Money

Dealhacker: Cheap 8GB USB At Big W

Lifehacker AU

USB sticks constantly get cheaper, but this is a good price for the handy-for-a-whole-DVD 8GB size: $8.48 for an 8GB Lexar model at Big W from tomorrow until February 22. [Big W via OzBargain]


January 24, 2012
Fix

Hack A USB Hub Into Your Keyboard

USB hubs can be a great way to organise your cables, but you still have to find a good place to tuck away the hub. To create a little more desk space, hacker and blogger Michael decided to shove a USB hub directly into his Logitech keyboard.


December 21, 2011
Fix

Put Windows Defender On A USB Drive

Windows’ own security tools are among the best available, but they usually require pre-installation and regular updates. If you’ve got to save a Windows system that’s already infected — like, say, your relatives’ desktop over the holidays — you can boot Windows Defender from a USB stick while you’re offline.


December 1, 2011
Work

Ask LH: Do I Really Need To Eject USB Drives Before Removing Them?

Dear Lifehacker, Some of my computers (like my Mac) are always warning me about disconnecting flash drives without ejecting, while Windows doesn’t seem to have a problem — in fact, my external USB drive doesn’t even have an eject option. Does this mean it’s safe? How do I know when I actually need to eject a drive?


October 7, 2011
Work

How To Plug In A USB Cable Correctly Every Time

Somehow, even if we think we know which direction that USB cable is supposed to plug in, you always second guess yourself when it doesn’t go in the first time. Here are a few tips to rid your life of this annoying phenomenon.


October 5, 2011
Work

Ask LH: Do I Need USB 3.0 In My Next Computer?

Dear Lifehacker, I really would like to replace my old computer with a new one, but the one I want doesn’t support USB 3.0. I don’t want to buy a machine that’s already somewhat outdated. If my next machine only has USB 2.0 ports, will it be incompatible with USB 3.0 external hard drives and accessories a few years down the line? Is USB 3.0 so important that I should wait until it’s available in a computer I want, or should I just buy what’s available now? Thanks, USB Confused


September 15, 2011
Work

Install Windows 8 From A USB Stick

Many netbooks and low-profile laptops are ditching the optical drive in favour of portability, which means that installing Windows 8 via a burned DVD is inconvenient at best. Luckily you can easily do it with an 8GB or larger USB stick.


August 6, 2011
Work

Lion DiskMaker Creates Mac OS X Lion Install DVDs And Thumb Drives Automatically

We’ve shown you how to manually create a bootable Mac OS X Lion DVD or thumb drive, but now an app called Lion DiskMaker can automate the process for you. You just download it, insert the media you want to use to create your install, and let it take care of the rest.


August 5, 2011
Work

Mac OS X Lion USB Drives Now Available From Apple For $75

If you have especially slow internet, or for any other reason want a physical copy of OS X Lion, you can buy it on a flash drive for $75 from Apple. 9to5Mac is reporting that some users may be able to get them free of charge if they’re “unable to use Lion’s built-in recovery tools”.


July 2, 2011
Work

What USB-Based Tools Do You Need To Get Things Done?

There was once a time before USB, but it’s hard to imagine since thumb drives and computer-humping dogs came into our lives. Now we coexist harmoniously with a diverse range of devices that all share a common plug. Which ones do you need to get you through the day?