How To Choose The Right Storage MediaTechnology changes almost before you can learn about all the new varieties that are available. One of the changes that has come about recently is the new variety of ways to store and transport your data. You can now download information from one computer and then load it onto another computer almost effortlessly. Thanks to the wide variety of storage media, there are also plenty of choices when it comes to storing your data. One of the more common forms of storage media is the CD-R. These discs are similar in size to audio discs. You burn information onto the surface of the disc using a laser. Although these discs can last through one thousand reads and may have a shelf life of more than 100 years, you can drastically decrease their life span if you do not store and handled properly. Another plus for the CD is that you can easily shred them in most good quality shredders if you ever need to destroy the information on the disc. A great benefit is you can use them as backup storage for your files. Their large capacity means you can backup your files and send them to an offsite storage area. A DVD-R, on the other hand is similar to a movie disc. These discs have a larger memory capacity than CD-R's do and can record visual data as well as audio data. Like the CD-R you burn information onto the disc using a laser. Many modern computers have the ability to burn these discs as well as read them. Like CD's you can also shred these DVD's if you need to destroy information loaded onto them. A flash memory data storage device or flash drive is another new form of portable storage. These portable drives can store up to 64 gigabytes of information. They are also rewritable so you can use the drive over and again. Many schools now use these drives so students can complete their homework assignments on their computers at home. They can then load their assignments on a flash drive, and then take them to their teachers who can grade their assignment on the school computer. These devices are great ways to transport data because they are small, hold a large quantity of data and are reliable. If it is data storage media you need, there are a wide variety of choices. Floppy discs are nearly a thing of the past. Newer storage media includes CD-R and DVD-R, both of which are recordable discs. In comparison, the DVD-R offers more storage space then a CD-R. Another form of portable storage is a flash drive. These drives can carry much more information than either a CD-R or a DVD-R. You can also record information on these drives multiple times. Whatever storage needs you have, there is a media for you. |