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Qais Abuhantash
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5 views

Storage

Uploaded by

Qais Abuhantash
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Magnetic Storage Devices

Device: Hard Disk Drive (HDD)


Use: Stores data when the computer is switched off
so that it can be used later by the computer system
or the user.
Advantages:
• Very large storage capacity
• Relatively cheap for large capacities
compared to flash memory storage
devices.
Disadvantages:
• Easily damaged by knocks, heat and
magnetic fields.
• Not as suitable for removeable
devices compared to flash memory as
hard disk should not be moved when
in use.

Device: Floppy Disk


Use: Older form of storage used to transport data from one computer to another. Not
commonly used today as technology has moved on.
Advantages:
• Easily transported
• Older computers can use them
• Not as easily damaged as hard disks
Disadvantages
• Not commonly used in newer
computers
• Very small storage capacity
• Easily lost or stolen
• Can be damaged by magnetic fields or mishandling.
Optical Storage Devices
Device: CD (Compact Disk)
Use: This was originally used for storing music. Later CD drives for computers were able
to read and write data to the disks. CDs can store about 700 mb of data which is about
80 minutes of music. Computer games are often sold on CD-ROM as these cannot be
erased.
Advantages:
• Write once (CD-R) are cheap to buy.
• CD-RWs can be written on more than once.
• All modern computers can use them.
Disadvantages:
• CD-ROM cannot be written to after manufacture.
• Small capacity compared to DVD, Blu-ray, flash-memory
• Easily damaged, e.g. scratches

Device: DVD (Digital Versatile Disk)


Use: This mainly used for storing videos and movies. It has a larger capacity than a CD
depending on the type of DVD used but single sided DVDs can store 4.7 gb and
double sided 9 gb. DVD-ROM is used to store computer software for sale.
Advantages:
• Write once are cheap to buy
• All modern computers can use them
• Large storage capacity
Disadvantages:
• Rewritable DVD-RWs are expensive
• Double-layer DVDs are expensive
• Some devices cannot use the plus and minus type of DVD
• Cannot be used on CD drives of older computers
• Easily damaged, e.g. scratches.

The name “Blu-ray” comes


Device: Blue-ray from the type of laser used
- it has a short wavelength
Use: They are used to store very large amounts of
in the blue-violet part of the
data and is typically used for high-definition audio
spectrum.
and video.
Advantages:
• Very large storage capacity
Disadvantages:
• Devices and media are expensive.
• Not useable by CD or DVD drives.
• Easily damaged, e.g. scratches
Flash Memory Storage Devices
Device: USB Memory Sticks, SD Cards, Mirco SD Cards, Solid State Drives (SDD)
Use: These devices are used to store and transport data between computers. They are
used to store working files, music and videos. Solid State Drives can (SSD) also be found
in laptops and desktops as a replacement for Hard Disk Drives (HDD).
Advantages:
• All modern computers can use flash memory via USB
• Large storage capacity
• Not easily damaged.
Disadvantages:
• Very expensive for large capacity devices compared to hard disk drives.
• They can only be used reliably about 10,000 times approximately.
• Easily lost or stolen when used as removable media.

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