Chapter 7: Storage
By: Patrice Donahue
What is Storage?

Storage is what holds data
and information for use in
the future
Zip disk, floppy disk, microfiche,
PC card, tape, CD or DVD,
external hard disk, removable hard
disk, internal hard disk….
Important Key Terms

Storage medium
o

Writing
o

The process of transferring data, instructions, and information
from memory to a storage medium
Storage Device
o

The physical material on which a computer keeps information
The computer hardware that records and/or retrieves items to and
from storage media
Capacity
o
The number of bytes a storage medium can hold
What is the storage medium measured
by?

The capacity of storage media is measured by the amount
of bytes it can hold
Storage Term
Approx. Number of
Bytes
Kilobyte (KB)
1 Thousand
Megabyte (MB)
1 Million
Gigabyte (GB)
1 Billion
Terabyte (TB)
1 Trillion
Petabyte (PB)
1 Quadrillion
Exabyte (EB)
1 Quintillion
Floppy Disk
o
o
o
o
o
Also known as a diskette
Is portable & an inexpensive way of storage
Contains a flexible plastic Mylar film with a magnetic
coating
Low storage capacity compared to other forms of
storage
The floppy disk drive is the device which writes on the
diskette
Zip Disk
 A type
of portable magnetic media that can store
from 100 MB to 750 MB of data
Hard Disk


Contains one or more
inflexible, circular platters
that store data,
instructions, and
information
Is fixed inside the
computer

Usually 40 to 160 GB and
more
o
40,000 time more storage
then that of a standard
floppy disk
o
Usually designated as the C
drive
External Hard Disk
A separate free standing
hard disk that connects
with a cable
 Storage capabilities to 120
GB

Removable Hard Disk
A hard disk that you insert and remove from a hard
disk
 The price for these dropping
 Adds storage space to

o
Notebook or desktop computers
Internet Hard Drives
Also called “online storage”
A minimal monthly fee
Advantages include:
~Access files from any computer
connected to the internet
~Allow others to access your data
~To store offsite backups of data
CDs and DVDs
 Flat,
round portable metal disc with a protective
plastic coating
 Primarily store software, digital photographs,
movies, and music
 Designated as the A drive
 Information is “burned” into the information to
make pits not visible to the eye
Care of CDs and DVDs
Never bend
 If scratched the data on the
disk may become
unreadable
 Place in a Jewel box when
not in use
 Hold the disc on the edges

Picture CDs and PhotoCDs
 Picture
o
o
CDS
A compact disc that stores digital versions of a single
roll of film using a jpg file format
Kodak CD pictures
CD-Rs and CD-RWs
CD-Rs
 Can “burn” information,
data, onto the CD in one
session or multiple
sessions
 The CD cannot be
“burned” on information
already written on it
CD-RWs
 Same as a CD-R, however
can be written on multiple
times
 Popular for “burning” CDs
with music on them
DVD-ROMS
Holds up from 4.7 GB to
17 GB of information
 DVD movies use the
DVD-video format

 Many
DVDs
industry professionals expect that DVD
eventually will replace all CD media
 Various types of DVDs for specific task
DVD+RW
o
DVD-Rewwritable
Tape
One of the first storage
media used with
mainframe computers
 Not used anymore
 Does not have direct
access to data

PC Cards
 A thin,
credit-card-sized device that fits into a PC
Card slot
 Commonly used in notebook computers
 Depending on the card they can…
o
o
o
o
Additional memory
Fax/modem
Networking
Sound
Miniature Mobile
Storage Media
Digital Cameras, smart
phones, and PDAs use this
form of storage
 Usually no bigger than a
stamp or so
 Although their size is an
advantage, they are very
$$$$$


A card reader which
connects to a main
computer is used to view
the data on the media
Microfilm and Microfiche
Stores microscopic images
of documents on roll or
sheet film
 Microfiches

o

A small sheet of film,
usually about 4 by 6 inches
Microfilm
o
A 100-to 215-foot roll of
film

Advantages
 Reduce the amount of
paper firms must handle
 Inexpensive
 Have the longest life of
any storage media
What does this all mean?
 Many
factors influence the type of storage devices
you should use
o
o
o
Amount of data needed to be stored
The hardware and software in use
Desired cost
For more information
 Discovering
Computers 2004
THE END
ANY QUESTIONS?????