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1. minute (mntmn@mastodon.social)'s status on Wednesday, 26-Jun-2024 00:07:51 JST minute

   • holo//memory

   as non-native speaker i'm confused (together with @holo_memory) about the use of the term "USB stick" in the US and UK, referring to "thumb drive/flash drive". recently i was told this is a germanism (like "Handy" for cellphones). but could it also be a UK-ism? where are you based and which term(s) are you familiar with?

   • josef (jk@mastodon.social)'s status on Wednesday, 26-Jun-2024 00:12:21 JST josef

     in reply to

     • holo//memory

     @mntmn @holo_memory i'm from the UK, and i noticed in about 2005 nobody really knew what to call them, but by 2010 most people i knew IRL would call them a "USB stick". i think this is because:
     - usage of 'drive' implied to a lot of people that you might be talking about an external HDD
     - they're stick-shaped, or at least used to be when they were larger, and they stick out of the front of a PC in a conspicuous and memorable way
     - Memory Stick was probably a better term but sony already stole it

   • meejah (meejah@mastodon.social)'s status on Wednesday, 26-Jun-2024 00:14:50 JST meejah

     in reply to

     • holo//memory

     @mntmn @holo_memory I'm Canadian and we also use "USB stick" for the same meaning

   • tomkeddie (tomkeddie@mastodon.social)'s status on Wednesday, 26-Jun-2024 01:01:42 JST tomkeddie

     in reply to

     • holo//memory

     @mntmn
     Less technically minded people often just call them a "usb". I have to fight the urge to expain.
     @holo_memory

   • Zach (hardcoreufo@mastodon.social)'s status on Wednesday, 26-Jun-2024 05:24:56 JST Zach

     in reply to

     • holo//memory

     @mntmn @holo_memory From US I think I use "thumb drive" most often or just "USB drive" but that is more vague. I think "USB stick" must come from them being just about the same size as a stick of gum. Why we call a piece of gun a stick is beyond me.

   • FrostBeast (frostchild@mastodon.social)'s status on Thursday, 27-Jun-2024 14:02:11 JST FrostBeast

     in reply to

     • holo//memory

     @mntmn @holo_memory Makes enough sense to me.

     I have always called them flash drives. As someone who lives in USA, USB Stick makes more sense than thumb drive.

     Just my two cents.