Storage devices

Storage devices

1. Hard disks drives

   • Used as a secondary storage device.
   • This is magnetic storage devices, commonly used in computer system like, laptop or desktops.
   • Advantages:
     • Big storage capacity for a cheap price.
     • They have long life spans.
     • Don’t tend to fail altogether
   • Disadvantage:
     • Slow read/ write speed
     • Could easily damage as they have a lot of moving parts
     • They are not portable as they are heavier.

2. Optical Disk

   • Commonly used for digital movies or downloading images and music.
   • Typically called DVDs or CDs or Blu-Ray Disks.
   • Advantages:
     • Most laptops and computer devices have a disk drive
     • Highly portable as they have a small storage media.
   • Disadvantage:
     • Easily damaged. Thin and can easily be scratched.
     • Small storage capacity
     • Small amounts of writes

3. USB Flash drive

   • A small portable device which will typically store small amounts of data or information.
   • Advantages:
     • Compromises highly with computer systems and other devices
     • No moving parts, making them more durable and reliable.
     • Portable
   • Disadvantage:
     • Small amount of writes.
     • Small storage capacity.
     • Easy to lose due to size.

4. SD cards

   • Used commonly for digital cameras or extra storage space for some mobile phones.
   • Relatively small memory card, which is portable and able to fit in small spaces..
   • Advantages:
     • Small and portable, easy to transfer data between devices. (smaller than USBs)
     • No moving parts, making them more durable and reliable.
   • Disadvantage:
     • Variety of SDs, making it confusing to SD readers.
     • Low storage capacity.

5. Solid state drives

   • This is a portable storage device with a large capacity and more commonly used in laptops and other computer systems
   • Advantages:
     • Fats read/ writes
     • Faster to turn on computers, save files to your computer system and loads programs
     • Less easily damaged as they have no moving parts.
     • Consume less power
   • Disadvantage:
     • Has a small number of writes which means that they are less useful devices.
     • Lower storage capacity as they are more expensive than HDDs.
     • More expensive