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Four USB 3 ports (compatible with USB 2) 27" 2019 19.1

  • Need to buy some new flash drives to store pictures and videos. Spec said I have "Four USB 3 ports (compatible with USB 2)". Question I buy a 3.0 flash drive? (I am 84 and some tech stuff is over my head).
  • Can you recommend a mid-price good flash drive?


iMac 27″, macOS 10.15

Posted on Oct 2, 2023 9:36 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Oct 3, 2023 10:04 AM

That iMac has two USB-C (USB, DisplayPort, Thunderbolt) ports and four USB-A (USB 3.0) ports. All are capable of USB 3.0 speeds. You could plug a flash drive with a USB-A connector into any of the four USB-A ports, or one with a USB-C connector into either of the USB-C (Thunderbolt) ports.


However, flash drives are a poor choice for long-term storage of data. They're easy to lose and don't have a very good reputation for reliability compared to external hard drives, or to external SSDs. (Both flash drives and SSDs can also theoretically have data "evaporate" if you leave them sitting unpowered for years.)


I would recommend using external hard drives to back up your Mac. Copy that 15-minute video to your Mac, and to your backup drives.


If you want to do so, you can also put it on a flash drive – but maybe go back once a year and check that the flash drive is still working. If it isn't, then you'll have the copies of the video on your backup hard drive(s) with which to prepare a new, working flash drive.


5 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Oct 3, 2023 10:04 AM in response to ronfrommurrieta

That iMac has two USB-C (USB, DisplayPort, Thunderbolt) ports and four USB-A (USB 3.0) ports. All are capable of USB 3.0 speeds. You could plug a flash drive with a USB-A connector into any of the four USB-A ports, or one with a USB-C connector into either of the USB-C (Thunderbolt) ports.


However, flash drives are a poor choice for long-term storage of data. They're easy to lose and don't have a very good reputation for reliability compared to external hard drives, or to external SSDs. (Both flash drives and SSDs can also theoretically have data "evaporate" if you leave them sitting unpowered for years.)


I would recommend using external hard drives to back up your Mac. Copy that 15-minute video to your Mac, and to your backup drives.


If you want to do so, you can also put it on a flash drive – but maybe go back once a year and check that the flash drive is still working. If it isn't, then you'll have the copies of the video on your backup hard drive(s) with which to prepare a new, working flash drive.


Oct 3, 2023 8:23 AM in response to ku4hx

  • Thanks for your response. Some of my questions were not addressed in your reply.
  • With my unit, do I buy the 3.0? I never heard that Flash Drive is not reliable for storage. Are some brands better than others? This may sound strange, however, a friend at my request just finished a 15-minute video and has it on a flash drive so someday it can be used at my memorial service. So my question about the right flash drive (3.0?) for my iMac19.1 is important. Even the recommendation of a reliable brand.

Thanks

Oct 2, 2023 10:49 PM in response to ronfrommurrieta

My opinion on them all is none are appropriate for any kind of storage, transfers maybe, but not storage. They're simply too unreliable compared to an actual hard drive, small and easily lost and difficult to label.


As is the usual case, YMMV and we all have our favorites and opinions.


I'm 77 btw and some tech stuff is over my head too.

Four USB 3 ports (compatible with USB 2) 27" 2019 19.1

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