1. Differentiate between storage devices and storage media.
- Storage device A storage deviceis the computer hardware that records and/or retrieves items to and from storage media. Examples are the RAM, floppy drives, ZIP drives, and other disks drives. While, storage media are the materials on which data are written and stored. Examples are the floppy disks, optical discs, hard disks, etc.
2. Identify the uses of tape, magnetic stripe cards, smart cards, microfilm and microfiche, and enterprise storage.
- Tape, one of the first storage media used with mainframe computers, is a magnetically-coated ribbon of plastic capable of storing large amounts of data and information at low cost. Because it requires sequential access, or consecutive reading and writing of data, tape is used for long-term storage and backup. (Floppy disks, hard disks, and compact discs all use direct access, which means you can locate a data item immediately, without having to move through all the items stored in front of it.)
Microfilm and microfiche images are so small that they can be read only with a microfilm and microfiche reader. Large organizations use microfilm and microfiche to archive inactive files. Microfilm and microfiche are used to store microscopic images of documents on roll of sheet film.
Enterprise storage is the computer storage designed for large-scale, high-technology environments of the modern enterprises. When comparing to the consumer storage, it has higher scalability, higher reliability, better fault tolerance, and much higher initial price.
A magnetic stripe card is a type of card capable of storing data by modifying the magnetism of tiny iron-based magnetic particles on a band of magnetic material on the card. The magnetic stripe, sometimes called swipe card or mag stripe, is read by physical contact and swiping past a magnetic reading head.
A smart card, chip card, or integrated circuit card (ICC), is any pocket-sized card with embedded integrated circuits. A smart card or microprocessor cards contain volatile memory and microprocessor components. The card is made of plastic, generally polyvinyl chloride, but sometimes acrylonitrile butadiene styrene or polycarbonate . Smart cards may also provide strong security authentication for single sign-on (SSO) within large organizations.
3. Describe the various types of flash memory storage: solid state drives, memory cards, USB flash drives, and ExpressCard modules.
- A solid-state drive (SSD) is a data storage device that uses solid-state memory to storepersistent data with the intention of providing access in the same manner of a traditional block i/o hard disk drive. SSDs are distinguished from traditional hard disk drives (HDDs), which areelectromechanical devices containing spinning disks and movable read/write heads. SSDs, in contrast, use microchips which retain data in non-volatile memory chips and contain nomoving parts. Compared to electromechanical HDDs, SSDs are typically less susceptible to physical shock, are silent, and have lower access time and latency, but are more expensive pergigabyte (GB) and typically support a limited number of writes over the life of the device. SSDs use the same interface as hard disk drives, thus easily replacing them in most applications.
- A memory card or flash card is an electronic flash memory data storage device used for storing digital information. They are commonly used in many electronic devices, includingdigital cameras, mobile phones, laptop computers, MP3 players, and video game consoles. They are small, re-recordable, and able to retain data without power.
- A USB flash drive consists of a flash memory data storage device integrated with a USB(Universal Serial Bus) interface. USB flash drives are typically removable and rewritable, and physically much smaller than a floppy disk. Most weigh less than 30 g (1 oz).Storage capacities in 2010 can be as large as 256 GB and offer a 10-year shelf storage time with steady improvements in size and price per capacity expected. Some allow 1 million write or erase cycles
- The Expresscard module is a new technology that slots into a computer system to allow the addition of hardware capabilities. The Expresscard was introduced by the Personal ComputerMemory CardPCMCIA) in 2003 and is a thinner, lighter and faster modular expansion for users of desktop and notebook computers. Hardware capabilities such as extra memory, wired and wireless communication tools and security devices can be added by inserting these modules into the system.
4. Differentiate among various types of optical discs: CDs, archive discs and Picture CDs, DVDs, and Blu-ray Discs.
-Compact Disc
Released in 1982, the CD (compact disc) revolutionized the music industry by offering digital sound to home consumers in replacement of analog formats. The CD was eventually transitioned from a music source to a form of storage for data. In 1990, the CD-R was introduced and allowed for the creation of optical discs at home with a personal computer. The average CD allows for up to 700 MB of data storage. Digital bits are stored as pits on the reflective material in the disc. A red wavelength laser detects these pits and converts them to a digital signal.
- Digital Versatile/Video Disc
Released in the late 1990s, DVDs offered a widely accepted digital movie format. Allowing 4.7 GB for a single-layer disc and up to 8.5 GB for a dual-layer disc, DVD was an excellent choice for personal backups of data on a DVD-R or movie media. DVD is not only used for data and video. DVD-Audio discs are uncompressed studio master recordings that offer much higher bit-rate than a standard CD. DVDs used a red wavelength laser, much like CDs.
- High Definition DVD
HD-DVD was released by Toshiba as a competing format to Sony's Blu-ray disc. HD-DVD offered enough storage space for full-length, high-definition movies on a single disc. HD-DVD discs were capable of holding 15 GB per layer with a maximum of two layers. Toshiba had planned on eventually releasing three-layer discs; however, with shifts of movie production studios, support for HD-DVD dwindled until Toshiba announced it would no longer continue the format. HD-DVD drives use a blue wavelength laser that is able to read smaller pits on the optical media.
- Blu-ray
Blu-ray is the newest high-definition optical format. Developed by Sony, Blu-ray discs offer 25 GB per layer with up to two layers per disc. Blu-ray discs have a protective coating that reduces the number of scratches and makes the disc durable. Like HD-DVD, Blu-ray offers a full-length, high-definition movie on one disc. Blu-ray recordable, or BD-R, drives are becoming more common in home computers. The BD-R drives allow for up to 50 GB of storage on one disc. Blu-ray drives use the same type of laser as HD-DVD drives to allow for greater storage on the optical disc.
5. Summarize the characteristics of ink-jet printers, photo printers, laser printers, multifunction peripherals, thermal printers, mobile printers, label and postage printers, and plotters and large-format printers
- An inkjet printer is a type of computer printer that creates a digital image by propelling droplets of ink onto paper. Inkjet printers are the most commonly used type of printer[1] and range from small inexpensive consumer models to very large professional machines, that can cost up to thousands of dollars.- Photo Printers allow us to recreate some of our most precious memories. Our digital pictures capture loved ones in unforgettable moments so it's obvious they're important to us. Fortunately some of the world's biggest names in printing and photography have developed a series of Photo Printers that are able to print images with superb color vibrancy and intricate detail.
- An inkjet printer is a type of computer printer that creates a digital image by propelling droplets of ink onto paper. Inkjet printers are the most commonly used type of printer[1] and range from small inexpensive consumer models to very large professional machines, that can cost up to thousands of dollars.- Photo Printers allow us to recreate some of our most precious memories. Our digital pictures capture loved ones in unforgettable moments so it's obvious they're important to us. Fortunately some of the world's biggest names in printing and photography have developed a series of Photo Printers that are able to print images with superb color vibrancy and intricate detail.
- Laser printer is a common type of computer printer that rapidly produces high quality text and graphics on plain paper. As with digital photocopiers and multifunction printers (MFPs), laser printers employ a xerographic printing process, but differ from analog photocopiers in that the image is produced by the direct scanning of a laser beam across the printer's photoreceptor.
- Multifunction peripherals are devices that are designed to take the place of single function devices in connection with the operation of a network or stand alone desktop computer. By definition, a multifunctionmultifunction peripheral to accomplish tasks quickly and easily.peripheral will perform at least two different tasks that in times past would require at least two different devices. Many homes as well offices today rely on the use of a
- Thermal printer (or direct thermal printer) produces a printed image by selectively heating coated thermochromic paper, or thermal paper as it is commonly known, when the paper passes over the thermal print head. The coating turns black in the areas where it is heated, producing an image. Two-color direct thermal printers can print both black and an additional color (oftenred) by applying heat at two different temperatures.
- Label and Postage Printers This is a printer that prints shipping labels for businesses and sometimes home. A postage printer is a printer that prints the shipping rate and bills you for it through the shipping company.
- Plotter is a computer printing device for printing vector graphics. In the past, plotters were widely used in applications such as computer-aided design, though they have generally been replaced with wide-format conventional printers.
