I have become, by pure dint of owning so many, a collector of USB drives. I’m about to add to that collection, with PNY launching a new range of HP brand USB thumb drives in Australian stores now.

The new range includes four products, the HP x796w, HP x760w , HP v245w and HP v150w with more HP memory products to follow. The range uses a number of form factors, colours and materials to suit all customers.

Starting off, the HP x796w is a USB 3.1 mobile solution for storing your documents, movies, photos and more, on drives ranging in size from 32GB, all the way up to 1TB.

The HP x796w includes a retractable USB plug end which will give you some semblance of protection it if you need to just throw it into a bag.

Next, the HP x760w is also USB 3.1 compliant, with an ultra-compact design, that includes a convenient clip-on hook to attach it to your key chain, backpack or wherever you need it. The HP x760w comes in sizes ranging from 32GB, up to 256GB storage sizes.

For those on the go though, you may want to consider the HP v245w which has been specially designed for sports lovers. The drive is both water and shock resistant and comes with a handy T-shape cap holder.

The drive is available in two colours – orange and purple – in capacaties ranging from 16GB up to 64GB, making it perfect to carry your files almost anywhere.

Lastly, the HP v150w thumb drive comes with a durable sliding cap-less design that has a distinct blue gloss finish. The drive doesn’t include a carabiner like the x760w, but does have an integrated key loop to attach it to a lanyard, or your key ring.

The HP v150w will be available in sizes ranging from 32GB up to 128GB sizes.

My first USB drive – an Acer 16MB (yes, Megabyte) – was a ‘freebie’ when I bought a laptop, but the retail price on it was extortionately high at the time. Thankfully we now deal in GB rather than MB, and the cost per GB for these thumb drives has dropped dramatically since then. Designs and form-factors, as you can see above, have improved dramatically as well, so there’s no excuse not to back up your important data.

If you like the look, of one or more of these drives you can check them out at JB HiFi stores across Australia and New Zealand, or they’ll be on www.jbhifi.com.au and www.jbhifi.co.nz shortly.