Storage Devices and Media

● Available on all computers and is the main method used for data storage
● Uses read/write head to write and read data from it
● Disk surface coated in magnetic film, storage is done by altering binary codes to 1s and 0s
● Uses
○ Used to store operating systems and working data
○ Used for storing application software
○ Real time systems and online systems fixed hard drives
○ Used in file servers for computer networks
● Advantages
○ Very fast data transfer rate and fast access times to data
○ Have very large memory capacities
● Disadvantages
○ Can be easily damaged
○ They lack portability

● Portable and removable hard disks/drives

○ Like fixed hard disks but are usually connected via universal serial bus
○ Uses
■ Can be used as backup systems to prevent loss of data
■ Can be used to transfer data, files and software between computers
○ Advantages
■ Data access time and transfer rate is very fast
■ Large memory capacity
■ Can be used to transfer information between computers
○ Disadvantages
■ Can be easily damaged

● Magnetic tapes and drives

○ Thin strip of plastic which is coated in magnetic layer
○ Read and written by read/write head
○ Uses
■ Application where batch processing is used
■ Used as a backup media
○ Advantages
■ Generally, less expensive and very robust technology
■ Data transfer rate is fast
○ Disadvantages
■ Access time is very slow
■ When updating another tape is needed

● Memory cards
○ A form of electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM)
○ Uses
■ Used to store photos on digital cameras
■ Mobile phones use them as memory cards
■ Used in mp3 players to store music
■ Used as backup in handheld devices
● Advantages
○ Very compact
○ Very robust
● Disadvantages
○ Very expensive per Gb of memory when compared to hard drive disks
○ Has a finite life in terms of the number of times they can be read from/written to

● CD-ROM/ DVD-ROM
○ Read only memory - cannot be overwritten
○ Data is stored as a series of pits and lands formed by a laser beam etching the surface at
manufacturing stage
○ Uses
■ Store music files and software
■ Very large storage capacity and are used to store films
○ Advantages
■ Holds more data than floppy disks
■ Less expensive than hard disk drives
○ Disadvantages
■ Data transfer rate and data access time are slower

● CD-R/ DVD-R
○ The letter ‘R’ means the disc is recordable only once and then it becomes ROM
○ Use a thin layer of an organic dye as the recording media
○ DVDs also use an additional silver alloy or gold reflector
○ Laser beam produces heated spots and unheated spots
○ Uses
■ They are used for home recording of music (CD-Rs) and films (DVD-Rs)
■ They are used to store data for later use
■ Used in application where it is necessary to prevent the deletion or over-writing of
important data
○ Advantages
■ Cheaper than RW disks
■ Once burned (and finalised) they are like ROM
○ Disadvantages
■ Can only be reordered once
■ Not all CD/DVD players can read CD-R

● CD-RW/DVD-RW
○ 'RW' means that these disks are re-writable media that can be written over several times. Unlike
CD-R/DVD-R they don't become ROMs
○ The recording layer uses a special phase-changing metal alloy.
○ The alloy can switch between crystalline and amorphous(non-crystalline) phases, thus changing
its reflectivity to light, depending on the laser beam power
○ Spots are produced which can be read by a laser
○ System allows data to be written, erased and re-written many times
○ Uses
■ CD-RWs and DVD-RWs are used to record radio and television programs
■ They are used in closed circuit television (CCTV) systems
 ○ Advantages
■ Can be reused many times
■ Different file formats can be used each time
■ Less wasteful than R format since files or data can be added at a later stage
○ Disadvantages
■ Relatively expensive media
■ Possible to accidentally overwrite

● DVD-RAM
○ Recent addition to optical media group
○ Unlike other CD and DVD formats, DVD-RAMs have several discrete concentric tracks rather
than a single spiral track
○ Gives them advantage that writing, and reading can occur at the same time
○ Makes it possible to watch an already recorded television program at the same time as a
different program is being recorded
○ Recording layer is made from similar phase-changing material to that used in RW technology
○ Shiny and dull marks represent data to a computer where they are interpreted
○ Uses
■ DVD-RAMs are used in recording devices such as satellite receivers to allow
simultaneous recording and playback
■ They are used in camcorders to store films
○ Advantages
■ Have a long life (30 years)
■ Can be re written on more than the DVD-RWS(100,000 times)
■ Very reliable as they have built in verification software to ensure accuracy of data
■ Access is very fast
■ No need to finalize the disk
■ Very large capacities
■ Ability to read and write data at the same time
○ Disadvantage
■ DVD-RAMS are not as compatible as R or RW, many systems will not recognize this
format
■ More expensive than DVD-RW

● Blu-Ray Discs
○ Uses
■ Blu-ray disks are used in home video consoles
■ Used for storing and playing back films
■ PCs can use this technology for data storage or backing up hard drives
■ Camcorders can use this media to store film footage
○ Advantage
■ Very large storage capacity
■ Data transfer rate is very fast
■ Data access speed is faster than with other optical media
○ Disadvantage
■ Disks are relatively expensive
● Blu-ray disks still have encryption problems
● Solid State Backing Storage
○ Solid state systems control the movement of electrons within a microchip: if the transistor
conducts a current, this is equivalent to a 1, otherwise it is a 0
○ Have no moving parts, consume much less power and are extremely robust
○ Used primarily as removable storage devices and are collectively known as flash memory

● Solid State Drives

○ Supports reading/writing data & maintains stored data in a permanent state even without power
○ Functions much like a hard drive but different tech
○ Built with an array of semiconductors that form its memory and operated using an integrated
circuit
○ Uses
■ Used to store operating systems and working data
■ Used for storing application software
■ Used in file servers for computer networks
○ Advantages
■ Faster than hard disks because they do not need to 'spin up' the disk
■ Robust because no mechanical parts
■ Read performance is fast even when data fragmented
■ Less susceptible to data loss
■ Lighter, quieter and require less power than hard disks
○ Disadvantages
■ More expensive than hard disks
■ Have a smaller capacity than modern hard disks
■ Lower number of write cycles causing performance to diminish over time

● Flash Drives
○ Otherwise called pen drive/memory stick/USB stick
○ Can store several GBs of data and use solid state technology
○ Connected to a computer through USB port and power to operate drawn from host computer
○ Some expensive software increasingly uses these storage methods as a form of security
○ Uses
■ Used to transport files between computers
■ Used as a security device - a dongle-to prevent software piracy
○ Advantage
■ Very compact and portable media
■ Very robust
○ Disadvantage
■ Not possible to write protect the data and files
■ Small physical size and are easy to lose.
■ Lower storage capacity than hard disk