Help with USB stick reliability for kids

Jiyujin on 26/04/2023 - 19:26

Hello community,

I will be doing some volunteer work at a few orphanages overseas in June of this year. I have been asked by the nuns and priests who run these orphanages to bring USB sticks with me for the kids there. About ten children share one computer, so the nuns have asked for 160 x 32GB USB 2 sticks (there are about 150 kids).

I am looking for advice on the reliability of which brand to buy or should I just buy a generic no brand one from eBay. As I am buying other things (toys, pencils, pencil cases etc.) for them all, I can't afford to pay more than $4-5 dollars per stick. Any help on shops that sell these memory sticks at a cheaper price is greatly appreciated. I am not up with the latest in technology and need some help from those of you who may work in that field.

I called Officeworks today and explained my situation to them, but they were not able to offer any discount as I am not a registered charity or non-profit organization in Australia, which is understandable.

Thank you for reading this and for any help or tips on a place where I can purchase these USB sticks.

Computing

Comments

  • deme on 26/04/2023 - 19:38

    Why do the kids need USB drives?

    • Jiyujin on 26/04/2023 - 19:40

      They need individual USB sticks to store their school work on it as they share one computer among ten of their classmates.

      • deme on 26/04/2023 - 20:01

        Ah I guess no networking? I was thinking something like https://internet-in-a-box.org/

        • Love a bargain on 26/04/2023 - 20:39

          If each kid is assigned a computer which they share with 9 other kids (as opposed to all 150 kids sharing 15 computers), no networking is required. All they need is 10 profiles on each computer.

          Otherwise, yes, they'll have to link all the computers into a network (could be as simple as connecting them to a network switch) & add a network drive so that each kid can access their individual folder on the network drive from any of the computers. Then you'll have the issue of user access restriction of each individual's folder, etc. This option might be too impractical for the nuns to maintain on ongoing basis if they're not that IT literate.

  • Hybroid on 26/04/2023 - 19:39
    +1

    You probably want to contact places like MSY/Umart and ask for a bulk deal.

    Something like this seems suitable for kids: https://www.msy.com.au/product/adata-c008-32gb-usb2-0-flash-…

    Avoid the multi-packs of random brand ones like below (see review with pictures of all different boards and some are just SD cards). Will be a nightmare of failures and issues.

    https://www.amazon.com.au/Wholesale-1MB-32GB-Drives-Swivel-M…

    • Jiyujin on 26/04/2023 - 19:43

      OK, will call them tomorrow. I will stay away from the multi-pack ones. Much appreciated.

      • Love a bargain on 26/04/2023 - 19:53
        +1

        Random brand is probably the issue here rather than multi-pack.

        As in, the quality of each of these should be the same as this.

        • Jiyujin on 28/04/2023 - 16:51

          Thank you for the links and information.

  • tallkid123 on 26/04/2023 - 19:39

    Thank you for reading this and for any help or tips on a place where I can purchase these USB sticks.

    eBay - Just search for 32gb usb stick bulk buy.

  • Love a bargain on 26/04/2023 - 19:48
    +2

    1. Ask the nuns how much it'll cost to buy them locally (if failure & therefore warranty is a concern).

    2. As with a lot of tech products, you can often buy them cheaper overseas than in Australia.

    3. If you end up buying from an overseas supplier, you might be better off getting them sent directly to the orphanage (avoiding Australian GST & free up your luggage space).

    • Jiyujin on 27/04/2023 - 18:37

      Thank you for your suggestions. The nuns have told me that the children have been using Sandisk memory sticks for the last few of years, but a number have failed. I have enquired about the price locally which comes to about $7-8 AUD, about the same here from what I have seen.

      • Love a bargain on 28/04/2023 - 10:20

        Some will inevitably fail, even reputable brands. Adding children to the mix would also arguably increase the failure rate.

  • deme on 26/04/2023 - 20:02
    +1

    What country? I only ask because people here might be able to suggest a better way to getting the usb drives.

    • Jiyujin on 27/04/2023 - 18:39

      East Malaysia, the island of Borneo. The mail service isn't the best there. Most of the orphanages are located a distance from the city.

      • bmxr on 27/04/2023 - 18:53
        +1

        Which part of East Malaysia? I do a lot of work there and whilst parts of it are incredibly remote and untouched, Kuching, KK, Bintulu, Sibu and other second tier cities, are well established and well serviced cities with plentiful l IT supply stores. It may be better to source it locally, particularly if the orphanage is located in, or near, the same town that you are buying from, they may know someone who has come through the orphanage and do you a deal? Or better yet, establish a long term deal with the orphanage for other volunteers.

        Alternatively, If you are transiting through KL on your way there, Plaza Low Yat is known as one of the cheapest places on the planet to source IT supplies. It is an 7 storey tall building of 360+ outlets (including f+b) selling all sorts of goodies, the higher up you go the cheaper the price!

        • Jiyujin on 27/04/2023 - 19:07
          +1

          On the outskirts of KK, the closest is about 2 hours by car to about 5 hours, the furthest. I have spoken to a few volunteers there and they said they can obtain the Sandisk USB sticks, but will cost between $7-8 AUD each. Will speak to them again in the next few days to try to source a better price locally as well. I was given the task of obtaining the USB sticks, other were tasked with obtaining linen, bed sheets and other supplies locally.

          Thank you for the information on KL. I'm flying with Singapore Airlines, so will be transiting in Singapore primarily to meet up with some old friends. I may stop in KL on my next trip there, possibly at the end of the year.

          • bmxr on 27/04/2023 - 19:10
            +2

            @Jiyujin: You're more than welcome, you're doing a great thing for some amazing people in a beautiful part of the world.

  • deme on 26/04/2023 - 20:11
    +1

    Here we go https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/771027

    Just be aware that you might be considered importing these and need to pay tax.
    And volunteering can also need a non-tourist visa.

    • Jiyujin on 27/04/2023 - 18:41

      Thank you for the link and information. Yes, am aware of the Visa requirement, thank you.

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