Types of Optical Storage Devices

 

Types of Optical Storage Devices

Here, we spread light on several examples of optical memory and media or you can also say optical medium of storage examples; below mentioned all:

CD-ROM

CD-ROM, abbreviation of compact disc read-only memory, type of computer memory in the form of a compact disc that is read by optical means. A CD-ROM drive uses a low-power laser beam to read digitized (binary) data that has been encoded in the form of tiny pits on an optical disk.

DVD-ROM

Digital versatile disc-read only memory (DVD-ROM) is a read-only digital versatile disc (DVD) commonly used for storing large software applications. It is similar to a compact disk-read only memory (CD-ROM) but has a larger capacity

DVD-RAM

DVD-RAM is a portable, removable and rewritable optical disc format. Unlike the standard DVD medium, DVD-RAM can be written, erased and/or overwritten (with a maximum overwrite capacity of 100,000).

CD-R & DVD-R

The main difference is that the DVD can store much more data than a CD-ROM, CD-R, or CD-RW. DVD+R is a recordable DVD format similar to CD-R. A DVD+R can only record data once, then the data becomes permanent on the disc. ... A DVD-R can only record data once, then the data becomes permanent on the disc.

CD-RW & DVD-RW

DVD+RW is an erasable disc that can be reused similar to a CD-RW. The data on a DVD+RW disc can be erased and recorded over numerous times. DVD-R is a recordable DVD format similar to CD-R and DVD+R. A DVD-R can only record data once, then the data becomes permanent on the disc.

Advantages of optical disk compare to magnetic disk:

• The storage capacity of the optical disk is more than a magnetic disk.
• The optical disk is physical storage than magnetic disks and can not be damaged easily.
• The magnetic disk is sensitive to be touched whereas optical disk is not.
• Magnetic filed do not cause any effect an optical disk whereas they affect the magnetic disk.
• The optical disk has a lot of data as special of the double side of the DVD.
• An optical disk is much sturdier than tape or floppy disk. It is physically harder to break or melt or wrap. It is somewhat harder to lose than a USB flash drive.
• This allows computer systems to be also used as the music systems.
• Music CD can be played on a computer having a CD ROM drive along with a soundboard and speakers.
• Due to their compact in size and also a lightweight, optical disks are easy to handle, to be store and port from one place to another.
• The time required for positioning read-write head over the proper track.

Disadvantages of the optical disk:

• The main disadvantages have cost both for the drive and the disks.
• It is not quite as easy or as fast to copy an optical disk as it is to the software and hardware for writing disks.
• More complicated drive mechanism.
• Need careful handling.
• Label optical disk for easy identification.
• Use offline.
• The risk to lose data.
• Prone to scratches, dust, sticky prints.