height (if that isn't an oxymoron). She may well see it as a precursor of the real thing. Remember the immortal words of the sixteenth century English poet, Donne, upon his wife and his marriage: “John Donne, Anne Donne, Undonne.” Cynicism aside, if your lady veers on the right side of sanity, this may amuse and entertain her for a while, but buyer beware!

One for the Lecter in all of us

This would look rather pleasingly gruesome sticking out of the side of your laptop or PC, so those of a slightly queasy nature may not appreciate the biological humor involved. Neil Armstrong said in an interview that while standing on the moon (conspiracy theorists, give me a second here) he was able to blot out the earth with his thumb. What he should have said was his thumb, safely encased inside a bulky space suit because the consequences may have been serious otherwise (and in space, no one can hear you scream out expletives as a vacuum renders you quickly speechless - the original byline for the film Alien incidentally, considered too long, much like this sentence).

Mr Simpson's Choice

You don't need to be a foody to appreciate this one - just a glutton. One of my favorite Kurt Vonnegut retorts was “I couldn't give a flying f**k through a rolling donut” and if you are of a similar bent this may be the USB for you. You can work out your perspective on life itself with this one. If you see the donut, you are an optimist. If you only see the hole then, I am afraid, you veer towards the pessimistic view point on life, the universe and, well, everything. Hopefully it will be the former. As a certain Matt Groening once said: “Donuts. Is there anything they can't do?”

The Utility USB

Holy Flash Drives, Batman! This one may well turn out useful if you find yourself short of a tool or two but only when you're not using your PC. The only problem is that when the only tool you have is a hammer, then every problem begins to look like a nail. This may, then, not be a good present for the suggestible friend or the inquisitive child. One could be tempted to self harm with this baby. However, if that happens keep in mind that self harm is a sign of distress, not madness. Congratulate your friend or child on their survival technique and move on together.

In Vino Veritas

Red, red wine, goes to my head - so says the song. If you have a fondness for the red grape elixir with a bite then this is possibly your USB of choice. Don't overdo it though, because when the wine is in, the wit is often out. Even Shakespeare had words to say on the subject, even though it is thought that an alcohol induced snooze under a tree led to the cold which led to his demise. He said that “good wine is like a familiar creature if it is well used.” How would Shakey's take on the world change, could he see our world of overindulgence and excess? He could throw his lot in with Johnny Depp who used to date a certain Ms Rider. When they split up he had his tattoo changed from “Winona Forever” to “Wino Forever”. Did that man have to act to play Captain Jack?

In the Biblical sense? Really?

This one is a little worrying, to me at least. Dylan Thomas once said of the Welsh that they were a nation that prayed on their knees every Sunday and on their neighbors for the rest of the week. Can you imagine any current candidate for the American presidency getting away with saying the following? “When I do good, I feel good; when I do bad, I feel bad. That's my religion.” That was Abraham Lincoln who probably did more good during his presidency than either Junior or Senior has today (and on a religious note, I will not make any poor taste joke about a burning “Bush” here). I have looked and cannot find an equivalent Koranic USB, which makes me ponder as to who takes their holy book more seriously.

Holy Data Bombs, Batman

For some reason, this seems like the next and obvious choice on this list - why? Answers on a postcard please! This may be one if you wish to shock or awe your colleagues but it may be wise to err, depending on what you surname is. We live, after all, in suspicious times. Whitney Brown once tickled me pink - “Our bombs are smarter than the average High School student - at least they can find Kuwait”. Seriously, though, if this one starts tucking in your office, vacate the premises quickly. Don't have nightmares!

Bullet Proof your data!

This leads us on to this model - the original bullet proof USB, or at least that is how it is marketed. It would take a pretty sharp sharp-shooter to pinpoint this on a moving object, but I guess I am taking the sales pitch too seriously. Do you remember when the Washington Bullets changed their name because they didn't want to be associated with crime? They're just called The Bullets now. This little beauty is designed for those of you who have an extreme active lifestyle. Considering you are sat at your PC reading this, I can only assume it will be of little interest. So, let's move on.

Life is a gamble, after all!

You may prefer to gamble rather than gambol through life - in which case this may be your USB of choice. If you are of the school that money won is twice as sweet as money earned, you could take your chances on this. It may be a warning from the manufacturer, however, that this hardware is just as likely to fail as it is to work, so be warned! I think I may take my chances with another model - after all, in a bet there are always at least two people involved, a fool and a thief.

Canine Capers

If you use your internet connection as a means to watch mammals (of any particular species) doing it like they do it on the Discovery Channel, then this may give you a giggle or two. If anything more, go and wash your hands immediately! Dog lovers - and here again I chose my words carefully - may get a little queasy on first site of this and call their therapist immediately. If so, remember what Ben Williams said: “there is no psychiatry in the world like a puppy licking your face.” I repeat, face, for all of you potentially sick puppies out there.

If you are using 1GB or more flash drive, you can use Portable Apps Suite Standard Edition. This version has ClamWin Portable (antivirus), Mozilla Firefox (web browser), Gaim (instant message), Open Office (office suite), Sudoku (puzzle game), Mozilla Sunbird (calendar/task manager) and Mozilla Thunderbird (email client). Portable Apps Suite Standard edition is only about 100MB. You can download it free at prdownloads.net.

If your USB flash drive is from 512MB to 1GB, I recommend you to use Portable Apps Suite Lite Edition. In this version, you also have all the applications like the Standard Version. However, Open Office will be replaced by Abi Word Portable (word processor). You can download Lite Edition free at PortableApps. It is only about 40MB.

If you possess a flash drive that has very small memory, you can choose a few necessary applications you want to download at portableapps.com. Other way, you can choose to install Portable Apps Suite Base Edition. This edition is as little as 1MB. You can download Base Edition free at prdownloads.sourceforge.net. Base Edition only has basic applications (Portable Apps Menu, Portable Apps Backup Utility). I recommend you to install a few more applications if you use this edition.

I am a student. At my school, they do not have the applications that I need like Instant Messenger, Email Client. Therefore, I have to install this patch. I figured out that Portable Apps Suite is very useful. Every edition of it is free. I hope that you are also satisfied with this program.