Flash drives at high altitude

  • Thread starter Thread starter Lars
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Lars

Hi group,

I happened to notice that the "Kingston 512MB
DataTraveler Hi-speed USB2.0" Has a note of
"maximum altitude when operated" of 6000 mtrs,
abt 20 000 ft. Why is that?

I have seen somewhere that a HD should not be operated
above certain altitudes, and have come to believe that
that is because of the need to build up an air cushion
for the drives head to fly on. But with a flash drive?

What is the story inside an airplane? Crew and
passengers are not subjected to the full loss
of air pressure at altitide, but I am not sure if
that is all there is to it.


Lars
Stockholm
http://web.telia.com/~u84406120/
 
I happened to notice that the "Kingston 512MB DataTraveler
Hi-speed USB2.0" Has a note of "maximum altitude when
operated" of 6000 mtrs, abt 20 000 ft. Why is that?
Click to expand...

Dunno. Certainly looks odd. And why only 'when operated' ?

Looks like someone at Kingston might have had a brain fart.
I have seen somewhere that a HD should not be operated
above certain altitudes, and have come to believe that
that is because of the need to build up an air cushion
for the drives head to fly on. But with a flash drive?
Click to expand...
What is the story inside an airplane? Crew and passengers
are not subjected to the full loss of air pressure at altitide,
Correct.

but I am not sure if that is all there is to it.
Click to expand...

The cargo isnt necessarily pressurised.
 
Hi group,

I happened to notice that the "Kingston 512MB
DataTraveler Hi-speed USB2.0" Has a note of
"maximum altitude when operated" of 6000 mtrs,
abt 20 000 ft. Why is that?

I have seen somewhere that a HD should not be operated
above certain altitudes, and have come to believe that
that is because of the need to build up an air cushion
for the drives head to fly on. But with a flash drive?

What is the story inside an airplane? Crew and
passengers are not subjected to the full loss
of air pressure at altitide, but I am not sure if
that is all there is to it.


Lars
Stockholm
http://web.telia.com/~u84406120/
Click to expand...


One effect of high altitute is less effective cooling but I can't
believe that a flash drive needs much cooling.

Aircraft used for commercial passanger flight are presurized equal
8,000 ft altitude or something like that.
 
Dunno. Certainly looks odd. And why only 'when operated' ?

Looks like someone at Kingston might have had a brain fart.



The cargo isnt necessarily pressurised.
Click to expand...


But your thumb drive is probably not being used while it's in cargo.
 
:I happened to notice that the "Kingston 512MB
:DataTraveler Hi-speed USB2.0" Has a note of
:"maximum altitude when operated" of 6000 mtrs,
:abt 20 000 ft. Why is that?
:
:I have seen somewhere that a HD should not be operated
:above certain altitudes, and have come to believe that
:that is because of the need to build up an air cushion
:for the drives head to fly on. But with a flash drive?

Above that altitude the density of the air is too low to provide
sufficient cooling. Even for a hard disk, cooling at high altitude
becomes an issue long before the heads lose their air cushion.
 
Hi group,

I happened to notice that the "Kingston 512MB
DataTraveler Hi-speed USB2.0" Has a note of
"maximum altitude when operated" of 6000 mtrs,
abt 20 000 ft. Why is that?
Click to expand...

Acrophobia, what else? ;)
 
Hi group,

I happened to notice that the "Kingston 512MB
DataTraveler Hi-speed USB2.0" Has a note of
"maximum altitude when operated" of 6000 mtrs,
abt 20 000 ft. Why is that?

I have seen somewhere that a HD should not be operated
above certain altitudes, and have come to believe that
that is because of the need to build up an air cushion
for the drives head to fly on. But with a flash drive?

What is the story inside an airplane? Crew and
passengers are not subjected to the full loss
of air pressure at altitide, but I am not sure if
that is all there is to it.
Click to expand...

This is not necessarily true. I have flown to 27,600 feet in an un
pressured glider using oxygen. Glider pilots often fly at high
altitudes in un pressurized aircraft. They also are known to use
laptop computer. Some times in a two seat glider, in races, the pilot
in the front will do most of the flying while the pilot in the back
figures out strategy in the back on a laptop computer. GPS data can
be linked directly to the laptop.
 
Speaking of flash drives, how reliable are these things? I mean how long can
data last on them (without being overwritten?). Do they die often? I've seen
a 4gig usb flash drive I can afford but it's no good if it won't last a
couple of years.
 
Speaking of flash drives, how reliable are these things? I mean how long can
data last on them (without being overwritten?). Do they die often? I've seen
a 4gig usb flash drive I can afford but it's no good if it won't last a
couple of years.
Click to expand...


FWIW I've never heard of one failing.

Given that it's more likely that I'll lose the thing I just make sure
it's backed up somewhere. I might also do something dumb that screws
the contents. The backup protects me from myself.
 
Speaking of flash drives, how reliable are these things?
Click to expand...

Like anything electronic, they can die.
I mean how long can data last on them (without being overwritten?).
Click to expand...

Long enough basically.
Do they die often?
Click to expand...

How long is a piece of string. Often enough to be a problem basically.
I've seen a 4gig usb flash drive I can afford but it's no good if it won't
last a couple of years.
Click to expand...

Plenty do, but not all of them.
 
Rod said:
What has fear of greek temples got to do with anything ?
Click to expand...

I thought it was fear of circus performers and pole dancers. I've been
treating myself for the latter by frequently visiting strip clubs.
 
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