Portable Hard Disks
by: jameswalsh
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Word Count: 833
It did not get lost or deleted even when the PC was switched off. Mobile storage devices (floppy disks) were needed when the programme or data was moved across machines (like in home to office computer or intercity).
In the last decade, there has been a dramatic increase in the capacities of both the hard disks as well as the floppy disks. Besides this, there are a number of new storage devices which have come in the market such as CD, DVD, Flash drive, Zip drive and Memory cards etc. The technology has also evolved from magnetic storage to optical and magneto-optical drives. Even the hard disks have become removable which means portability.
Portable disk drives seem to be an answer to all our data storage problems. They have been introduced in the market recently and have already occupied the top slot as an efficient data backup utility. It has been proclaimed that they are the complete and stress-free solution to all data loss problems one might face. How true these claims are needs to be verified by carefully weighing the advantages and the disadvantages of portable hard disks.
The advantages of portable hard disks are as such:
1. They offer a large storage space even in excess of 250 GB. This is quite useful for users who need a large data backup utility.
2. They are a bit expensive but are one-time investments for individual users and prove to be a good investment in the long run.
3. It makes use of USB 2.0 technology and hence offers high transfer rates.
4. As USB ports are now available on most computers, storage of data on them does not require any other hardware as in the case of DVDs where they require a DVD burner to copy information. They can be used straight after plugging in the system.
5. They have the convenience of innumerable rewrites which is a useful feature.
6. Being small in size they justify the term portable and can easily be carried along.
7. They are extremely useful in cases of data transfer where computers are not connected to the same network and the data size is too large, making it difficult to be transferred online.
8. Data once stored on them can be retained safely up to a time period of 15 years which suffices in most cases.
9. Another added feature in some of them is that of a software which eases the process of data backup by automatically creating a data backup in portable hard drives when they are plugged in the system.
These advantages make them a popular option but it is just as important to understand the disadvantages before you decide to buy and use them:
1. They have been derived from normal hard drives and hence share most of their drawbacks like sensitivity to dust though they do have better safeguards installed in them against dust particles.
2. Mishandling them can also lead to trouble. Like most storage devices, these potable hard drives can also lead to data loss in cases of any mishandling and physical damage. Sufficient care should be taken while handling them.
3. The audible or high level noise of some of them can be quite annoying.
4. Necessary care should be taken to ascertain their quality. The low quality portable hard drives are not reliable and can result in data corruption or even data loss.
5. Being portable it becomes easier to use them and even hide them. This can be used by miscreants or even office employees to conveniently steal official information.
The analyses of the advantages and disadvantages of using portable hard disks show that though these hard disks are quite useful in their ease to use, mobility and increased storage capacity, they also fall short of qualify in some of the other vital features. There is still scope for improvement in these areas. As of now, however, a lot of existing problems faced by users are addressed to a greater degree in the new and enhanced versions. This improvement in quality leads to an inevitable increase in cost price. Hence, depending on the quality of your work and importance of data storage and backup in your life, it might be wise to invest in buying portable hard disks. Their long life and satisfactory performance will give you your value for money.
About the Author
James Walsh is a freelance writer and copy editor. If you are concerned about data loss and would like more information on Data Recovery see http://www.fields-data-recovery.co.uk
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