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| The power of the blank CD |
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| Tuesday, 19 September 2006 | ||||||||||||||||||
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In a world of near-complete dependence on computers, backing up data is more important than ever. Creating copies of important files helps keep users from losing them in system crashes, hard drive failure, theft and other situations. Backing up data can be as simple as making a copy or as complex as creating an automated archive. The method and medium changes depending on what needs to be backed up and how often the stored data will be accessed. Strangely, one of the most secure is also the easiest and cheapest. Michael Higdon is the sales manager of VGH Computer Services located in the Palouse Mall. He recommended using writeable CDs or DVDs to back up most data. “It’s just the simplest way to do it,“ Higdon said. A CD can hold 800 megabytes of data, and a single-sided DVD can hold 4.7 gigabytes. Higdon recommended using one CD or DVD until it is full, putting a label on it and then filing it away for later use. Mark Weagel, a sales associate at Staples, cautioned against the lifespan of CDs and DVDs. “It turns out that DVDs (and CDs) aren’t indestructible,” Weagel said. “The average life is around about five to six years.” Most computers do not need additional software to burn a CD or DVD. As long as the user has a DVD or CD burner, he just needs to insert a blank disc, copy the files to the CD or DVD-ROM drive and click “burn to disc.” Choosing between CDs or DVDs for backup just depends on the size of the data being stored. A CD is the way to go if each backup is only a few megabytes. If it’s a few hundred megabytes, step up to the DVD. CDs and DVDs have many advantages over other methods. The first is their widespread use. “They are readily accessible across most computers,” Higdon said. This means sharing data with friends and colleagues is as easy as making them a copy and handing them a disc. And if data needs to be accessed after a computer has broken down, the user can just take the DVD or CD to another computer and access it from there. Another advantage is the relative toughness of the discs. “Portable drives are extremely fragile. One little slip and a four-foot fall to the floor and your data could be trashed,” Higdon said. Data on hard drives is also very susceptible to magnetic fields. “One day you set your (portable drive) on top of the TV, which produces a magnetic field, and over a few minutes the data can become unusable,” Higdon said. Cost is the last big advantage. Where other backup and storage devices can cost hundreds of dollars, CDs and DVDs cost pocket change. That’s why the ZIP drive didn’t catch on, Weagel said. “(Cheap discs) knocked them off the market,” he said. CDs and DVDs do have their disadvantages. One of these is the five- or six-year lifespan. They are also susceptible to scratching, but this can be prevented with proper storage in a case or sleeve. To help ensure a good lifespan, Higdon recommends using a slower writing speed. He also has a simple solution for the lifespan problem. “On the birthday of the CD (or DVD), just refresh the data by making a new copy,” he said. Even with the disadvantages, Higdon said, the simplicity of the discs just can’t be beat. “Just fill it, label it and file it.”  Add as favorites (27) | Views: 493
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