Different Types of Digital Storage Media

Types Storage Capacity Strengths Weaknesses

Hard Disk Drive  Magnetic media
(HDD)  Frequent rate of
 Mainly for general  Large storage
data errors
computing capacities
 Regular head
purposes, laptops,  Retrieves and reads
crashes can lead to
video recorders, data faster than CD-
data loss
PDAs, and game ROMs
 Requires frequent
consoles  Data is not lost
backups to prevent
 Current capacities when computer is
data loss
can go up to 2TB shut down

Jump Drive  Sustains limited

(Flash Drive, Thumb  Flash memory  Removable and number of
Drive, and USB Drive) integrated with USB rewritable write/erase cycles
interface  Comes in small before failure
 Current capacities sizes and weighs  Offers no write-
can go up to 265 GB less than 30g protection
 Great for personal  Carries portable  Can be easily lost
data transport applications due to small size
(security issues)

Memory Card  Flash memory, in  Requires

(Secure Digital Card) solid-state (no appropriate flash
moving parts)  Has small form memory reader to
 Comes in 32MB, factor (miniature read data
128MB,1 GB, and sizes)  Has slow read/write
2GB capacities  Requires no power speeds
 Great for digital for storage  Separate cards are
cameras and  High re-record ability incompatible with
handheld electronic each other
devices
Compact Disc  Optical media
(CD)  Standard physical
storage for audio  Writes in sessions or
 Comes in different  Lowest cost optical all at once
extensions: media available  Recording fails if
Standard – 80 mins of  Widely used as interrupted by other
audio, 700MB of data. archiving medium CPU activity
CD-ROM – up to 900  Has lifespan of 30+  Larger capacities
MB, used to distribute years depending on over-burn and are
software grade, care and less interchangeable
CD-R – up to 870 MB, conditions among
records non-erasable players/readers
audio or data
CD-RW – up to 700 MB,
rewritable

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  Optical media
Digital Video Disc  Mainly used as
(DVD) storage for video
and data (home
 Stores data in layers
entertainment)
and on both sides  Requires 4GB data
 Capacity depends leading to high before writing all at
on number of sides density and superior once
and layers, ranges storage  Recording fails if
from 4.7 GB to
 Able to read or write interrupted by other
17GB
any CD or DVD CPU activity
 Comes in different format  Requires special
extensions:
 Has multifunction DVD drives or
DVD-R/+R – data
abilities and can be players
recorded once
interactive
DVD-RW- rewritable
DVD+RW/RAM – can
record and erase data
multiple times

High Definition DVD  Optical media

(HD-DVD)  Capacities vary with
 Data layer is below
single layers (15GB) 0.6mm the surface
and dual layers
for protection
(30GB)
 Can contain  Now defunct with
 Comes in different arrival of Blu-Ray
interactive content
extensions:
like DVDs  Requires specific
HD-DVD-ROM
 Backwards HD-DVD players
HD-DVD-R – writes
compatible with
once
other discs
HD-DVD-RW –
rewritable
HD-DVD-RAM
Blu-Ray  Has hard protective
 Optical media coating and liquid-
 Expensive to
 Mainly used to store repellant to protect
purchase Blu-ray
HD video, against scratches
players ($400+)
Playstation3 games and damage
 Blu-ray players
and data  Greater protection
require occasional
 Capacities range against heat and
firmware updates
from 25GB in single humidity
 Less collection of
layer to 50GB in  Offers greater
Blu-ray movies
dual layers. Can go resolution and audio
available
up to 200GB. sound quality than
DVD

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