When I was in college I worked at Best Buy. Every single day people called them UCSB sticks. Every day. When they asked for them though I took them over to the more expensive UCSB branded thumb drives.
Flash drive. That seems to be well understood by even the not-so-computer-literate folks. However, I've had people ask about the tiny thing in the USB port of my laptop, thinking it was a teeny-tiny flash drive. When I tell them it is actually a "Bluetooth dongle" - I get decidedly odd reactions. Maybe we need a better name for that gadget.
@The_Baron My wireless mouse actually has a storage compartment for the receiver, but the Bluetooth dongle has to stay in the computer to avoid "gone missing" syndrome. That USB drive looks great, but my backup drive is a little harder to misplace.
So I have called it a jump drive. I googled it thinking there must be a reason. Turns out it is a brand name. http://www.lexar.com/products/usb-flash-drives I usually call them thumb drives or flash drives currently.
Zip drives were absolutely awesome for just a few years, while I was in college. By the time I graduated, CD burners had become commonplace, and Zip drives were quickly obsolete. But they were a lifesaver between about 1996 and 2000.
I say "flash drive" cuz it's flash memory. Problems ensue when you have flash drives that don't connect via USB. An SD card is also a "flash drive" but it cannot be directly inserted to a USB port. You may also have some external flash drive that is not in USB stick form. Even my phone has a flash drive built inside it.
If you want to be really specific, you could say "portable USB flash drive", but then there is wiggle room on what "portable" means.
Flash Drive is what I normally use. I have also heard Flash Stick used somewhat more recently. When I'm giving directions to someone, I will often say USB Flash Drive just to be clear.
Usually USB Drive or thumb drive.
Jump Drive sounds like a function on a space ship.
@The_Baron Afraid if I call it a jump drive, my computer might disappear into hyperspace.
I usually say Flash Drive.
Never jump drive, that one really sound silly.
portable porn holder?
When I was in college I worked at Best Buy. Every single day people called them UCSB sticks. Every day. When they asked for them though I took them over to the more expensive UCSB branded thumb drives.
Flash drive. That seems to be well understood by even the not-so-computer-literate folks. However, I've had people ask about the tiny thing in the USB port of my laptop, thinking it was a teeny-tiny flash drive. When I tell them it is actually a "Bluetooth dongle" - I get decidedly odd reactions. Maybe we need a better name for that gadget.
@rockblossom Heh heh. You said dongle.
And yes, that gadget needs a better name. Whoever thought that up is quite pleased with himself, I'm sure.
@rockblossom
@rockblossom I have a tiny USB drive that small http://www.sandisk.com/products/usb/drives/cruzer-fit/. It was the same size as the USB recievers, so I kept misplacing it. Every time I used it.
@The_Baron My wireless mouse actually has a storage compartment for the receiver, but the Bluetooth dongle has to stay in the computer to avoid "gone missing" syndrome. That USB drive looks great, but my backup drive is a little harder to misplace.
So I have called it a jump drive. I googled it thinking there must be a reason. Turns out it is a brand name. http://www.lexar.com/products/usb-flash-drives
I usually call them thumb drives or flash drives currently.
@chellemonkey I was just wondering why people call them Jump Drive. Thanks for doing the work for me.
I call them zip drives. Guess I'm old.....
@bluedog This is a Zip Drive:
@JonT Damn those zip drives were annoying.
Zip drives were absolutely awesome for just a few years, while I was in college. By the time I graduated, CD burners had become commonplace, and Zip drives were quickly obsolete. But they were a lifesaver between about 1996 and 2000.
Except for the "click of death".
@DJP519 Dang straight...I just threw mine out. I splurged for the 250MB disc and drive...
@tightwad I made the mistake of buying a 250MB Zip drive and discs in 2001, right after I graduated. Pretty much never used it. Still have it, though.
@DJP519 Sounds like you should join the next fuku exchange
I actually have one also. Never used it.
Typically, flash drive.
I call it a flash drive a majority of the time. On rare occasions, I have also referred to it as a USB drive.
I say "flash drive" cuz it's flash memory. Problems ensue when you have flash drives that don't connect via USB. An SD card is also a "flash drive" but it cannot be directly inserted to a USB port. You may also have some external flash drive that is not in USB stick form. Even my phone has a flash drive built inside it.
If you want to be really specific, you could say "portable USB flash drive", but then there is wiggle room on what "portable" means.
Memory stick.
Flash drive.
Or when my mouth and brain aren't on the same page, memory flash USB stick drive thingy.
@Mavyn Ah, but "Memory Stick" was a Sony-branded memory card for cameras, so I avoid that one.
When I was living in South America we used to call it 'Pen Drive'
@fishcake Because they all looked like this:
In my old job, we called them "burger drives" cuz they all looked like: 
@medz I think I found @marklog's drives:
@JonT do they... 'stack'?
@medz I used to have one of those "pen" drives but a former boss lost/stole it. :-(
Usually "flash," sometimes "thumb. "
"USB" is too many syllables and "stick" just sounds wrong. I do have one with a bamboo casing. I guess I could call that a stick drive.
Flash Drive is what I normally use. I have also heard Flash Stick used somewhat more recently. When I'm giving directions to someone, I will often say USB Flash Drive just to be clear.
@Collin1000 I think this is the reason I stopped calling it a jump or thumb drive. people be stoopid