Big Cheap Flash Drive
 

or similar USB device for automotive use

400 Gb would do it, but I can divie things up over several devices

I see USB flash drives for sale at $40 for 64 GB but not much above that

ideas?

Define "cheap".

Change your search fu, try solid state.

< $100 - prices increase with n! ofr big flash drives

solid state would need to interface via USB - am not finding much

also, in storage solid state means SSD to me = spendy & fast

I don't need real speed; USB 2.0 is fine

You are going to want to look at something like this.

FRYS.com*|*Western Digital

It is spinning platters, but as long as you aren't driving over every pothole you find, you should be okay.

Flash drives, SSD, same basic tech. Both use NAND based memory.

Thumbdrives are limited in capacity by the amount of data you can fit on a single chip to retain the small form factor.

SSD's with their larger form factor obviously can hold more chips resulting in increased storage capacity.

Since form somewhat dictates function, an SSD while not large makes a poor thumbdrive, the primary differences between the two will be in the integrated controller and power management.

So if you can find an SSD that fits your budget and can go in an external USB HD case (and likely supply power) you are good.

I think your <$100 price point is the killer.

external HDDs (I have a couple) and SSDs all seem to require AC power - this is for a vehicle and it does get driven on bumpy gravel roads

Go wider and less dense. Two smaller drives will be cheaper, make one A-L and one M-Z.

thx - I think that is what I'll need to do - I guess I am optimizing the size/cost indifference curve...