Storage
Disks
The hard disk drive, floppy drive, CD and DVD drives are like your own brain’s long-term memory. Just as we thought we were on top of it all now we have Blu-ray to add to the mix.
They all store digital information in the form of program files, which allow the computer to do your bidding, and data files, which store your letters, photos, music, emails and so on.
They’re the digital equivalent of filing cabinets, audiotapes, books and libraries.
Bytes
The amount of storage is measured in kilobytes (kB), Megabytes (MB) or Gigabytes (GB):
1000 kB = approximately 1MB.
1000 MB = approximately 1GB.
In the decimal system kilo is the standard scientific prefix for 1,000 (103), Mega is 1,000,000 (106), and Giga is 1000,000,000 (109).
Because digital information is stored using binary (as opposed to decimal) notation, the actual numbers are slightly different. a kilobyte is actually 1024 bytes (210). So the numbers given are approximations. There are at least three standards - don't worry about it.
Usually, disk capacity is measured using the decimal system, but memory is measured using binary.
Well, if you really must worry about it, it's all explained here:
HDD (Hard Disk Drive)
This is where most of the programs and data are permanently stored. If you’re into digital photography or digital video; if you download heaps of music; or if you follow other pursuits involving very large data files, then you should buy the biggest hard disk drive that you can afford.
Better still, buy two.
250GB to 500GB are the best value for money at the time of writing, but even larger drives are very reasonable. Don’t fret though; adding an extra and/or a bigger drive later is an easy upgrade.
Because data must be transferred from one disk to another, replacing a hard drive (as opposed to adding one) is a little more involved, but still no big deal.
Never forget: all hard drives fail eventually. They're highly stressed mechanical devices rotating at 7200 rpm. Most last for years, none last forever.
If you’re replacing an old PC it might be worthwhile removing its hard drive and installing it in the new machine or in an external enclosure (see below) as an extra “backup” drive for storing copies of your important data.
SATA and IDE
The latest PCs have SATA hard drives. These have a more efficient data transfer rate and smaller data transfer cables than the previous IDE (sometimes called ATA) drives. Most new motherboards can accommodate either or both types.
The smaller data cables are a plus because they have less effect on ventilation inside than case than the IDE cables. For the average user the performance differences are not not significant but if the price differential isn't too great, choose SATA. This will give you better future-proofing.
Floppy
Disk Drive
A dying breed. They can be useful, but not to most people with newer PCs. Vendors often throw one in anyway, but if you have a CD rewriter, the floppy’s no longer necessary — unless you need to swap files to or from an old PC, some of which don't have CD drives or have CD drives which won't read writeable or rewriteable CDs.
At 1.44MB the floppy doesn’t have sufficient capacity (you couldn't fit an average photo file on one) to hold the size of data files used in today’s programs or to save your valuable data effectively. The medium is similar to that used in audio tapes and is not 100% reliable over time.
CD, CD/DVD or CD/DVD/Blu-ray Drive
Because laser light is used to read from them and write to them, these are often referred to as Optical Drives.
You need one of these: most programs come on a CD and some on a DVD. You usually install the program from the CD onto the HDD then put the CD away for safekeeping.
There are several types of optical drive:
CD
This will read CDs.
CD-R
This will read CDs and write to CD-Rs. The CD-R cannot be reused.
CD-RW
This drive will read CDs and write to CD-Rs or CD-RWs. The CD-RW can be wiped and reused many times.
DVD-R
This drive will read CDs and DVDs and write to CD-Rs or DVD-Rs.
DVD-RW
This is the one you want. It reads CDs & DVDs and writes to CD-Rs & DVD-Rs.
A rewriteable drive only costs a few dollars more than a read-only drive, but is much more useful. The CD-RW or DVD-RW enables you to use re-writeable disks over and over again.
You can back up all your important stuff with this drive: store music and photos and copy your program disks for back-up purposes.
Blu-ray
The latest optical drives will read and write Blu-ray discs. These have a capacity of 25GB for single layer rewriteable discs and 50GB for read only discs. If you hook your PC up to a high definition screen or TV you can watch HD movies.
The cost of discs is prohibitively high for data storage, but time will change that.
Don't buy an HD-DVD drive. They lost the HD race and are now obsolescent. I wouldn't buy a Blu-ray drive yet either unless you're offered a spectacular deal or you have deep pockets and you need it for your home theatre system – wait for the prices of drives and media to come down.
Extra Hard Disk Drives
If you decide that an extra hard drive is required, there are a number of choices:
- install the drive inside your computer case;
- use an external drive;
- or do both.
An Internal Drive
This option is the cheapest, an 80GB or 120GB HDD can be purchased very cheaply and if you're moderately technically inclined you can install it yourself. A supplier or local computer technician could install it for you in 30 minutes. As with most hardware you will may save a significant amount by shopping at a reputable on-line computer hardware supplier.
You need to establish whether you need a SATA drive, or an IDE drive as discussed above. If this is still "geek-speak" to you, better to pay a technician! New PCs can use either, most older ones only IDE.
The internal option doesn't give you any flexibility if you need to use the data when you're away from your PC or to keep copies of data at a site remote from your PC for security reasons. This is easily done with DVD-RWs but if you have data storage requirements in the 10s of Gigabytes a HDD can be easier to manage.
Some small PC cases don't have room inside for an extra drive.
An External Drive
For this option you need a USB 2.0 connection on your PC or a FireWire connection. If your PC is post 2000 you should have at least the first.
You can use these drives with USB 1.0 but as it's 40 times slower than USB 2.0 it can be a long wait to transfer large amounts of data.
There are three ways to go here:
2.5" Pocket Size USB Hard Disk Drive.
They come in 20GB and 40GB capacity. They aren't cheap. About 4 times the cost of an internal drive. They can fit in your pocket and, unlike the following alternatives, they don't need a separate power supply. They take their power from the USB connection.
I have one - that's it on the right, it's shirt pocket size. I find it particularly useful when helping others sort out their computer problems. My wife doesn't know how much it cost.
Unless
you're really stuck for space, you need the portability, or you're flush
with cash, the following cheaper options are just as effective.
3.5" USB Portable Hard Disk Drive
That's one on the left. Not as expensive as the pocket size 2.5", but still dearer than the third option described below. These drives have their own separate power supply as well as the data cable.
Newer models are available with the new, faster eSATA connections. Make sure you have an eSATA input on your PC if you wish to use one of these.
In recent times the price of drives of 500GB and below have fallen somewhat. If you hunt around you may get one priced competitively with the following alternative.
Standard 3.5" HDD in a Separate Enclosure
This is the least expensive external option. It's basically the same
as option two, but involves a bit of effort on your part. You buy the
enclosure and the hard disk drive separately and you install the drive
(an IDE or a SATA drive)
into the enclosure.
It's just a matter of plugging two cables into the sockets provided and inserting a few screws.
Make sure you purchase a drive which matches the enclosure. i.e. both SATA or IDE. SATA is best if you're buying new, but if you have a spare IDE drive it'll do a good job.
They are available with a USB connection to hook up to your computer and, in some cases (not a pun), with a FireWire connection as well. Make sure the cables are supplied.
These enclosures are also available in 5.25" size. These will take a 3.5" hard disk drive or a 5.25" CD/DVD drive or older HDD. Also has its own separate power cord as well as the data cable (or cables).
The one shown on the right has a small attachment which allows it to sit upright on your desk if required.
