| advances in today's modern technology, it has | | | | easier and much faster now. |
| become fairly easy to store large amounts of data | | | | In addition, they are durable, with an average lifespan |
| information. There are many different types of | | | | of up to seven times that of most magnetic data |
| electronic devices used for data storage. Another | | | | storage devices, making them ideal for storing |
| alternative is with data storage service providers. | | | | permanent data such as photographs and music. |
| The most common forms of data-storage used by | | | | Although there are a wide variety of such discs, |
| both individuals and businesses are magnetic storage, | | | | many can record data only once. They are known as |
| optical storage and solid-state removable storage or | | | | "read only" discs. On the other hand, CDRW is the |
| flash memory. | | | | common name for rewritable discs, that is, the data |
| The most popular of magnetic data storage devices | | | | can be erased and re-entered repeatedly. However, |
| are floppy disks, hard disks, zip drives and digital | | | | the downside is important files can be accidentally |
| audiotapes. Such devices make use of a read / write | | | | deleted. |
| head to create and read magnetic impressions from | | | | Solid-state memory (flash memory) data storage |
| the disks and zip drives. | | | | devices are small, light and high-performance |
| Floppy disks are still popular as quick and economical | | | | plug-and-play storage devices with no movable parts. |
| forms of data-storage especially for projects that | | | | It is called USB flash drives. It is also commonly found |
| need continuous back up such as a film script. In | | | | in video game consoles and digital cameras. |
| addition, floppy disks are convenient because they | | | | The USB ports found in most computers and laptops |
| are portable. However, some of the newer computer | | | | allow external data storage devices to be connected |
| operating systems and laptops do not have a floppy | | | | to it. Various kinds of media equipments such as MP3 |
| drive installed. | | | | players or iPods can be connected by a USB cable to |
| Hard disk is another secured form of data storage | | | | copy, retrieve or store data from a computer |
| device. Majority of the larger businesses or computer | | | | operating system. |
| networks have multiple hard disks drives. A hard disk | | | | A flash drive is a small portable data-storage device |
| uses special magnetic recording that allows data to | | | | with a capacity as high as 4GB for a pen drive and |
| be stored, erased or copied. | | | | 8GB for a CF card, making it an ideal system update |
| A zip drive, usually with the capacity of 100 to | | | | or backup / recovery tool. In addition, it is the most |
| 250-megabyte, is a square shaped compact magnetic | | | | durable amongst any of the optical data storage |
| disk. It is ideal for archiving and storing graphic images | | | | devices. With a quick transfer rate of about one MB |
| or other large files. However, it seems to be a | | | | per second, data can be rewritten, deleted or edited |
| fleeting technology as nobody can determine its | | | | many times over and over again. |
| lifespan or presence. In addition, most magnetic | | | | However, solid-state memory data storage devices |
| impression can only lasts for not more than ten years | | | | are the most expensive as compared to the others. |
| and most of the removable magnetic data-storage | | | | The compact size and sheer portability of a flash |
| devices do not have a great storage capacity. | | | | drive makes it easy to be misplaced as well as |
| Optical data storage devices hold information in a | | | | contacting viruses. As most antivirus software is |
| digital form and this is written and read by a laser. | | | | reactive, viruses carried by a flash drive will not be |
| Some common devices are the CD-ROM and | | | | easily detected. |
| DVD-ROM discs. | | | | Proper maintenance and management of storing of |
| CD-ROM discs are popular because they are portable | | | | data is the ideal and efficient way to eliminate |
| and easily available. With advance technology, it is | | | | paper-filing systems. In addition, if the computer |
| possible to increase the speed number that is tagged | | | | operating system crashes, information will not be lost |
| to each disc, thus increasing its capacity. Each optical | | | | as it can be retrieved from the backup files stored at |
| disc is able to store as much data as five hundred | | | | the data storage devices. |
| floppy disks. Thus, storage of data and retrieval is | | | | |