The facts are only half true.
The first flash drive was invented by IBM in 1998, design for
ThinkPad products. Later, IBM decided not to continue and pass on
this technology to a few smaller cooperations, leaded by M System
Inc.
What follows is mainly some improvement and also putting the drive
in a small casing, thus called thumb drive. It meet the market in
2000. Other companies quickly followed the idea but reform the
technology, like Sandisk and Memoriex.
While M System held the patent for years, Trek recently sued and
successfully won over the rigths. The patent has no much use, as
all other compact memory companies in the world now has developed
their own technology. Edison invented lightbulb, but today tens of
thousands of companies sell their own lightbulb. Same concerp
Also, it is not Singaporean who invented it, not even developed it.
Yes, Trek is a Singapore-based company, but its developers and
scientist are all citizens from other countries.
I know this can be disappointing. But its good to know the fact.
Besides, we still have Sim.
Source : Microsoft Encarta 2006 Premium Edition
