Well, I guess it depends on what you are trying to do. I'm assuming since you linked to the U3 site that you are a Windows user. (It says Plug into any windows PC...) If you are looking to carry apps and such around, the U3 seems like a good choice. If you are just looking to carry some docs and such around, my advice is smaller is better. I have a 256MB PNY drive and I have never gotten close to filling it up, so 2GB sounds like plenty to me. Your needs may be different. Good synching software is really important, but it's readily available and as such shouldn't be a determining factor in your purchasing decision.

the u3 stuff is remarkably underwhelming.

i would just buy a generic flash drive and install the 'portable' versions of applications.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_portable_applications

I had the same reaction as Emory to the U3 stuff. With a 2 or 4 gig drive, you have plenty of room to install portable apps, and with portable versions of all the Mozilla apps, the GIMP, Gaim, and OpenOffice.org, there's not a whole lot you can't do with regular portable apps.

See this article for a lot of good apps:

The Ultimate USB Key

I have not made mine yet, but I will get around to it.

Someday/Maybe Create Ultimate USB Key from PCMag article.

Michael

Thanks for all the comments thus far, especially Michael's link to the PCMag article; I hadn't seen that. So far, I've eliminated the U3 option. Now I just need to think about whether or not I really want/need the synchronization software of the Lexar, or if I should just go with the PNY. But the Lexar is so shiny and pretty...

I have a PNY 512MB stick and I liked it a lot. I had one other one before that, I cannot remember what brand (but I think it was Lexar) and DIED! No computer would see it, so I exchanged it for the PNY and there is no looking back.

I also have a 6GB GigaBank for all of the big stuff.

PS. I will add links after I eat lunch.

Michael

I must say, the only thing I’ve enjoyed about the U3 stuff is the icon they put in the task bar allowing for easy access to the programs. I don’t actually use any of them, but the ability to quickly browse to the drive has been useful. I also want to see how easily you can add items to the u3 menu system. If it’s not too difficult, I want to add a menu item to my GTDTiddlyWiki index file. I put my wiki on a thumbdrive so I can carry it with me wherever I go.