Storage devices and media

There are three types (according to the technology):

1- Magnetic storage media
2- Optical media
3- Solid-state media

1- Magnetic media and magnetic storage devices

Using the magnetism is one of the oldest methods for the electronic
storage of data.
Each magnetised area is very small, this allows a huge amount of data to
be stored.
the advantages of this technology is it is permanent.

Devices that use the magnetic properties to store data are:

1- magnetic tape drives
2- Hard disk drives (HDD).

Magnetic tape drives:

A magnetic tape is a very thin strip which read
or write by a read/write head in a magnetic tape
storage device.
The data is stored as a magnetised area
(represents as 1) or demagnetised area
(represents as 0).
Data is read from the tape using serial access
(data is read in the same order that it was
written).
This type of storage is useless in real-time or
online applications (because it’s very slow data
access speeds).
Magnetic tapes are still used on large industrial
or university computers.

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Devic
Uses Advantages Disadvantages
e
In batch processing Less expensive Very slow data access
applications times
Backup media Robust Slow access time
technology
Magnetic tape drives

Have a huge It uses both:

data storage Master tape (the
capacity original tape)
In long-term and a Transaction tape
archiving of data to store or update files.
(has a huge data Fast data Slow in updating data,
storage capacities). transfer rate and cause errors (not a
method of storing data).
Affected by magnetic
fields

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 Hard disk drives (HDD)

Hard disk drives (HDD) are used to store and save data (data-information
– applications) on a computer.
Data stored in a digital format (0 or 1) on the magnetic surfaces of the hard
disks.
All read/write heads can access all of the platter surfaces in the disk drive.
These read/ write heads move very quickly.

How HDD works?

1) Actuators are used to move the read/write heads.
2) A read/write arm swings the read/write head back and forth.
3) Each read/write head contains a tiny magnet which allows to read data.
4) There are two read/write heads per platter (at top and bottom of
surface).
5) Data is stored in circular tracks; each track is divided into sectors.

6) A map of the sectors is stored on the HDD and called a File Allocation
Table (FAT); when the computer wants to store new data. it searches in

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the FAT map for free sectors, then it moves the read/write heads to the
correct free location.

Hard disk drives are faster data access than magnetic tape, with small
delays.
(Latency is the time that the read/write head takes to rotate around for a
specific block of data on a data track).

Device Uses Advantages Disadvantages

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 Saves: the operating A very fast data Easily damaged
system, systems transfer rate
software and working
Hard disk drives (HDD)

data/files.
Storing applications Fast access Have many moving
software. times to data. parts (affect their
reliability).
Used in real-time Very large Noisy read/write
systems (like: robots) capacities operation
Used in online
systems (like: booking)
Used in file servers for
computer networks.

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 Devic
Uses Advantages Disadvantages
e

Portable hard disk drives:

Portable hard disk drives are HDDs external to the computer and
connected to the computer using a USB ports.
Used as a backup device.

Devic
Uses Advantages Disadvantages
e
Backup systems Very fast data Easily damaged
access time and
Portable hard disk

data transfer rate.

Transfer Have a large Slow data
drives

data/files/software memory capacity. transfer rate

between computers A method of
transferring
information
between computers

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2- Optical media and optical storage devices

CD/DVD optical disks:

CDs and DVDS are optical media.
Both can read or write by optical storage devices.
Optical storage devices:
1- built in to a computer
2- connected by a USB.
They use laser light to read and write data on the surface of the disk.
CDs and DVDs can be as: ‘R’ (write once only), ‘RW’ (can be written to or
read from many times) or ‘ROM’ (read-only).

When the disk runs, the optical head of the drive moves to the start of the
track.
Then the laser beam follows the spiral track from the centre outwards.
The read/write head does not actually touch the CD or DVD surface.
CD/DVD is divided into sectors, allowing direct access of data.
The CD/DVD outer part of the disk runs faster than the inner part of the
disk.

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The data is stored in pits and lands on the track (gaps between pits).
A red laser is used to read and write the data.

DVD technology uses the dual-layering which increases the storage

capacity (not used in CD).
DVD saves much data and information, because there are two individual
recording layers are joined together.

Devic
Uses Advantages Disadvantages
e
Home Cheap Recorded only once
recordings
CD-R and
DVD-R

(music)
To store and Once burned (and Not all CD/DVD players
save data finalised) they behave can read CD-R/DVD-R
like a ROM

Uses of CD-RW/DVD-RW
1- Record television programmes
2- Used in CCTV systems.
3- Backup device for files and data

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Advantages of CD-RW/DVD-RW
1- Can be written over many times.
2- Can use different file formats
3- Not as wasteful as R format (files/data can be added at a later stage)

Disadvantages of CD-RW/DVD-RW
1- Expensive
2- Can overwrite data.

Device Uses Advantages Disadvantages

CD-RW/ Record Can be written over Expensive
DVD-RW television many times.
programmes
Used in CCTV Can use different file Can overwrite
systems. formats data
Backup device Not as wasteful as R
for files and format (files/data can
data be added at a later
stage)

Uses of CD-ROM /DVD-ROM

1- Optical disks are read-only memory
2- CD-ROM is used to store music files and to store software, computer
games
3- DVD-ROM has much larger storage and is used to store films
4- CD-ROMs and DVD-ROMs are used in applications to prevent the
deletion or overwriting of important data.

Advantages of CD -ROM /DVD -ROM

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Less expensive
Disadvantages of CD -ROM /DVD -ROM
Slow data transfer rate/data access time

Devic
Uses Advantages Disadvantages
e

Blu-ray discs:
Blu-ray discs are optical storage media.

They are different to DVDs in:

1- Construction
2- Carry out read/write operations.

The main differences between DVD and Blu-ray are:

1) A blue laser is faster than a red laser; to carry out Blu-ray read and write
operations.
2) The pits and lands are much smaller when Using blue laser light.
3) Dual-layer Blu-ray and normal DVDs both are more thick than Single-
layer Blu-ray discs.
4) Blu-ray disks automatically have a secure encryption system.
5) The data transfer rate for a DVD is slower than a Blu-ray disc.

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Comparison of the capacity and interactivity of DVDs and Blu-ray
discs
Blu-ray devices allow greater interactivity than DVD devices.
A dual-layer Blu-ray disc has a storage capacity more than A single-layer
Blu-ray disc.
A single -layer Blu-ray disc has a storage capacity more than A standard -
layer Blu-ray disc.

Disk type Laser colour

CD red
DVD (dual-layer) red
Blu-ray (single layer) blue
Blu-ray (dual layer) blue

Uses of Blu-ray discs

1- Home video consoles.
2- Storing and playing back large movies.
3- Data storage or backing up hard drives.
4- Store movies.

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Advantages of Blu-ray discs
1- Very large storage capacity
2- Very fast data transfer rate.
3- Greater data access speed
4- Has a secure encryption system Automatically

Disadvantages of Blu-ray discs

1- Expensive
2- Encryption problems
3- Introduction of HD (high definition) DVD players reduced the using of
Blu-ray disc technology.

Devic
Uses Advantages Disadvantages
e

3- Solid-state media and solid-state storage devices:

Solid-state technology solves the issue of Latency, because all the data is
retrieved at the same rate.
The solid-state technology stores data by controlling the movement of
electrons within NAND chips.

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The data is stored as 0s and 1s in millions of tiny transistors.
it's a non-volatile rewritable memory (permement).
Devices that use solid-state technology: flash memories or flash drives.

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Solid-State Drives (SSD):
Uses of SSDs
Storage device to store: files, applications, operating system, and so on.
It becomes the main type of backing storage.
by using it laptop computers become thinner and much lighter.

Advantages of SSDs
1) More reliable (no moving parts to work).
2) Lighter in weight (suitable for laptops).
3) No need to ‘get up to speed’ before they work properly.
4) Lower power consumption.
5) Run much cooler than HDDs.
6) Very thin (because of no moving parts).
7) SSD data access time is faster than HDD.
8) Data transfer speed for SSDs is faster than for HDDs.

Disadvantages of SSDs
1) The main drawback of SSDs is the longevity of the technology.
SSD endurance: is the ability of SSD to store data per a day for a time.
2) Still not used in all servers.

Devic
Uses Advantages Disadvantages
e

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Pen drives:
Pen drives (memory sticks) are small portable devices that make use of
solid-state technology, which connect to the computer through a USB port.

Their main advantage is:

1- They are very small
2- Lightweight portable devices
3- Transferring files between computers
4- Used as small backup devices for files and information.

Uses of memory sticks/pen drives

1) Transferring files between computers or using as a backing store.
2) Used as a security device to prevent software piracy (called a dongle).

Advantages of memory sticks/pen drives

1) Very compact and portable media.
2) Very robust.
3) As a backup for data
4) Does not need additional software to work on computers.
5) Not affected by magnetic fields.

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Disadvantages of memory sticks/pen drives
1) Cannot write protect the data/files by making it ‘read-only’ (cannot be
protected).
2) Easy to lose (the small size).
3) Needs to be removed very carefully from a computer (incorrect removal
will corrupt the data on the memory stick and make it useless).

Devic
Uses Advantages Disadvantages
e

Memory cards:
A memory card uses solid-state technology.
They can be inserted into a device which can read the card or allow data to
be written to the card.
The cards come in various memory sizes.
There are many available memory card formats, for example:
 SD cards (secure digital card)
 XD cards (extreme digital card)
 CFast card (compactfast card).

The XD card used in digital cameras.

The SD card very small card with high-capacity memory, used in portable
devices such as: digital video recorders, digital cameras, audio players,
smartphones and tablets.

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The CFast card small that used in portable devices such as: (It has no
moving mechanical parts and does not need a battery to retain data).
It’s used in digital photo and video cameras.

Uses of memory cards

1) Storing photos on digital cameras.
2) Used as mobile phone memory cards.
3) Used in MP3 players to store music files.
4) Used as a backing store in hand-held computer devices.

Advantages of memory cards

1) Very compact (easily removed and used in another device or for
transferring photos directly to a computer or printer).
2) Very durable (Because they are solid-state memories (and have no
moving parts)
3) Store large data.
4) Digital devices (compact cameras and smartphones) can read and
write to memory cards, allowing the user to transport photographs,
songs or information with them.

Disadvantages of memory cards

1) Expensive per gigabyte of memory (compared to hard disk drives).
2) Lower storage capacity than hard disks.
3) Have a finite life.
4) Can be lost, stolen or damaged (small size).
5) Not all computers come with memory card readers built in.

Devic
Uses Advantages Disadvantages
e

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 The future of storage devices:
Recently, both the CD and DVD are becoming old.
Many computer systems now come only with USB connectors and no
internal DVD or CD drive.
The main method of transferring files between devices has become the
flash memory.
Many people now store all their music in the following ways:

1) On hard disk drive systems.

2) In MP3 format on:
i. a computer/tablet
ii. their mobile/smartphone
iii. a portable music player (such as an iPod)
3) Using the cloud to store all their files so they can access their files.
4) By streaming their music from the internet.

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Many television sets are now set up as smart televisions.
This means it’s able to stream movies or television without the need for any
DVD or Blu-ray players.
The television set has become the central computer with a link to the
internet using a wireless connection.

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