Floppy Drive Diskettes

Floppy drive diskettes only hold 1.44 MB which, today, is considered very limited. They are still great for transporting data with you on the road or to bring files home with you from work. You can write to them quickly and share files with other people. However, they are basically obsolete because you can transport data through email or over the Web now.

Many computer manufacturers are selling computers without floppy disk drives. You can still order one as an option if you need one, but they don't come standard anymore. CD and DVD drives allow for storage that holds many times the amount a single floppy drive diskette can hold. CDs are cheap and can save large files and applications, such as PowerPoint presentations and music. In order to write to CDs, you need to have a CD-RW drive, also known as a CD burner.

Alternatives to Floppy Drive Diskettes

The latest technology for removable storage is the portable hard drive. Using flash memory, these drives are easy to use--they simply plug into your computer's USB port. They can store over one GB and are more durable than CDs and DVDs, which are vulnerable to scratching.

Today there are more choices than ever for storing data. Before purchasing storage drives, be sure they have large enough capacities for your needs. Also think about whether you are using the devices for storage only or if you will also need a portable device to move your data from one computer to another.