storage devices

• Storage device


  Device that can read and write data to and from a storage medium
• Storage medium


  Physical device that receives and retains electronic data
• Storage device


  • Optical disk drive
• Storage medium


  • Optical disk
• Storage devices can be fixed or have removable storage medium
• Purpose of storage devices and media


  To store data over a long period of time, unlike volatile RAM
• Things stored on storage devices and media


  • Application software
  • System software
  • Files (work, personal, pictures, videos, games etc.)
• Magnetic storage devices


  • Less likely to break as fixed inside computer
  • High storage capacity
  • Cheaper per gigabyte than solid state drives
  • Last longer than solid state drives
• Disadvantages of magnetic storage devices


  • Have moving parts so more prone to malfunction
  • Slower boot up and read/write speeds compared to solid state drives
  • Incorrect shutdown procedures can cause malfunction
• Magnetic storage media


  Stores data as tiny magnetized dots created, read and erased using magnetic fields
• Removable magnetic storage devices


  • Portable hard drives (HDD or SSD)
  • Magnetic tape drives
• Advantages of removable magnetic storage


  • High storage capacity
  • Portable for transferring files between computers
• Disadvantages of removable magnetic storage


  • More prone to errors than fixed hard drives
  • Require proper ejection procedures to avoid damage
  • May become unreadable over time
• Optical drives


  Devices that read data from and write data to CDs, DVDs and Blu-rays
• Optical storage media


  • CDs
  • DVDs
  • Blu-rays
• CD-ROMs


  Read-only optical discs used to store audio CDs, software, drivers
• Advantages of CD-ROMs


  • Hold more data than floppy disks
  • Cheaper than hard drives and USBs
  • Compatible with audio systems
• Disadvantages of CD-ROMs


  • Slower data transfer rate
  • Not robust, can be damaged by scratches or drops
• DVDs


  Optical discs used to store DVD movies, software, games
• Blu-rays


  Optical discs that use a blue laser, used to store high definition movies, large software/games
• Advantages of Blu-rays


  • Larger storage capacity
  • Faster access speeds than other optical media
• Disadvantages of Blu-rays


  • More expensive than other optical media
  • Require a separate Blu-ray player
• Modern computers and laptops may not have built-in optical drives, requiring an external optical drive
• Optical data storage


  Stores data using laser beams
• Magnetic data storage


  Stores data using magnetic fields
• Magnetic storage devices generally have faster data access and transfer speeds than optical storage
• Magnetic storage devices generally have higher data storage capacity than optical storage
• Optical discs


  More portable and cheaper than magnetic storage
• Magnetic discs


  Have higher data storage capacity than optical discs
• Uses of optical discs vs magnetic discs


  • Optical: videos, music, software
  • Magnetic: installed applications, system and user files