# Used in desktop PC's and laptops in place of magnetic hard disk drives.

# They are also known as 'SSD's'.

# They offer advantages over magnetic hard drives such as:

Run silently (magnetic hard disk drives spin producing whirring sound)
Longer life span
Faster data access and transfer times
Use less power
Produce less heat

# They use solid state technology based on electrical circuits which means they have no
moving parts.
SSD's are used in place of magnetic hard disks in
laptops and PC's .
No moving parts = less chance of them breaking down.

Magnetic hard disks have moving parts such as spinning disks and read/write heads.

Eventually these parts stop functioning.

# These store files permanently (non-volatile storage).

# They have a current capacity of about 1TB (approx 1 million thick books worth of text)

Uses of Solid State Hard Drives:

SSD's compared to magnetic hard disk drives.
# Used in desktop PC's and laptops to permanently store data such as: (Click to zoom)

Operating systems
Software applications (such as word processors, spreadsheets etc)
Music/Video files
School work, photos

Advantages/Disadvantages of Solid State Hard Drives:

Advantages Disadvantages

Last longer than magnetic hard disks (no moving parts). Smaller storage capacity than magnetic hard disks.

Faster data access/transfer times. More expensive than magnetic hard disks.

Note: Computers even boot up faster using solid state hard

drives.

Use less power and produce less heat.

Run silently.

Memory Sticks / Pen Drives

Information:
Examples:
# Memory sticks are small, portable external storage devices.

# They are used to easily transfer data between computers.

# Memory sticks use solid state technology and are usually connected to the computer
via USB ports.

Note: Memory sticks are making other forms of portable storage (like CD’s and DVD’s)
redundant as they are much easier and quicker to transfer data.
Summary of memory sticks.
(Click to zoom)
# Data access and transfer is very fast.

# Memory sticks are very cheap to buy.

You can currently get 32GB of storage for less than £10!

# Current capacities of memory sticks are up to 512GB (about 500,000 thick books)

Uses of Memory Sticks:

Memory sticks are very small and connect to
# Used for easily transporting files/data between computers. computers via USB.

# Used for backing up data quickly and easily.

Advantages/Disadvantages of Memory Sticks:

Advantages Disadvantages

Very small and lightweight (portable). No write-protect feature . This means

that it is possible to accidentally copy over
data

Robust - no moving parts means they are

less likely to become damaged. Small physical size means that they are
easy to misplace or lose
For example: CD's and DVD's can get
 scratched.

Compatible with almost any computer. More expensive per GB than magnetic
hard disks.
(most computers have USB ports)

Large storage capacities (up to 512 GB)

Memory sticks have large capacities.

Flash Memory Cards (and Micro Flash Memory Cards)

Information:
Examples:
# Flash memory cards are also known as 'Secure Digital Cards' (or SD Cards).

# SD cards are small and rectangular in shape.

# These are a form of Electronically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory

(EEPROM).

# SD cards use solid state technology (they have no moving parts).

Note: Micro flash memory cards are just smaller versions of the regular flash Summary of memory sticks.
memory cards. (Click to zoom)

Micro flash memory cards are sometimes also called 'Micro SD Cards'.

# A wide range of devices have slots to read flash memory cards including laptops, mobile
phones, tablets and mp3 players.

# SD card readers can be used to transfer data from the cards onto a desktop PC.

# SD Cards have a maximum capacity of about 256GB

Micro SD Cards have a maximum capacity of about 128GB

SD cards and Micro SD cards are really the

same thing except for the size.
Uses of Flash Memory Cards:
# SD cards are used to store photos on digital cameras.

Note: Many stores that offer printing services have SD card readers that access
data on your cards.

This means you can get your photographs printed without even having to take
your digital camera with you to the store.

Micro SD cards have a very small physical size.

# SD cards are used in hand held devices (like PDA’s and palmtop's) to store files and
data.

# Micro SD cards are used in mobile phones as memory cards to store photos and
music etc.

# Micro SD cards can be used by MP3 players to store music files

Advantages/Disadvantages of Flash Memory Cards:

Advantages Disadvantages

Very small so they are easy to transport More expensive per GB than magnetic Flash memory is used as storage in devices
such as mp3 players.
files from one device to another (Camera to hard disk drives.
Camera for example).

Lower storage capacity than magnetic

Robust and not easily damaged (No hard disks.
moving parts).

Easy to connect to mobile devices through Small size makes them easy to have
SD Slots stolen or lose.

Desktop PC's don't usually come with

built-in memory card readers. To connect to
a desktop PC you need to buy an SD card
reader. Flash card readers can connect flash cards to PC's

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