Storage Devices

Storage Devices

1. Hard Disk Drives - Often used as the primary storage devices, particularly in servers and desktops. Also used as secondary storage and can be external from the main computer system. Are a form of magnetic storage.

   • The pros are that it has large storage, there is a low cost per MB and they are reliable.
   • The cons are that is it slow read/write, they are easily damaged and they aren't very portable.

2. Solid State Drives - Often used as a portable storage device with a large capacity. Also used in mobile devices, laptops and more and more commonly in desktops. Are a form of flash storage.

   • The pros are that it is fast read/write, it requires low power and is durable.
   • The cons are that it is expensive per MB, it has a lower storage and a finite number of writes.

3. USB Flash Drives - A USB connector and flash memory used to store data with portability in mind. Used for transferring data between computers and to backup files. Are a form of flash storage.

   • The pros are that they are very portable, they are also durable and highly compatiable.
   • The cons are that it is easy to lose it, there is a finite number of writes and it has low storage.

4. SD Cards - A very small memory card that is used commonly in digital cameras. Also used in for storage in mobile devices such as smartphones. Are a form of flash storage.

   • The pros are that they are very portable and durable.
   • The cons are that it has low storage and poor compatibility.

5. Optical disks - CDs, DVDs and Blu-Ray disks, are all examples of optical disks. They're used for storing music, films, tv and software for distribution by suppliers. Are a form of optical storage.

   • The pros of these are that they are highly compatible and very portable.
   • The cons are that it has low storage and they are easy to damage.