Storage basics

Definition of Storage: Long-term holding area in a computer for data, unlike memory which is short-term.
Data Retention: Data stored remains after computer power is turned off, while memory contents disappear.

Storage Medium: The actual physical place where data is stored.
- Examples: Disk inside the hard drive, tapes, CDs, DVDs.
Storage Device: The equipment used to read and write data to/from the storage medium.
- Examples: CD/DVD reader/writer drives.

Different types of storage technologies exist, each with advantages and disadvantages.
Durability:
- Optical media like DVDs were once promised to last for decades.
- Issue: Some reflective materials in DVDs degrade over time, lowering reliability.
Dependability:
- Hard drives contain moving parts, which increases likelihood of failure.
- MTBF: Mean Time Between Failures, a measure of reliability in storage devices.
Speed:
- Solid State Drives (SSDs) are faster than traditional hard drives, enhancing boot-up times.
- Example: New laptops often have both SSDs for operating systems and traditional hard drives for storage.
Capacity:
- Cost of storage increases with capacity in SSDs.
- SSDs are generally more expensive for larger storage sizes compared to older technologies.

Use Device Manager on Windows or check drive properties on macOS to identify device types and capacities.
Understanding your device's speed can aid in determining the best use for storage, potentially enhancing computer performance.

Knowing the type of storage (magnetic, optical, etc.) can inform storage strategies, especially for optimizing speed and efficiency in computer operations.