Selecting Portable Hard Drives & Understanding CD/DVD Differences

Choosing the Right Portable Hard Drive

When selecting a portable hard drive, it's essential to consider your specific storage needs. Here's a comparison of two popular models:

Available Portable Hard Drive Models

• Iomega eGO Portable Hard Drive: Offers a substantial 160 gigabytes (GB) of storage capacity.
• Edge DiskGO Mini Portable Hard Drive: Provides 12 gigabytes (GB) of storage capacity.

Comparing Iomega eGO and Edge DiskGO

The choice between these drives depends on your intended use:

• The Iomega eGO is ideal for mobile professionals, offering ample space to back up an entire PC.
• The Edge DiskGO is ultra-lightweight, making it perfect for easily transporting personal files such as photos, music, and data documents.

Portable Hard Drive Pricing

• Iomega eGO: £68
• Edge DiskGO: £55

Consider your storage requirements and budget to make the best decision for your portable hard drive needs.

CD vs. DVD: Understanding Digital Disc Differences

When purchasing blank discs, understanding the distinctions between CDs and DVDs is crucial for optimal use.

What are CDs and DVDs?

• CD: Stands for Compact Disc.
• DVD: Stands for Digital Versatile Disc. This optical disc technology is primarily used for storing movies, music, and various data types. DVDs are typically made from polycarbonate plastic coated with an aluminum layer.

Key Differences Between CDs and DVDs

Physical Similarities:

Despite their differences in capacity and internal structure, CDs and DVDs share some physical characteristics:

• Both are 1.2 mm thick.
• Both are 12 cm in diameter.
• Both technologies utilize a laser beam to read the digital data encoded on the disc.

Major Differences:

The primary distinctions lie in their internal structure and, most significantly, their data capacity:

• Data Capacity: DVDs offer a much greater data capacity.
  • A standard CD typically has a capacity of 650 megabytes (MB).
  • The smallest capacity found on a DVD is 4.7 gigabytes (GB).

DVD Drive Compatibility and Content Types

Do You Need a Special Drive for DVDs?

Yes, to read and write data onto DVDs, you will need a dedicated DVD player or a DVD computer drive; a standard CD drive is not sufficient.

Types of Information a DVD Can Hold:

The content a DVD can hold depends on its specific type:

• DVD-Video discs: Contain films, including video content, soundtracks in various languages, and subtitles.
• DVD-Audio discs: Designed for high-definition sound.
• DVD-Data discs: Used for storing computer data.

It's important to note that a DVD can also contain any combination of video, audio, and data content.

Backward Compatibility with CDs:

One of the significant advantages of modern DVD writers is their backward compatibility. This feature allows them to play older CDs and CD-ROMs in addition to DVDs, offering versatility for your media collection.