Description Advantages Disadvantages

Magnetic Tape A storage device that stores the - Can store large amount - Slight physical
data in a long line on a magnetic of data knocks can cause
tape and read by a magnetic tape - Can be used for backups read/write head to
drive by means of serial access. of data hit the disks and
corrupt data
- Slow data access
- Needs separate
storage device to
update data
External hard A storage device that stores data - Portable - Can be damaged as
disk on magnetic disks and uses - Can be used to easily they’re being
random access. share large files moved
- Fast data access - Might get stolen
- Can get lost
Memory sticks Small storage device that uses - Very fast data access - Can be stolen
solid state to store data and can speed - Can get lost
be plug into a USB socket for - Portable - Can break easily
reading/writing data. - Can transfer data easily
Memory cards Flat storage device that uses - Small, light and portable - Can break easily
solid state to store data and can - Can be used in different - Can get lost
be slots into a special port for devices - Need SD card
reading/writing data - Free from mechanical reader in some PC
damages since there’s
no moving parts.