Storage
Discs aka disks
The hard disc 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 discs 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.
Many new computer users confuse hard disc storage with computer memory (RAM). Probably because they are measured in the same units. RAM is more analogous to your own short-term memory and you can read about it here.
Bytes
The amount of storage is measured in kilobytes (kB), Megabytes (MB) or Gigabytes (GB):
1000kB = approximately 1MB.
1000MB = approximately 1GB.
1000GB = approximately 1TB
In the decimal system kilo is the standard scientific prefix for 1,000 (103), Mega is 1,000,000 (106), Giga is is quite a lot: 1000,000,000 (109) and Tera is a stupendous amount: 1000,000,000,000 (1012).
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.
This is the reason why your 500GB hard drive shows up in your computer as 465GB. The disc manufacturers use the decimal notation because a bigger number is more impressive to the consumer, but your operating system knows the real binary truth of the matter.
Usually, disc capacity is measured by manufacturers using the decimal system, but memory is measured using binary.
It's all a bit of a mess. There are at least three standards and a Megabyte should really be called a MebiByte (MiB) - don't worry about it.
Well, if you really must worry about it, it's all explained if you click here.
HDD (Hard Disc 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 disc 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 for most computers.
Because data must be transferred from one disc 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 or more. Most last for years, none will 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. Some new motherboards can accommodate either or both types but most recent ones are pure SATA.
The smaller data cables are a plus: they have less effect on ventilation air flow inside than case than the much larger IDE cables. For the average user the performance differences are not significant but if the price differential isn't too great, choose SATA. This will give you better future-proofing.
Floppy
disc 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.
External floppy drives which connect to your computer via a USB cable are readily available at computer stores.
CD, CD/DVD or CD/DVD/Blu-ray Drive
Because laser light is used to read from them and to 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 or RWs & DVD-Rs and RWs.
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 discs over and over again.
You can back up all your important stuff with this drive: store music and photos and copy your program discs 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 Blu-ray discs is prohibitively high compared with other media for data storage. Time may change that.
Don't buy an HD-DVD drive. They lost the High Definition 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 disc 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, a 250GB or 500GB HDD can be purchased quite 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 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 use SATA, some can use both, 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 very 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.
Some recent PCs, particularly notebooks, have eSATA connectors. eSATA is significantly faster than USB. Data transfer speeds are comparable with internal drives, so if you have an eSATA connection ensure that any external drive that you buy comes with an eSATA socket.
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:
2.5" Pocket Size USB Hard disc Drive.
They come in up to 500GB capacity. They aren't cheap. About 4 times the cost of an internal drive. They can fit in your pocket (but don't neglect to put the cable in the other 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 disc Drive
That's one on the left. Not as expensive as the pocket size 2.5". 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 socket on your PC if you wish to use one of these.
In recent times the price of drives of 1.5TB drives and below have fallen somewhat and they're comparable in price to an internal drive. 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 if you already have a spare internal drive to use with it. It's basically the same
as option two, but involves a modicum of DIY effort on your part. You buy the
enclosure and the hard disc 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 an enclosure with connections which match the hard drive you're intending to use. i.e. SATA or IDE or both. 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 disc 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.
