Comparison of Data Backup Devices

Computers can execute tasks in a fraction of a time of what it would take people to do them manually. Computers run a variety of specialised programmes that are tailor-made to do different kind of work, such as browsing the Internet, creating artwork, writing letters, preparing accounts and carrying out complex calculations.

For any kind of information to be processed by computers, it has to be first turned into a digital format, that is, a string of ones and zeros. The digital data thus created has many benefits, such as instant copying, deletion, modification and transmission through networks over long distances. The problem is that for all its benefits, digital data is volatile and can disappear without notice because of many hardware or software causes. It is thus prudent to keep a backup of all the important data that resides on your computer. In a case of data loss, you can immediately restore the lost files from the backup and be on your feet again in no time.

There are a variety of data backup devices available in the market to suit all price points and data-storage capacities. Each media has its own strengths and weaknesses.

USB Drives

These are tiny storage devices that are no larger than your thumb (hence also called thumb drives). They make excellent backup media because of their small size and large capacities. The commonly available USB drives have capacities ranging from 1 GB to 8 GB. They have no moving parts inside and are totally immune to magnetic fields.

Their prices are coming down rapidly as the technology matures and new production techniques come into play over time. USB drives store data inside a Flash memory card. This is the only technology that is promising to emerge as a serious competitor to hard disks for primary storage devices used inside computers and laptops.

Tape Drives

This is tried-and-tested technology that uses the same principle to store data as an audio cassette. All data resides on a long, thin and narrow tape that is coated with magnetic paint and wound around a couple of spools which in turn are enclosed within a tough plastic box. The data is accessed and modified by a read and write head situated inside the tape drive. Each cartridge can have a capacity of up to 100 GB or even more and you can use as many cartridges as you want to store data.

Tape drives have one of the lowest cost per MB of data stored, which makes them quite popular with companies wanting to store a large amount of data for a long period of time. Tape drives have only one major disadvantage. They offer sequential access to data, instead of random access offered by other storage media such as a hard drive or optical disk.

Optical Disks

Optical disks are the rage today in the world of removable storage devices. They are small circular disks made of very hard and tough plastic that is difficult to break. Data is recorded on one side of their surface while the other side remains free to print labels to identify the disk. The disks are quite small and thin, but carry a formidable punch. The Compact disks (CDs) can hold up to 700 MB of data, while digital versatile disks (DVDs) have an awesome capacity of 4.6 GB.

Optical disks are also currently the cheapest storage media available in the market. This combination of low cost and high capacity is the reason for their total monopoly in the market in terms of removable devices. The only precaution users have to take while using these disks is to protect their data-recording surface from scratches and smudges. Also, they have to be kept away from direct sunlight and excessive heat.

Portable Hard Drives

Hard drives are fantastic machines, truly a marvel of modern engineering. They have huge capacities of up to 1 TB and offer random access to data stored anywhere on their data recording surface. Portable hard drives now offer the same functionality of a fixed drive in a transportable form.

These drives come with a USB cable that offers fast data transfer speeds and proprietary software that allows users to back up their entire computer hard drives effortlessly. The prices of portable hard disks have fallen in recent years, making them quite affordable. While using these drives, one has to take care to protect them from impact trauma.

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