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An Acer Chromebook 514 (CB514-2H/T) on a wooden table on a stone patio next to a pond with greenery around it
How to put ChromeOS on a flash drive

Make the OS easily installable, or usable, anywhere

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ChromeOS has come a long way from being a glorified web browser to a full-fledged operating system that's packed with great features. Chromebooks come in all shapes and sizes, including some great 2-in-1 laptops, which means there's a Chromebook for everyone. If you're interested in a Chromebook but aren't sure if you want to take the leap and buy one, install ChromeOS on a flash drive and try it on a computer you own.

If you're anything like the majority of the AP editorial staff, you've never deleted a file in your entire life. You gotta put all that junk somewhere. If you're low on space, now's a fine time to stock up on storage: a bunch of memory cards, SSDs, and flash drives are on sale today at Amazon.There are 128-, 256-, and 400-gigabyte Micro SD cards starting at $22, SSDs both internal and external, and USB-A, USB-C, and even Lightning flash drives on offer. Here's the full list:

One of the advantages of everything moving to USB Type-C is that you can use many of the same accessories with all your devices. However, it's still pretty common to run into a PC with no Type-C ports at all, which is where SanDisk's new USB drive comes in.At CES 2020, SanDisk revealed the 'Ultra Dual Drive Luxe USB Type-C,' which has a USB Type-C connector on one end and a Type-A port on the other. The idea is that you'll be able to transfer files across PCs, Android devices, the iPad Pro, and anything else with one of those two connectors. It can also fit on a keychain, for that extra level of convenience.

In the summer of 2018, PNY became only the second company to release a 512GB MicroSD card (and the first to go on sale in the US). The company is back with an updated model, as well as several flash drives including a USB Type-C option.The new PNY range is headlined by the upgraded Pro Elite 512GB MicroSD card, which offers a minor spec improvement over its predecessor with a U3 bus speed instead of U1, meaning a guaranteed minimum write speed of 30MB/s (and up to 90MB/s). Read speeds of up to 100MB/s and A2 app performance is also offered by this Class 10, UHS-1, V30 MicroSDXC card. PNY promises better 4K video recording performance than before, with enough space for more than 29 hours of the stuff.At $349.99, the original wasn't cheap, although we have seen it as low as $240 on sale since it launched, and it's currently 0 on Amazon. Pricing for the new model hasn't yet been announced, but there appears to be an Amazon listing for it already showing the same $280 price.

Some deals don't require you break your piggy jar or dig into the couch cushions for all the pennies you have lost. Take for example this Samsung flash drive. In September, we were happy when it was down to $23.99, and earlier this month we found it an awesome deal when it dropped further to $19.99. But now? Now it's just $12.99. How 'bout that?For that sweet, sweet price, you get a USB-C 3.1 flash drive with 64GB of storage from Samsung. It also comes in a really beautiful blue shade. You can use this one with your desktop or notebook, if it has a USB-C port, or with your USB-C Android phone. I use one just like it, but with 32GB only, very frequently to move data quickly between my Nokia 8 and my computer. It easily trumps Bluetooth and WiFi transfers of any form (direct WiFi, Pushbullet, Airdroid, etc...).And for $12.99, this can be the neat stocking stuffer you offer to many of your relatives on Christmas. They'll thank you for it once all USB ports move to USB-C. If you're interested, you can grab it from Amazon or Best Buy at the links below.Source: Amazon, Best Buy

USB-C is the future, but as we're all slowly switching to the updated port, the change isn't without its inconveniences. Chief among them: all your old stuff isn't gonna work without dongles and adapters.Why not just use it as an excuse to upgrade? That old 2GB drive you've been hanging onto isn't enough space anyway, and Amazon's just dropped the price on Samsung's 64GB ($19.99) and 128GB ($39.99) USB-C flash drives, bringing each to an all-time low. Allegedly these drives are USB 3.1, offering speeds of up to 150MB/s. According to benchmarks provided in Amazon's reviews, you should see about that in sequential read, with closer to 100MB/s in sequential writes. The only disadvantage seems to be that, if you intend to use the drive with a phone, some cases can interfere with it.Samsung has a 5-year limited warranty on these, and further advertises them as waterproof for up to 72 hours in seawater, shock-proof, magnet-proof (duh), and temperature-proof (0C-60C). It's also quite teensy, and no coupon is required to pick one up. You can grab it in a black 128GB flavor for $39.99, or Blue with 64GB for $19.99. In both cases, this is the lowest price either of these items has ever been at Amazon.Just about every new device brings with it a switch to USB-C, so you'll probably want to start replacing your older accessories with USB-C compatible varieties soon, or the dongle life will be your future life.

With cloud storage solutions becoming increasingly popular these days, we're using things like flash drives less and less. However, local storage does still have its place, and USB flash drives can come in handy when you're not connected to the Internet. As part of Amazon's Deal of the Day, 64GB and 128GB models of Samsung's USB Type-C 3.1 flash drives are just $23.99 and $42.99, respectively.As far as flash drives go, these are some of the best you can get. These have a Type-C connector, making them perfect for use with your smartphone (or even your laptop), and its USB 3.1 tech allows for transfer speeds of up to 150MB/s. The sleek shell is also water, temperature, x-ray, shock, and magnet resistant. A 5-year warranty is bundled in for your peace of mind.The 64GB drive is only $23.99 ($6 off), and the 128GB is $42.99 ($12 off). The former only comes in blue, and the latter only in black. You can get free one-day shipping if you're an Amazon Prime member. You have until the end of the day to pick one up; as of publishing time, that means you have a little over 12 hours remaining. You can view the rest of today's Amazon deals here.Source: Amazon (64GB), (128GB)

Since the very first disc drive, the 5MB IBM 350, storage has only become cheaper, smaller, and more plentiful. Today at CES, Kingston Digital announced the DataTraveler Ultimate Generation Terabyte (that's a mouthful) flash drives, which will be sold in both 1TB and 2TB configurations.The drives themselves are just 2.83 inches wide (72mm), and claim to support full USB 3.1 Gen 1 (otherwise known as USB 3.0) speeds; although I doubt this flash drive can max out at 5GBp/s. I would have liked to see both USB Type-A and Type-C connectors, like this Lexar drive, for easier connectivity with USB Type-C Android devices (and new Apple computers).Both drives will ship in February, but Kingston did not mention a price - no doubt they will be extremely expensive. If you buy one, please backup your data - 1/2TB of anything is a lot to lose.

I like managing local files. I like copying data over to flash drives and moving them around regardless of whether I have Internet access. I like knowing I can cram a stick of flash memory into my device and access files that wouldn't fit on internal storage.But I don't like cables. They take up excess space, and they look like a mess. As much as I enjoy transferring files, plugging one device into another using a cable still strikes me as tedious.A microUSB OTG flash drive is a nice workaround. With a microUSB port on one end and a traditional USB port on the other, you can move files around without dealing with tangles, and you can carry a backup around in your pocket.Right now you can get a Corsair OTG stick for .99, its lowest price on Amazon yet. As these three camels show us, this stick cost between $30 and $50 before now.This comes with 64GB of storage. There are smaller sizes to choose from at lower prices, but really, this is the one you want.Source: Amazon

If you happen to own an Android phone or tablet that works with USB On-The-Go (OTG) for external storage, you'd probably like some storage gadgets that can take advantage of it. Combo drives - standard USB on one side, MicroUSB on the other - have been on the market for years, but they're not easy to find and they usually carry a premium over more conventional designs. Today Amazon is offering a 32GB combo drive from Corsair, which is also compatible with USB 3.0 ports on the standard side, for just even.

SanDisk built its name producing flash drives, and now the company is releasing its first dedicated USB Type C option.This USB 3.1 stick comes in storage sizes up to 128GB and offers read speeds of 150MB/s. Write speeds are unspecified.The SanDisk Ultra USB Type C drive is already up on Amazon in increments of 16GB (12.99), 32GB ($17.99), 64GB ($27.99), and 128GB ($49.99). Though as I write this, it shows up as temporarily out of stock in all four sizes.This is not the first flash drive to support USB Type C. Lexar has a dedicated drive that costs less money. Other companies such as Kingston, as well as SanDisk itself, have introduced convertible options that can connect to both Type C and Type A devices. But getting a dedicated drive is cheaper if you don't need the backwards compatibility.

SanDisk is known for its flash drives and microSD cards, but those don't always play along well with smartphones. Even the dual USB/microUSB drives run into trouble with some phones. To address this, there's the SanDisk Connect, a wireless flash drive that you can use without need for Internet access. It generates a Wi-Fi hotspot which, after installing the SanDisk Connect Flash Drive app, your phone or tablet can use to access files.The bigger the drive, the better, and now it looks like the 64GB stick has dropped to on Amazon.

There are a lot of phones that don't come with microSD card slots these days, and it's not always feasible to plug stuff into the USB port. That's when the SanDisk Connect wireless flash drive comes in handy. This device is on sale via Amazon for $29.99, about $10 less than usual and half of the MSRP. That's better than most of the Prime Day "deals" from yesterday.

When it comes to storing files on your mobile device, having a 128GB microSD card is the Holy Grail. It's the easiest way to store all the things without having to worry about staying in range of Wi-Fi or burning through limited data allotments. So it's with that in mind that I direct your eyes over to TigerDirect.com. The site is currently offering a 128 microSD card for 79.99, down from $129.99 after instant savings. Shipping is free.

Every smartphone out there might not be able to use a microSD card, but it can take advantage of a full-sized flash drive. Hey, hear me out here. I'm well aware that Android phones don't come with big USB ports, but SanDisk has produced a flash drive that your phone or tablet can access wirelessly. While they're not a perfect solution to the problem of limited storage, they're one of the best options out there.When SanDisk introduced a 64GB flash drive back in January, it wanted $99.99 for the thing. Now, on Amazon, the price has dipped down to .95.

Google's two-factor authentication system is a great way to keep your email and other accounts safe, especially if you've always got a smartphone (or even a dumb phone) around. Today Google is adding even more options beyond the current phone call, text message, email, and app-based verification. The latest update to the desktop version of Chrome lets you use a USB key as your two-factor security token, ensuring access via both your physical presence and your login password.

I've heard you - cloud storage can suck it. It requires a speedy internet connection, blows through data, puts your files on some company's servers, and frankly isn't always all that reliable. You want to stick your files on a flash drive just like the good ol' days. So here's the deal. Newegg is currently selling a 64GB OTG USB stick for the discounted price of $33.99 (a $5 savings). And if you ask nicely, Patriot Memory will send you a $14 rebate Visa card, bringing that figure down to $19.99.

So you decided to save yourself a few bucks and opted for the 16GB version of the latest phone, or even worse, are still stuck with an 8GB Nexus 4*, and now you're really feeling the pinch. The phone's lacking a microSD card slot, and that cloud storage isn't helping all that much on a limited data connection. What's a guy or gal to do? Pick up one of these dandy flash drives with dual microUSB/USB support. A 64GB Patriot Stellar option is currently up on Amazon for just $28.99, over 50% off its usual price. This is a great deal, even cheaper than the Corsair Flash Voyager drive that's also on sale today.

It wasn't too long ago that I would have thought of a dual USB/MicroUSB flash drive as a dream accessory. Now the landscape has changed so quickly, I'm nearly embarrassed that I have yet to buy one. When we first heard about the Leef Bridge Dual-USB/MicroUSB flash drive, the idea was still novel enough that its quirky name wasn't off-putting. Since then the more traditional players have jumped into the ring, with SanDisk and Sony both coming out with their own drives. Now add Kingston's name to that list. Its DataTraveler microDuo is available in 8GB, 16GB, and 32GB doses.

SanDisk's wireless flash drives offer a solution to a growing problem: the increasing absence of expandable memory options in the latest high-end phones. Users who are about to max out the space on their HTC Ones or Nexus 5s can't just pop in a new microSD card and be on their way. There's the option to offload extra data onto a cloud storage provider, but for people who rather hold their files in between their fingers, SanDisk's wireless flash drives can connect to any Android device, no cables of any kind required. And now the company is offering a 64GB option that's available immediately for .99.

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