The earliest I recall seeing a USB thumb drive was early 2000s maybe 2003. Staples then or a year later had 45MB thumb drives on sale I think $50). People went

The earliest I recall seeing a USB thumb drive was early 2000s maybe 2003. Staples then or a year later had 45MB thumb drives on sale I think $50). People went nuts over this deal. The cashier asked the elderly woman buying one if she wanted the protection plan for it. I probably still have the one I bought.