Detailed Notes on Storage
Devices
1. Floppy Disk
• Origin/History:
• First introduced by IBM in 1971 (8-inch version).
• Later versions: 5.25-inch (late 1970s), 3.5-inch (1980s).
• Features:
• Magnetic storage, portable, rewritable.
• Inserted into floppy disk drive (FDD).
• Capacity:
• 8-inch → 80 KB to 1.2 MB
• 5.25-inch → 360 KB to 1.2 MB
• 3.5-inch → 720 KB to 1.44 MB (most common).
• Uses:
• Storing small programs, text files, boot disks.
• Advantages: Cheap, portable.
• Disadvantages: Very low capacity, slow, easily damaged, obsolete now.
2. Hard Disk Drive (HDD)
• Origin/History:
• Invented by IBM in 1956 (first called “Winchester drive”).
• Initially very large (like refrigerators!) but very low capacity.
• Features:
• Magnetic platters rotate at high speed.
• Data read/written by read/write head.
• Can be internal (inside computer) or external.
• Capacity:
• Early HDDs → 5 MB (1950s).
• Modern HDDs → 500 GB to 20+ TB.
• Uses:
• Storing OS, software, games, movies, large databases.
• Advantages: High storage, relatively cheap per GB.
• Disadvantages: Slower than SSDs, fragile (moving parts).
3. Compact Disk (CD)
• Origin/History:
• Developed by Sony & Philips in 1982 (for audio).
• Features:
• Optical storage (laser reads/writes).
• Available in CD-ROM (read-only), CD-R (recordable once), CD-RW
(rewritable).
• Capacity: 650 MB – 700 MB.
• Uses: Music albums, software distribution, backups.
• Advantages: Cheap, portable, durable if handled well.
• Disadvantages: Low storage compared to modern devices, needs optical drive.
4. Digital Versatile Disk (DVD)
• Origin/History:
• Introduced in 1995 by Toshiba, Panasonic, Sony, Philips.
• Features:
• Same size as CD, but higher density.
• Types: DVD-ROM, DVD-R, DVD-RW, dual layer.
• Capacity: 4.7 GB (single-layer), 8.5 GB (dual-layer).
• Uses: Movies, games, software, large files.
• Advantages: More storage than CDs, durable.
• Disadvantages: Still less than Blu-ray, getting replaced by USB/cloud.
5. Pen Drive (USB Flash Drive)
• Origin/History:
• First marketed by IBM & Trek Technology in 2000.
• Features:
• Flash memory + USB interface.
• Very portable, plug-and-play.
• Rewritable many times.
• Capacity: From 64 MB → up to 2 TB (latest models).
• Uses: Data transfer, backups, bootable OS.
• Advantages: Small, reusable, fast, reliable.
• Disadvantages: Easy to lose, limited write cycles (though much better now).
6. Memory Card
• Origin/History:
• Popularized by SanDisk, Toshiba, Panasonic in 1990s.
• Features:
• Solid-state flash memory.
• Small in size, very lightweight.
• Types: SD card, microSD, CF card, XD card.
• Capacity: From 128 MB → 1 TB (modern).
• Uses: Smartphones, cameras, gaming consoles.
• Advantages: Portable, easy to use, fast.
• Disadvantages: Can get corrupted, easy to misplace.
7. Blu-ray Disk
• Origin/History:
• Introduced in 2006 by Sony & Blu-ray Disc Association.
• Features:
• High-definition optical disk.
• Uses blue-violet laser (shorter wavelength than DVD).
• Capacity: 25 GB (single layer), 50 GB (dual layer).
• Uses: HD movies, games (like PlayStation), software.
• Advantages: Very high capacity, durable.
• Disadvantages: Expensive, requires Blu-ray drive.