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