Computer technology has come a long way, as you'll see once you find out how data storage has evolved since the 1930s. here's a brief history.
1932-1960s: Magnetic Drum Memory
Magnetic drum memory was invented in 1932 in Austria, but saw its heyday in the 1950s and 1960s in the gigantic mainframe computers of the time. Magnetic drum memory wasn't particularly efficient data storage, storing only 10k of data on a gigantic piece of hardware.
1940s-1970s: Punch Cards
While punch cards were used to store data from the 1940s to the 1970s, they have actually been in use since the early-1700s in some textile applications. Punch cards and tape were primarily used for data and program input and output.
1951-1980s: Magnetic Tape
Early magnetic tape was almost 1,200 feet long and was made of metal, making it extremely heavy and an inefficient method of data storage, although it stored as much data as 10,000 punch cards. As advances emerged in magnetic tape, it eventually became smaller and more compact. It was used as an effective storage method until the mid 1980s.
1956: First Hard Disk Drive
The first hard disk drive was introduced by IBM in 1956. With a storage capacity of almost 5MB, it was a clear leader in quantity of storage for its size. The first hard disk drive and enclosure were as big as a large closet and stored data on 50 magnetic disks.
1971: First Floppy Disk
The first floppy disk was introduced in 1971, again by IBM. The first floppy disk was 8 inches in size and stored almost 80k of data. Subsequent floppy disks were 5.25 and 3.5 inches and boasted higher capacities, eventually culminating in Zip disks that stored up to 250MB of data in the 1990s.
1970s-1980s: Cassette Tapes
With advances in magnetic tape data storage, cassette tapes eventually became common data storage options in the 70s and 80s. Cassette tapes stored up to 660k per side, boasting more storage than any removable media to date. Their read and write speeds weren't as efficient as floppy disks, however.
1979: Compact Disc
A joint venture between Sony and Philips in 1979, the compact disc became a useful and viable removable storage device. With capacities up to 700MB, compact discs stored more data than any other removable media to date. They are still used in many applications today.
1980: Hard Disks Break the 1GB Barrier
IBM lead innovation again with the first 1GB hard disk drive data storage device. Approximately the size of a refrigerator, the world's first 1GB hard drive was approximately 550 pounds and cost approximately $80,000-$140,000.
1984: IDE Interface Emerges
In 1984 Compaq and Western Digital partnered to create the first IDE controller. Leading to the first IDE interface hard drive in 1985, this is was the first hard disk drive to resemble the hard drives we know today.
1995: DVD
The most recent development in data storage was the use of the DVD as a data storage device. DVDs are based on CD technology but use a more sensitive laser that allows the data to be packed more tightly on a disc. Single-layer DVD discs hold up to 4.7GB of data, while dual-layer DVDs hold up to 8.5GB.
2006: Blu-ray
A further refinement of the laser technology used in DVDs has helped Blu-ray emerge as the coming standard for data storage. Named for its short-wavelength blue laser, a Blu-ray disc can store 25GB of data on a single layer. The shorter wavelength also allows for more layers on a single disc, which could mean discs that rival external hard drives for storage capacity. Pioneer has produced 16-layer Blu-rays that hold 400GB of data, and IBM has a 20-layer Blu-ray in its labs that holds 500GB.
 | External hard drives give you more room for digital files and make it a snap to transfer files from one computer to another. Paying more will get you more memory, but you'll need to take steps to keep your drive working at top speed. |
How does a hard drive work with data recovery software? External hard drive data recovery software can save you hours of precious time and restore data that you thought was gone forever. However, different hard drive data recovery programs come with different functions, so you need to make sure you get the features that you need. |
External hard drive recovery of your data is possible, but you should know the limitations before committing your data to an external drive. |
 | What is a thumb drive? It is incredibly handy, but you need to know the pros and cons before you buy one. |
 | An external hard drive seems like a simple piece of technology; plug it in, add some files and off you go. However, you can do a lot with an external hard drive, so you should learn about the technology to ensure you're getting the most from your investment. |
