Flash memory characteristics

[rwilliams]

Because I like the idea of Puppy on a USB Flashstick and storing personal data on same but I am new to flash technology, I took some web tutorials.

Average data retention seems to be about 10 years without re-write and maximum reliable life is about 100,000 write cycles. I suppose if one was very busy one could exceed the write cycles limit before the data retention deadline. Perhaps heavy users with a longer human life expectancy than I have (I am 77), might want to label their flash sticks with the purchase date and maybe have a spare around in case the write cycles crap out on the one in use.

I wonder if there is any warning that the limit of write cycle life is near?
Perhaps an ap that runs in background and counts write cycles?

Any comments from you flash memory experts out there?

[MU]

I bought a jetflash -USB-stick maybe 2 years ago, and it died after less than 1000 cycles (at that time they were supposed to die after 10.000 cycles).
Another one made no problems yet.
I would not trust them too much.

I never buy new expensive High-capacity-sticks for this reason.

Mark