Section 3 - Storages devices and media Flashcards
1
Q
What are ‘magnetic devices’?
A
Uses a magnetised surface area in order to hold bits of information
2
Q
Fixed hard drive disk
A
- Used on all computers / main method of storing data
- Store operating systems, software applications and files.
- Used in file-servers on computer networks to store files.
3
Q
Advantages + disadvantages of fixed hard drive disk
A
ads:
- Fast read
- Huge capacities - thousands of movies and music files can be stored.
- Easy to update and delete files.
disads:
- Can easily be damaged when computer is not shutdown properly.
- Not portable
4
Q
Portable hard disk drive
A
- Similar to ‘Fixed Hard Drive Disk’ but are connected to be computer externally.
- Transportable
- Has a USB cable to connect to the computer easily.
- Comes with protective case to avoid damage.
- Used to transport files from one device to another.
5
Q
Advantages + disadvantages of portable hard drive disk
A
ads:
- Small and light to carry around.
- Designed to plug into almost every device that has a USB port.
- Huge capacities.
- Fast - direct data access.
disads:
- Easy to misplace -> can be stolen easily.
- Quite expensive compared to other ways to store data.
- If dropped can still be damaged.
6
Q
Floppy disc
A
- Old method of storing data - information is held on a plastic thin disc.
- Read / written by a floppy disc drive which rotates the disc.
- Can still be used to transport very small files.
7
Q
Advantages + disadvantages of floppy disc
A
ads:
- Very light and easy to carry around.
- Inexpensive.
disads:
- Very low storage capacity compared to other media
- Few modern computers have floppy disc drive.
- Easy to damage
- Transfers data very slowly
8
Q
Magnetic tape
A
- OLD
- Data is stored in binary numbers.
- Used to backup extremely large amounts of data.
- Used where speed is not a priority.
9
Q
Advantages + disadvantages of magnetic tape
A
ads:
- Less expensive than the equivalent of hard disk drive.
- Not easily damaged.
- Very large storage capacities.
disads:
- Slow data access / transfer (reading data back from the tape is slow.)
- Needs another to update data
(e. g. original tape + tape with the changes = updated tape).
10
Q
Optical storage media
A
- Stores data on a disc as a number of data dots that can be read using light.
- Data is read by shining the laser beam onto the surface of the disc.
- In order to read / write data on a disc, you need a ‘disc drive’.
11
Q
CD-ROM & DVD-ROM
A
- ‘Read only memory’
- They are bought with pre-loaded data, meaning data is already on them (music, software, films and games)
- Whatever is loaded on the disc cannot be removed or changed.
12
Q
Advantages + disadvantages of CD-ROM & DVD-ROM
A
ads:
- Hold more data than floppy discs.
- Less expensive than Hard Disc Drives.
- Cannot accidentally erase the file because it’s ‘read only’.
- Very portable as they are small and light.
disads:
- Holds less data than hard disk drives or memory sticks.
- Slow data transfer and access rates when compared to hard disk drives.
- Cannot add your own files to the discs.
13
Q
CD-R & DVD-R
A
- ‘R’ = that disc is recordable once only.
- Data can be added but not erased
- Data is ‘burnt’ onto the discs using a disc burner.
- CD-R’s: create personalised playlists of music.
- DVD-R’s: store home recordings of video shot on a digital camera.
- Can transfer data from one computer to another.
14
Q
Advantages + disadvantages of CD-R & DVD-R
A
ads:
- Impossible to accidentally delete
- Cheaper than RW discs and Hard Disk drives.
- Easy to transport information from one computer to another.
disads:
- Only recordable once / cannot be updated.
- If an error occurs during burning, the disc is damaged -> thrown away.
- Very slow data transfer rate.
- Not all CD / DVD players can read them.
15
Q
CD-RW & DVD-RW
A
- ‘RW’ = Re-writable
- Data can be added onto the disc and also be erased.
- CD-RW: create personalised playlists of music and add / remove the songs as you wish.
- DVD-RW: record television programmes and be recorded over many times.
