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Backing up your files is quite handy especially when formatting your hard drive, re-installing Windows, or just sharing your files to a buddy. But what type of storage will you use?
There are many removable medias in the market today. These are floppy disks, zip & jaz disks, and CD-R & CD-RW disks.
Comparing these medias:
| Storage
Media |
Capacity |
Compatibility |
| Floppy Disks |
1.44 MB |
Yes |
| Zip Disks |
100 - 250 MB |
No |
| Jaz Disks |
2 GB |
No |
| CD-R Disks |
650 MB |
Yes |
| CD-RW Disks |
650 MB |
Yes |
Floppy
Floppy disks have been here since the dawn of the first IBM-PC in the 80’s. Comparing from those days to the modern Internet age has changed dramatically but the capacity of these old friends doesn’t. Though compatible to any PC, new or old, and is still used even today, the higher demands and largeness of the files doesn’t fit for storage and backup needs.
Zip and Jaz
Iomega introduced these disks for their Iomega Drives to help and ease high demands of storage space. Storage space is OK for backups but the price is too expensive than the others. Compatibility is also a major drawback because if you’re sharing/copying files to a buddy, you need to bring the drives with you and hopefully it will install from the other PC. If it doesn’t install… :(
CD-R and CD-RW
Having a capacity of 650 MB each disk, these are the best for backing up files. They are compatible with any modern CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drives.
Caution: CD-ROM drives that were manufactured before 1998 will have compatibility issues because the rules then for making CDs were not standardized yet.
Choosing between the two, CD-RW is the best bet because you can re-write or erase any files on the CD many times while the other can’t.
Although the Jaz Disk has a staggering 2 GB of storage space, as I’ve said it is too much expensive and not compatible with other PCs that doesn’t have a Jaz drive even if you have a Zip drive. For backup jobs, CD-RW is the champion. |
