storage device and media

• flash memory cards uses

  • Storing photos on digital cameras
  • Used in MP3 players to store music files
  • Used as mobile phone memory cards
• flash memory cards advantages

  • very compact & easy removal to use in another device
  • since they are SSD (solid state drives), they are robust
• flash memory cards disadvantages

  • expensive per gigabite of memory compared to hard drive disks
  • lower storage capacity than hard disks
• memory sticks/pen drives uses

  • transporting files between computers
  • uses as a backup storage
  • used as a security device
• memory sticks/pen drives advantages

  • compact and portable media
  • robust
  • not affected by magnetic field
• memory sticks/pen drives disadvantages

  • can't write-protect the data/files
  • easy to lose due to small size
• blu-ray discs uses

  • home video consoles
  • storing and playing back movies
  • PCs uses discs for data storage or backing up hard drives
• blu-ray discs advantages

  • Larger storage capacity than CD/DVD-Rs and ROMs ideal for storing HD movies
  • Faster data transfer rate compared CD/DVD-Rs.
  • Data access rate is greater than other optical media
• blue-ray discs disadvantages

  • Encryption problems when used to store video
  • Relatively expensive compared to other optical media
• DVD-RAM uses

  • Used in camcorders to store movies
  • Allow simultaneous recording and playback in recording devices
• DVD-RAM advantages

  • Have a long life (min. 30 yrs)
  • Large capacity of about 10GB
  • Can rewrite operation over 100,000 times
  • Need to finalise the disk
• DVD-RAM disadvantages

  • Not as compatible as R or RW format
  • Relatively expensive (four times higher cost than DVD-RW)
• CD-RW & DVD-RW uses

  • Used to record tv programmes, which can be recorded many times
  • Not as wasteful as R format as more files/data can be added to at a later stage
  • Used in CCTV systems
• CD-RW & DVD-RW advantages

  • Can be written over many times
  • Can use different file formats each time it is used
• CD-RW & DVD-RW disadvantages

  • Can be relatively more expensive than DVD-Rs and DVD-ROMs
  • Possible to accidentally overwrite data
• CD-R and DVD-R uses

  • Home recordings of music (CD-R) and films (DVD-R)
  • Used to store data to be kept for later use
• CD-R and DVD-R advantages

  • Cheaper than RW disks
  • Once burned-similar uses as ROM
• CD-R and DVD-R disadvantages

  • Not all CD/DVD players can read CD-R/DVD-R
  • They can only record once.
• CD-ROM and DVD-ROM uses

  • CD-ROMs store music files, software, computer games and reference software
  • DVD-ROMs have larger storage and used to store films, computer data
• CD-ROM and DVD-ROM advantages

  • Holds more data than floppy disks
  • Less expensive than hard disk drive systems
• CD-ROM and DVD-ROM disadvantages

  • Slower data transfer rate/data access time than hard disks
• Magnetic tapes uses

  • Used as backup media
  • Used in long-term archiving of data
• magnetic tapes advantages

  • Less expensive (per byte) than the equivalent hard disk
  • Large storage capacity
  • Faster data transfer rate than equivalent hard disk
• magnetic tapes disadvantages

  • Slower data access time than equivalent hard disc
  • When updating, another tape is needed to store the final updated version.
• Portable Hard disk drives uses

  • Used as backup systems to prevent loss of data
  • Used to transfer data/ files/ software between computers.
• Portable Hard disk drives advantages

  • Fast access time & data transfer rate
  • A method of transferring data between computers.
  • Large memory capacity
• Portable Hard disk drives disadvantages

  • Easily damaged if dropped
  • Loss of data if incorrect shutdown procedure
• Fixed/Internal hard disk drive (HDD) uses

  • To store OS, systems software and working data/files.
  • Used in file servers for computer networks.
  • Used in real-time systems (e.g. robots, control of chemical plant) and in online systems (e.g. booking airline tickets).
• Fixed/Internal hard disk drive (HDD) advantages

  • Fast data transfer rate and fast access time
  • Large memory capacities
• Fixed/Internal hard disk drive (HDD) disadvantages

  • Easily damaged if shut down procedure is not carried out
  • Many moving parts compared to SSD (solid state drives)
  • Noisy read/write operation