Technology: Computer storage devices: Flash disks over floppies

Now that Rwandans are getting more into technological evolution, computers are becoming more of a necessity. But as they do much the trend with more usage of computers, some key aspects of technology need to be addressed. All computer programmes require storing of the executed file. However, if the file is to be moved, what device is more compatible than the other. For long, floppy diskettes had dominated but now technology has unveiled flash disks. Apart from both being storage devices, Sam A. Sewanyana, an IT specialists give some descriptions that reveal which one is more advantageous over another. Flash disk (A USB flash drive) is a memory data storage device integrated with a universal serial bus (USB) connector. It is typically removable and rewritable, much shorter than a floppy disk. The flash disks have storage capacities ranging from 64 megabytes to above 40 gigabytes and allow about 1million write or erase cycles with 10 years data retention. To access the data stored in a flash drive, the drive must be connected to a USB port, either a host controller built into a computer, a USB hub, or some other device designed to access the data, such as an mp3 player with a USB-in port. The device offers potential advantages over other portable storage devices, mainly the floppy disk. It is more compact in design, faster in retrieving data and holds more data. Additionally, it has become increasingly common with its USB standard hub appearing on almost every current mainstream PC and laptop. The flash drive is also supported by modern operating systems such as Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, among others. A flash drive consists of a plastic or metal casing to increase its heftiness making it sturdy enough to be carried about in a pocket. Flash drives are active only when plugged into a USB connection and draw all necessary power from the supply provided by that connection. However, a flash can sustain only a limited number of write and erase cycles before failure. Some support several hundred thousand cycles, although write operations will gradually slow as the device ages. Some flash drives do not have a write-protect mechanism, although some have a switch on their housing to prevent writing or modifying data on the drive. The flash drive costs high per unit storage. A 128 megabytes common on the local market cost Frw8,000. A floppy disk is a data storage medium that is composed of a disk of thin, flexible magnetic storage medium encased in a square or rectangular plastic shell. Floppies have been almost completely phased out due to their low capacity, low speed, and low durability. Their capacity and data transfer rates are saturated at extremely low levels (1.44 megabytes and about 0.06 megabytes per second) with design cases that are not sturdy enough against easy breaking. They have now been largely surpassed by flash and optical storage devices while e-mail has become the preferred method of exchanging small to medium size digital files. Almost no new computers include floppy drives, but they do include USB ports. However, it is still being used because of its low cost at Frw500, is often the easiest or only way to share files with older operating systems, and because a floppy can be added to new systems in external or internal connection forms. Contact: eddiemukaaya@yahoo.com