| Storage is the key factor driving the advancement in | | | | stored in concentric circles and is read by focusing a |
| the IT industry today. The speed levels have | | | | laser on them. This allows for a random access to |
| increased, sizes have reduced and prices have been | | | | specific data. One does not have to go through the |
| stabilized. Efforts are on to make data storage | | | | whole data to retrieve specific information as is the |
| cheaper, easier, faster and compact along with huge | | | | case with tape drives. |
| storage capacities. | | | | 4. Safe from Magnetic Fields: The fact that data is |
| The kind of storage media being used has also | | | | stored on these disks optically and not magnetically |
| undergone a sea change. The technology used to | | | | ensures that the data stored is not harmed if placed |
| store and read data from the media has changed | | | | in magnetic fields like an X-Ray machine. |
| from magnetic to optical form. In the computer world | | | | There is basically one disadvantage of using optical |
| "optical" refers to lasers, which can "see" and read | | | | drives and that is the discs getting physically |
| data on optical discs. In optical drives data is stored in | | | | damaged: |
| the form of small pits. These millions of pits are read | | | | Delicate and Sensitive: These disks do not come |
| by lasers as one and two and then converted to | | | | encapsulated in any sort of permanent covering. In |
| information for the computers. Data is stored in | | | | fact the surface on which the data is stored is |
| concentric circles on the media. | | | | completely exposed. This makes them very |
| There are two basic forms of optical storage used in | | | | susceptible to getting damaged, physically or |
| computers today: compact disc (CD) and digital | | | | otherwise. Any human negligence or mechanic fault in |
| versatile disc (DVD). These include optical media for | | | | handling them can lead to permanent data loss. |
| CDs (CD-R, CD-RW) and for DVDs (DVD-R, | | | | The disks are very sensitive to even the tiniest |
| DVD-RW, DVD-RAM). Compact disk storage space | | | | speck of dust, change of temperature or exposure |
| averages around 650 to 700 MB of data per disk. | | | | to moisture and humidity. One has to be very careful |
| They can contain audio, data or both on the same | | | | while handling these and under no circumstances |
| disc. Most software for computers is distributed on | | | | should the surface on which the data is stored should |
| CD formats. | | | | be touched. Even a dirty or faulty RW drive can |
| DVD was the development for compact digital video | | | | damage the dIsk. It is prone to scratching, distortion, |
| format that also spun off into the data storage | | | | and breaking and needs to be handled carefully. |
| arena. DVD is seen primarily for video and has only | | | | The main reason for data loss in the optical drives is |
| recently really started to be used for software | | | | also any damage suffered by the optical drive. The |
| distribution. It however has more storage capacity | | | | damage can be incurred due to two factors- human |
| than the CDs. | | | | and mechanical. Yet, statistics prove that it is the |
| The use of optical drives for storing information has | | | | human negligence which is responsible for the data |
| become popular and a number of products are | | | | getting lost more than the mechanical failure. They |
| available in the market. There are many advantages | | | | affect the life span of disks negatively. |
| of using optical media like CDs and DVDs: | | | | CDs and DVDs are very sensitive to wrong physical |
| 1. High Storage Density: Their storage density that is | | | | contact, spills, scratches and exposure to unsuitable |
| size versus capacity is much more than the tape | | | | natural conditions. They should be held from the hole |
| drives that were available till now. They are compact | | | | in their centre. Holding from the sides can firstly spoil |
| in size and can store data upto 600-700 MB in CD | | | | the surface on which the data is stored or they can |
| and from 25 GB to 250 GB in DVDs. | | | | fall down and break. All sort of labeling especially on |
| 2. Inexpensive and Convenient: They are very | | | | the side of data storage should also be avoided. |
| inexpensive and easily available. The size of these | | | | Storing optical drives also calls for a dust free, dry |
| disks and the amount of data that can be stored in | | | | and moderate temperature environment. Proper |
| individual disks accompanied by fast speeds make | | | | storage and careful handling can ensure that we |
| them very convenient as data storage and data | | | | utilize the advantages of optical drive to the |
| transfer devices. | | | | maximum while avoiding their shortcomings. |
| 3. Direct Access of Data: The data on these disks is | | | | |