USB’s, those small flash drives we’re all familiar with, are beginning to slice into the corporate demand for CD and DVD duplication. Why is this occurring?
There are a number of reasons for this which are worthwhile exploring.
1. They are small, compact and can fit into your pocket, on to your keychain, into a pen, your wallet or on to your wrist. I’d like to see you do that with a CD!
2. They can be coloured and branded with your company logo. This branding remains on the desk of prospective clients and customers long after your message has been seen unlike a CD or DVD which tends to be discarded or filed away soon after use.
3. Because of the inherent reusability and durability of USB drives, they represent fantastic gifts to potential clients once your message has been consumed.
4. If your message needs to be upgraded on a regular basis, new media does not need to be expensively reproduced.
5. USB’s are a cleaner and greener choice than CD’s and DVD’s
6. Some USB’s even come with the data authored in such a way that ensures automatic web delivered updates much the same way as windows updates itself. Failing this level of customisation, clients can be encouraged via simple email links to download upgrades on to the USB which can replace existing digital pricelists, brochures, and product lines.
7. USB’s come in a diverse capacity range from 64mb up to 32gb and beyond.
8. Fingerprint drives are beginning to edge ahead providing a much needed security option for portable data which is currently lacking with the use of CD and DVDs.
USB’s are likely to be with us for the foreseeable future. Until broadband is truly broadband, portable data media will continue to be utilised by the public. With the world caught in a digital divide and the Australian government still no closer to providing cheap and ultra fast broadband, we could be waiting a while for the dumb terminal to reappear on the horizon.