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This lesson covers how to choose the right storage technology for a given scenario, considering factors such as capacity, speed, portability, durability, and cost. This is part of OCR J277 Section 1.2.2.
When selecting a storage device, you must weigh up five key factors:
| Factor | What It Means | Questions to Ask |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | How much data can the device store? | How large are the files? How many files need storing? |
| Speed | How fast can data be read from or written to the device? | Is fast access important for this task? |
| Portability | How easy is it to transport the device? | Does the device need to move between locations? |
| Durability | How resistant is the device to physical damage? | Will the device be used in harsh conditions or while moving? |
| Cost | How much does the device cost (initial price and cost per GB)? | What is the budget? |
| Factor | Rating |
|---|---|
| Capacity | Excellent — up to 20+ TB |
| Speed | Moderate — 100-200 MB/s |
| Portability | Moderate — portable HDDs exist but are bulky |
| Durability | Poor — moving parts can be damaged by shocks |
| Cost | Excellent — lowest cost per GB |
Best for: Large backups, file servers, storing media libraries, desktop storage where speed is not critical.
| Factor | Rating |
|---|---|
| Capacity | Low — 700 MB (CD) to 25 GB (Blu-ray) |
| Speed | Slow — much slower than HDD or SSD |
| Portability | Excellent — discs are small, lightweight, and easy to transport |
| Durability | Moderate — can be scratched; sensitive to heat and sunlight |
| Cost | Very low per disc |
Best for: Distributing software or media, archiving small amounts of data, portable data transfer where the recipient has an optical drive.
| Factor | Rating |
|---|---|
| Capacity | Good — 120 GB to 8 TB (SSDs); smaller for USB drives |
| Speed | Excellent — 500-7,000 MB/s |
| Portability | Excellent — USB drives and SD cards are tiny |
| Durability | Excellent — no moving parts |
| Cost | Moderate to high — more expensive per GB than HDD |
Best for: Operating system drives, laptops (durability matters), portable file transfer (USB drives), cameras and phones (SD cards).
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