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I think you are looking for something like this

"Free space" on a USB-key is dependant on the file-system used, and the USB flash wear-levelling isn't aware of which blocks are used and which aren't because it can't possibly understand every file-system out there. Indeed, in my test I use the whole device as a raw device without a filesystem on it, that is to say I write to every block starting from 0 to the last one. There is no file-system, there is no "free space".

The key just provides a list of blocks. Internally, it maps those logical blocks numbers to physical block numbers and keep its own list of un-mapped blocks, ready to replace defective ones. In the better wear-levelling algorithms, all this happens "in-firmware", transparently without the host or the user's knowledge.

There's a PDF document pointed by Wikipedia @ http://www.corsairmemory.com/_faq/FAQ_flash_drive_wear_leveling.pdf if you'd like to know more about the topic.

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PDF from company

Note, due to their width, you can only put in one per bank. :)

Ostentation doesn't work so well when inside an opaque case.

This is what I would recommend for such a task. There are better options but this is the best mainstream option. From the reviews I have read, this drive is very durable. You can even bounce it off walls :)

Or consider the corsair model http://www.corsairmemory.com/corsair/flash_memory. html water resistant (I recall a reviewer put it through the washer and it came out with not a drop on the contacts)

Fantastic! I just bought a new system at lunch today and now Slashdot has an article about CPUs :(

If anyone cares, here's what I picked up:

• AMD Athlon 64 2800+ CPU
• ASUS K8N-E Deluxe motherboard
• Corsair CMX1024-3200 RAM module
• Maxtor 250G SATA Ultra 16, 7200 RPM harddisk
• CoolerMaster Centurion case

The system will be running OpenBSD 3.7.

Assuming I don't fry the mobo, bend pins on the CPU or squirt thermal compound all over the place, I should be good to go. Just to be sure, I'm going to pet my cats for luck :)

• If they're going to focus on USB2, why include a single 1.1 drive? The fact that it has a very bad built-in camera seems a poor excuse to waste space on it.
• Although Corsair does claim that the Flash Voyager is water resistant (nobody claims "waterproof" anymore), the reviewer didn't consult the product literature. He just saw the rubber case and said, "Hey, let's see what happens if I drop it in a glass of water!" Not very bright.
• Its pretty sad that none of the file management software reviewed appears to have Windows Shell integration. Or perhaps some do, and the reviewer didn't notice.
• I've never heard a USB drive referred to as a "memory stick". The term usually refers to a kind of memory card.
• The review of the SimpleTech Bonzai Upgradeable fails to note the most obvious flaw in the product -- a USB drive with removeable media doesn't make a lot economic sense. The USB interface isn't so expensive that you have any real savings in separating it from the media. But then, I made the mistake of buying an Iomega Peerless, so I'm in no position to sneer.

not all memory is created equal. Corsair memory has some excellent guides here

First, though, the mini gets no advantage from DDR, because DDR requires 2 chips for full speed, so already 1 bad thing about the mini...

I have no idea of what Apple is sticking in this, but most likely it's CAS 2.5, because that's the most common. I don't believe you get CAS 2.5, because I recall that depends on having too ram chips. Anyhow, in general, you want a low CAS number for better performance.