Transferring files between computers at SPU is fairly common for students, but the methods most students use to transport files can be confusing and downright tedious.

There have been times in most students' lives when a printer runs out of ink, a friend wants to see a group presentation or a file simply needs to be moved. Unless the two computers are directly networked, the file would have to be saved to a location, and then opened from the other computer.

Today, many people have chosen to save their data to a whole new type of media: flash drives. These micro drives haven't even been on the market for five years, and they've already caught on. They're smaller than a floppy, but depending on the size, can carry more than a CD.

An alternative to flash drives is NetStore. Computer and Information Systems (CIS) offers 25 megabytes (MB) to current SPU students. Chris Clark from CIS said NetStore is reliable with no hardware required. NetStore can be accessed by typing ftp://myhome.spu.edu/users/(username)/ on your web browser. Although the 25 MB is free to students, Clark mentioned NetStore has its downsides. The most important may be NetStore requires an Internet connection and download and upload speeds are determined by your computer's connection to the web. The small size NetStore offers also doesn't allow several large files, such as pictures and hefty multimedia files, to be transferred at once.

Another very popular method of relocating files is to burn them to a CD-R or CD-RW. A typical CD-R can hold about 650 MB, which is more than enough for storing a ten-page report or even several hundred pictures. CD-Rs are usually sold by bulk in packs of 50 or 100 and many consider them to be very cheap at around 50 cents each. Aaron Lund from Fry's Electronics in Renton said burned CDs freeze files, and don't allow for future modification. Lund added if you want to save a file, you would have to always carry a blank CD in your pocket, which can be cumbersome.

Students prefer different methods of transferring files. Some prefer flash drives, but some find different ways to move files.

Freshman Chris Matsuo said he doesn't have a flash drive right now, but that he wants to get one to transfer files from computer to computer. Currently, Matsuo said he burns CDs to move files, but they have several cons. Matsuo said burning CDs is hard because once you burn them, you can't delete them.

Freshman Priscilla Morgan said she doesn't use flash drives. Morgan chooses to use NetStore to move files across campus and to back up files, because she considers NetStore to be 100 percent stable.

Seattle Pacific Professor of English David Cho uses a 256 MB drive and prefers it over other types of media. Cho said, "With all the stuff I do, it's too much material to carry. Except for the cost, I think it makes a lot of sense."

According to Clark, only about five percent of the students he meets at SPU have flash drives. Clark said flash drives are more versatile and are a better method for taking your files with you. He recommends 256 MB drives for college students.

Lund agrees. He also recommends flash drives for college students, especially for those who only have desktops. They use a small memory chip to store the data, and use up less than five watts of power, which is drawn from a computer's USB port.

Lund added that the transfer speeds of the flash drives are extremely quick. Data is sent at 480 megabits per second (Mbps) on newer PCs with USB 2.0 and 12 Mbps on older PCs with USB 1.1.

Depending on how these drives are used, and what files are saved on them, they are also compatible with Macs. According to Clark, most students transport files created on Microsoft Office, one of the types compatible with Macs and PCs.

These drives also have their downsides. If it's lost, a stranger can easily view and manipulate your files. Cho said was concerned about loss but said, "I keep it pretty safeguarded."

Today's flash drives are coming with more and more features to keep your data yours, or even make a fashion statement. Lund said some drives also come with lanyards, so you can hang your files around your neck. One drive, made by PNY Technologies, is a working ballpoint pen, and reveals a USB connector once the top is unscrewed. Some Lexar JumpDrives come with security software that allows you to password-protect your data in case your drive gets in the wrong hands.

Most recommend flash drives for people who have desktops. They are very popular and are considered a major help for college students who want to move files from one computer to another.

Flash drives come in a variety of sizes. According to Lund, 128-MB drives are about $20-25, 256-MB drives are around $30-50, 512-MB drives are between $50-60 and one-gigabyte drives range in price from $80-120.