Uses To hold large files such as films that has

a size of a couple of GB.Advantages CDs tend to be used for large files (but

smaller than 1Gb) DVDs are used to hold very large files (several Gb’s) such as movie films. Both CDs and DVDs are Portable.Disadvantages Files could be broken. it is a Single ‘burning data’

Uses CDs used by software

companies for giving out software programs and data; by Music companies

Advantages CD ROM and DVD ROM are

Applications which require the prevention of deletion of data.

DVDs used by film distributors to give out films.

Disadvantages It can be written only once. It can be only read. The file could break.

CD ROM

DVD ROM

Uses Applications which require a single ‘burning’

of data, e.g. CDs DVDs can record film movies and television

programs.Advantages Can record music downloads from the

Internet, Music from MP3 format and it records data for archiving or backup purposes.

Cost of buying both devices are cheap Access to files are fast.Disadvantages Can be written only once (in other words, it is

a single burning data) Has a short lifespan (usually less than

10years)DVD-R

CD-R

Uses It is an application which requires the updating

of information and has an ability to record over old data.

Advantages It is very useful for keeping generations of files. It is pretty much like a 700MB floppy disk Can be written and read more than once. Disadvantages Not suitable for music recording. It has a low rate of writing files Cost of both devices are basically expensive Cannot be read over by older optical drives.

DVD-RW

CD-RW

Uses DVD RAM is used in video

recorders, camcorders and computer memory.

Advantages Very fast access of small files on the

disc. Disc defect management designed

to safeguard data. Can be rewritten over 100,000

timesDisadvantages Lower quality than DVD+RW and

DVD-RW, despite predating both formats.

DVD-RAM

Uses HD DVD is used in video recorders and

computer memory as well as games main rival is blu-ray.Advantages Can store high definition videos and files. Audio quality is high. The cost of buying the HD DVD format is

cheap.Disadvantages Region coding is vague. The majority of companies have dismissed

developing the HD DVD technology.

HD-DVD

Uses Used in video recorders and computer memory

as well as games consoles. It has the largest storage capacity amongst all other optical devices.

Advantages It can hold 4.5 hours of HD (high definition)

videos It has a large capacity of storing devicesDisadvantages The cost of buying this format is much more

expensive when compared to the cost of HD DVD format.

It has a lower audio quality when compared to HD DVD.

Blu-ray disc

Pen Drives and memory cards are classified as NAND style data storage devices .

Both storage devices are considered to be an improvement on both the older floppy drive disks and the more modern compact disks.

Advantages They are resistant in scratches and dust. Files can be transferred quite easily Large capacity PortableDisadvantages Has a limited number of write and erase

cycles before failure Can be infected by viruses quite easily. Files can be damaged by physical

impacts (E.g. Dropping) It has great speed

Pen drive

Memory cards

It is the smallest form, used as a removable storage

More robust than other forms of storage Can be easily written and updated. Contains no mechanic parts. Everything is done electronically. Solid state backing storages has a much

higher speed than is possible with electromechanical disk drives.

Solid state backing storages lags in terms of storage capacity.

The cost is basically expensive when compared to electromechanical drives.