| Data, or information stored on your computer, | | | | Ideal for |
| can either be held on fixed disk drives | | | | |
| inside the computer or on removable media | | | | Transferring files |
| such as CD's that can be inserted and | | | | |
| removed. Removable media can be used to | | | | Holding temporary data |
| transfer files between computers or to backup | | | | |
| the data already existing on fixed disk | | | | Not so good for |
| drives. There are three types of removable | | | | |
| media: Magnetic, Optical and Flash. | | | | Holding important permanent files-in case |
| | | | they are accidentally deleted |
| Magnetic Storage | | | | |
| | | | Double Density CD (DDCD) |
| Magnetic Storage: Hard disks, floppy disks | | | | |
| and digital audiotape are examples of | | | | This disc has a much greater storage capacity |
| Magnetic storage. They operate through a read | | | | than an average CD-R or CD-RW. |
| write head, which creates and reads magnetic | | | | |
| impressions on the disk. | | | | Ideal for |
| | | | |
| The downside | | | | Backing up |
| | | | |
| The magnetic impression only lasts for around | | | | Storing archival data |
| five years | | | | |
| | | | Enhanced CD |
| The capacity of most removable magnetic disks | | | | |
| is too low for many types of files | | | | Enhanced CD (E-CD) is an audio CD with CD-ROM |
| | | | data added. CD-ROM data is added in the space |
| Optical storage | | | | not taken by audio. Recording artists can use |
| | | | this to include videos, lyrics, interviews or |
| Optical Storage holds information in digital | | | | promo material. The E-CD can be played on a |
| form that is written and read by a laser. All | | | | CD player but to view additional material you |
| CD and DVD devices are examples of this. | | | | need access to a multimedia-capable device, |
| | | | such as a CD-i player, DVD-ROM, or CD-ROM |
| The upside | | | | drive. |
| | | | |
| Increased capacity: one Optical disc can | | | | Bridge Disks |
| store the same amount of data as over 500 | | | | |
| diskettes | | | | A CD-Bridge disc holds extra information on a |
| | | | CD-ROM XA track. The disc can be played on |
| Durability: they last up to seven times as | | | | either a CD-i player attached to a |
| long as Magnetic forms of storage | | | | television, or a CD-ROM XA drive attached to |
| | | | a computer. Software such as Photo or a |
| Flash Memory (Solid-State Removable Storage) | | | | Karaoke CD player can provide lots of fun |
| | | | with the Bridge Disk. |
| Solid-state memory (or Flash memory) is a | | | | |
| high-performance plug-and-play storage device | | | | DVD (Digital Versatile Disk): More than |
| that contains no moving parts. It is found in | | | | movies |
| digital cameras, video game consoles and | | | | |
| digital audio players. You can use it in the | | | | Although DVD's have become more associated |
| form of USB Flash Drives to transfer or | | | | with video, they can also hold audio and |
| backup data. Flash memory is small, light and | | | | computer data; hence their name Digital |
| fast. | | | | Versatile Disk. Like the CD, a DVD is a |
| | | | 120-mm by 1.2mm thick disk. However the DVD |
| Backup | | | | has more tracks than a CD so holds far more |
| | | | data. CD's have an unvarying storage capacity |
| Backup is the copying of files onto portable | | | | of 750MB, whereas DVD's store up to 17GB. |
| media so that if your computer crashes, data | | | | |
| wont be lost in oblivion. Backup is usually | | | | A range of acronyms is also used to |
| routine in large businesses but is often | | | | distinguish between the different types and |
| neglected by individual users. Some suggest | | | | capabilities of DVD's available. These |
| backing up data files and duplicating your | | | | include DVD-ROM, DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+RW and |
| hard drive weekly. It takes around 45 minutes | | | | DVD-Audio. |
| to backup a 500-megabyte hard disk. | | | | |
| | | | DVD-ROM |
| There are two options- Local or Internet | | | | |
| backup. The following is a list of Local | | | | DVD-ROM (Digital Versatile Disc - Read Only |
| backup options. Most of these also double as | | | | Memory) is similar to a movie DVD, but is |
| devices used to transfer data between | | | | designed for computers. The DVD-ROM stores |
| computers. | | | | data in the same way that the CD-ROM does and |
| | | | is used in the DVD-ROM drive of your PC. |
| Diskettes | | | | |
| | | | The upside |
| Zip Drives | | | | |
| | | | Larger storage space hold more data than a |
| CD's | | | | CD |
| | | | |
| DVD's | | | | Can be filled with nearly everything; video, |
| | | | music or computer specific data |
| Flash Drive | | | | |
| | | | A base speed of 1.32 megabytes/sec |
| Internet Backup | | | | |
| | | | The downside |
| Another backup option is sending your files | | | | |
| to an Internet site for safekeeping. If your | | | | Many older computers do not have a DVD-Rom |
| computer crashes you can simply download them | | | | drive installed |
| from the site. Here are a few examples of | | | | |
| such sites: | | | | Can be recorded on only once |
| | | | |
| Backup Defender- | | | | DVD-Audio |
| | | | |
| My Backup- | | | | DVD-Audio (DVD-A) is designed for audio data |
| | | | and high-quality music. Its storage capacity |
| N.B. The author does not recommend or endorse | | | | is seven times that of a CD and provides at |
| any of the above service providers. | | | | least twice the sound quality. Like the |
| | | | Enhanced CD, DVD-A can contain other data, |
| Diskettes and Zip Drives | | | | providing the listener with extra information |
| | | | such as lyrics or images. DVD-A is predicted |
| Diskette | | | | by many to replace the standard audio CD in |
| | | | the music industry. |
| A Diskette is a 3.5-inch removable magnetic | | | | |
| disk. The older version, the floppy disk, is | | | | DVD-R |
| 5.25 inches square and flexible. Copying to a | | | | |
| diskette is quick and economical. | | | | Like the CD-R, the DVD-R (Digital Versatile |
| | | | Disc-Recordable) can be recorded on once. |
| Ideal for | | | | |
| | | | The upside |
| Those who use their PC for personal finance - | | | | |
| the diskette enables you to retrieve | | | | A DVD-R can contain an assortment of |
| checkbook balances etc. | | | | information; video, text, audio and computer |
| | | | data |
| Projects that need to be continuously backed | | | | |
| up such as a film script, as it is a cheap | | | | A DVD-R can be played on your normal DVD |
| alternative. | | | | video player but remember, if you have |
| | | | additional data not of the same format e.g. |
| Not so good for | | | | video and audio together, you will need a |
| | | | DVD-ROM or Multimedia player of some kind |
| Some newer computer and laptop models that do | | | | |
| not have a diskette or floppy drive | | | | A DVD-R is read at the same speed as |
| installed. | | | | commercially made DVD's |
| | | | |
| Large amounts of data as diskettes dont have | | | | DVD-RW and DVD+RW |
| a great storage capacity | | | | |
| | | | Similar to the CD-RW, a DVD-RW or DVD+RW |
| Zip Drives | | | | (Digital Versatile Disc Rewritable) can be |
| | | | recorded on, rewritten and erased multiple |
| A Zip drive is a small, square shaped | | | | times. Other than this they are identical to |
| magnetic disk that is ideal for backing up | | | | the DVD-R. |
| your PC. The 100-megabyte size holds the | | | | |
| equivalent of 70 floppy diskettes. They also | | | | DVD minus and plus are just different |
| come in a 250-megabyte size | | | | versions with the same functionality. |
| | | | |
| Ideal for | | | | The Future of CD/DVD Storage |
| | | | |
| Duplicating your entire disc drive | | | | The majority of the technology industry |
| | | | predicts that soon DVDs, with their larger |
| Archiving | | | | storage capacity and faster access time, will |
| | | | replace CDs. DVD-ROM drives are likely to be |
| Storing graphic images or other large files | | | | sold with new computer systems in the way |
| | | | that CD-ROM drives once were. However we are |
| Transferring large files | | | | always on the cusp of newer technologies, |
| | | | such as the HD-ROM. |
| Keeping certain data separate from files on | | | | |
| your hard disk | | | | HD-ROM (High Density-Read Only Memory) |
| | | | |
| The downside | | | | HD-ROM uses a more precise particle beam to |
| | | | write data. This enables information to be |
| They seem to be a fleeting technology - most | | | | written on more durable materials such as |
| computers do not have a Zip Disc drive | | | | metal so storage is virtually permanent. |
| installed and opinion varies on how long they | | | | HD-ROM has hundreds of times the storage |
| will be around for. | | | | capacity of the CD-ROM. |
| | | | |
| Compact Disks | | | | Flash Drives |
| | | | |
| There are different standards of CD's that | | | | A Flash drive is a small portable memory |
| have different capabilities. Just to confuse | | | | stick that holds anywhere from 1Mb to 1GB of |
| us they are recognized by seemingly similar | | | | data. It is surprisingly lightweight and is |
| acronyms; CD-R, CD-RW, CD+RW, DDCD and E-CD. | | | | often worn around the neck or carried as a |
| | | | funky key chain. They are compatible with any |
| CD-R | | | | PC that has USB port and with Mac OS 9 and OS |
| | | | X, Windows 2000 and XP or Linux 2.4.17. |
| CD-R (Compact Disc - Recordable) is a CD that | | | | |
| can be recorded to only once. It usually | | | | The upside |
| holds 74 minutes of audio or 650 MB of data, | | | | |
| although newer versions hold up to 80 minutes | | | | Durable - more so than CD's or DVD's |
| of audio (700 MB of data). If your PC has CD | | | | |
| burning software and a compatible CD-R or | | | | No need for batteries or a separate power |
| CD-RW drive, the CD-R can be used in the same | | | | source |
| way as a diskette. However unlike a diskette | | | | |
| it cannot be deleted or overwritten. Look out | | | | Convenient - your computer should recognize |
| for CD-Rs that have an additional protective | | | | the additional drive as soon as you insert it |
| layer which make them less susceptible to | | | | into the USB port |
| damage caused through scratching. | | | | |
| | | | Ideal for backup |
| Ideal for | | | | |
| | | | Larger storage capacity then many other |
| Making music CD's | | | | portable devices |
| | | | |
| Storing photos | | | | More portable than ZIP drives, CD's and |
| | | | Diskettes |
| Storing permanent data | | | | |
| | | | Quick transfer rate (approx. 1Mb/sec) |
| Not so good for | | | | |
| | | | Edit, rewrite, delete as many times as |
| Transferring files as they can only be used | | | | desired |
| once | | | | |
| | | | Help desk personnel can use Flash Drives as a |
| CD-RW/CD+RW | | | | portable toolkit that includes system updates |
| | | | and recovery tools. |
| A CD-RW (Compact Disc Rewritable) and CD+RW | | | | |
| can be recorded onto as many times as | | | | The downside |
| desired. Data can be overwritten and erased. | | | | |
| Other than this, the CD-RW is identical to | | | | More expensive than other portable devices |
| the CD-R. If it wasn't for their finite | | | | |
| durability CD-RWs and CD+RWs could be reused | | | | Viruses - The portability and compatibility |
| endlessly. | | | | of the Flash Drive increases the chance of |
| | | | spreading viruses. |