Flash drives are ideal for transferring files from your office computer to your home computer and back again. Many people e-mail files from one computer to another when they need to work at home, but if a file is too large to send by e-mail, a flash drive is an ideal solution. The small size and light weight of a flash drive makes it easy to transport in your pocket, on your keychain or on a strap around your neck.

Flash drives are ideal for storing small to medium-sized files. The drives are available in storage capacities up to 16 gigabytes (GB). Transferring data to and from a flash drive is much faster than transferring data to and from other types of removable storage, such as a floppy disk or recordable CD.

You can buy a device that combines the functions of a flash drive and an MP3 player. This type of device has all the features of a flash drive, but also allows you to store and play your favorite MP3 songs.

Most people use tape drives to make backup copies of files. Backing up data provides extra copies in case the original files are lost or damaged. Most people should back up their work every day.

Tape drives usually come with a backup program which helps you copy files to tape cartridges. Most operating systems also include a backup program. You can also purchase a backup program such as Retrospect (www.dantz.com) which can offer more advanced options.

A tape drive can be inside a computer case or connected to a computer by a cable. An external tape drive is more expensive, but is easier to set up and can be used with more than one computer.

Although storing data on tape cartridges is inexpensive, tape drives are no longer commonly used. Flash drives and recordable CD and DVD drives are more commonly used for storing small amounts of data, while external hard drives are more commonly used for storing large amounts of data.