Poll: What do you call the small USB device that you plug in to transfer files? • Hacker News Board

Re: Poll: What do you call the small USB device that you plug in to transfer files?

#61

Post by ridgered4 » Fri, Jul 22, 2022, 5:08 PM UTC

amelius wrote: post #53

By the way, I think it's quite funny that the "save file" icon in many applications is still a floppy disk.

While it's archaic now, I actually can't think of a better icon that fits all modern meanings. At least it has historical use on its side, even if it's never accurate anymore.

I heard once that some young children thought it was actually a picture of a refrigerator (which makes a sort of sense as a real world analog for saving something for later) so maybe this issue has magically solved itself.

Re: Poll: What do you call the small USB device that you plug in to transfer files?

#62

Post by poisonborz » Fri, Jul 22, 2022, 5:10 PM UTC

I'd be ok with anything that doesn't include "USB". The interface has nothing to do with the concept.

Re: Poll: What do you call the small USB device that you plug in to transfer files?

#63

Post by cyann » Fri, Jul 22, 2022, 5:12 PM UTC

We call them "clé USB" (USB key) in french: https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cl%C3%A9_USB

Re: Poll: What do you call the small USB device that you plug in to transfer files?

#64

Post by minimalist » Fri, Jul 22, 2022, 5:15 PM UTC

Brajeshwar wrote: post #10

I'm going to abuse the term “Floppy Stick” from today and use the hell out of it.

flash diskette

Re: Poll: What do you call the small USB device that you plug in to transfer files?

#65

Post by navjack27 » Fri, Jul 22, 2022, 5:16 PM UTC

USB flash drive or thumb drive

Re: Poll: What do you call the small USB device that you plug in to transfer files?

#66

Post by Ebcidik » Fri, Jul 22, 2022, 5:27 PM UTC

Attack Vector

Re: Poll: What do you call the small USB device that you plug in to transfer files?

#67

Post by NabiDev » Fri, Jul 22, 2022, 5:28 PM UTC

In my place, it's called "USB Card".

Re: Poll: What do you call the small USB device that you plug in to transfer files?

#68

Post by mixmastamyk » Fri, Jul 22, 2022, 5:29 PM UTC

Flash drive is the one typically. Lot easier to say than yoo-ess-bee…

But just realized they aren’t drives any longer, but solid-state storage. Reminds me of my dad who called any music storage “tapes”, even CDs.

Could be “removable storage” but a little clunky. What is a better word for removable? Portable?

Re: Poll: What do you call the small USB device that you plug in to transfer files?

#69

Post by arnvidr » Fri, Jul 22, 2022, 5:33 PM UTC

intrepidhero wrote: post #54

codetrotter wrote: post #36

Yeah, memory stick or usb stick. And likewise, in Norwegian I mainly call it minnepinne just like I mainly call it memory stick in English. Although, in Norwegian I might also say usbnøkkel even though I wouldn’t say USB key in English.

I'm dying to know how "usbnøkkel" is pronounced.

u s b knuck el (kinda like nickel, but specifically pronouncing the e before the l, and obviously the ø is a different sound than the i).

Re: Poll: What do you call the small USB device that you plug in to transfer files?

#70

Post by amelius » Fri, Jul 22, 2022, 5:35 PM UTC

ridgered4 wrote: post #61

amelius wrote: post #53

By the way, I think it's quite funny that the "save file" icon in many applications is still a floppy disk.

While it's archaic now, I actually can't think of a better icon that fits all modern meanings. At least it has historical use on its side, even if it's never accurate anymore. I heard once that some young children thought it was actually a picture of a refrigerator (which makes a sort of sense as a real world analog for saving something for later) so maybe this issue has magically solved itself.

> While it's archaic now, I actually can't think of a better icon that fits all modern meanings.

I think the modern approach is to hide the entire concept altogether. At least in most SaaS services. Just save continuously.