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Types of storage devices
Explore the many devices designed to boost your digital storage capacity and discover how they work.
Storage capacity is no longer dependent on the physical capacity of your computer. Many options exist to hold your files while saving storage space on your computer, phone, or tablet. If your devices are slow and running out of space, you can offload files onto a physical storage device. Or better yet, use the best storage technology and save your files to the cloud.
Cloud storage
While not exactly a device per se, cloud storage is the newest and most versatile type of storage for computers. “The cloud” is not one place or object, but rather a huge collection of servers housed in data centers around the world. When you save a document to the cloud, you’re storing it on these servers.
Because cloud storage stores everything online, it doesn’t use any of your computer’s secondary storage, allowing you to save space.
Cloud storage offers significantly higher storage capacities than USB flash drives and other physical options. This saves you from having to sift through each device to find the right file.
While external HDDs and SSDs were once favored for their portability, they, too, fall short compared to cloud storage. There aren’t many pocket-friendly external hard drives. While they’re smaller and lighter than a computer’s internal storage drive, they are still tangible devices. The cloud, on the other hand, can go with you anywhere without taking up any physical space, and without the physical vulnerabilities of an external drive.
External storage devices were also popular as a quick solution for transferring files, but they’re only useful if you can access each physical device. Cloud computing is thriving as many businesses now operate remotely. It’s likely that you wouldn’t mail a USB drive overseas to send a large file to a colleague. Cloud storage acts as a bridge between remote workers, making collaboration from afar a breeze.
If you forget to bring a hard drive containing important documents to a meeting, there’s not much you can do other than go back and grab it. If you break or lose a hard drive altogether, it’s unlikely you’ll ever get that data back. These risks don’t exist for cloud storage—your data is backed up and accessible whenever and wherever you are so long as you have access to the internet.
With Dropbox Smart Sync, you can access any file in your Dropbox from your desktop. It’s just like storing your files locally—only they don’t use up any of your disk space. Keeping all your files saved in Dropbox means they’re always one click away. You can access them from any device with internet connection, and share in an instant.
External storage devices
In addition to storage media contained within a computer, there are also digital storage devices that are external from computers. These are commonly used to expand storage capacity on a computer runs low on space, allow more portability, or provide easy file transfers from one device to another.
External HDDs and SSDs
You can get both HDD and SSD devices as external drives. These generally offer the largest storage capacity among external options, with external HDDs offering up to 20 TB of storage and (reasonably-priced) external SSDs offering up to 8 TB of storage.
External HDDs and SSDs work in the exact same way that their internal counterparts do. Most external drives can connect to any computer; they’re not tied to one device, so they’re a decent solution for transferring files across devices.
Flash memory devices
We mentioned flash memory earlier when discussing SSDs. A flash memory device contains trillions of interconnected flash memory cells that store data. These cells hold millions of transistors that when switched on or off represent 1s and 0s in binary code, allowing a computer to read and write information.
One of the most recognizable type of flash memory device is the USB flash drive. Also known as a thumb drive or a memory stick, these small, portable storage devices have long been a popular choice for extra computer storage. Before it was quick and easy to share files online, USB-flash drives were essential for easily moving files from one device to another. However, they can only be used on devices with a USB port. Most older computers have a USB port, but newer ones may require an adapter.
These days, a USB flash drive can hold up to 2 TB of storage. They’re more expensive per gigabyte than an external hard drive, but they have prevailed as a simple, convenient solution for storing and transferring smaller files.
Aside from USB drives, flash memory devices also include SD and memory cards, which you’ll recognize as the storage medium used in digital cameras.
Optical Storage Devices
CDs, DVDs, and Blu-Ray discs are used for a lot more than playing music and videos—they also act as storage devices. Collectively they’re known as optical storage devices or optical media.
Binary code is stored on these disks in the form of minuscule bumps along a track that spirals outwards from the center of the disk. When the disk is in operation it spins at a constant speed, while a laser contained within the disk drive scans the bumps on the disk. The way the laser reflects or bounces off a bump determines whether it represents a 0 or 1 in binary.
A DVD has a tighter spiral track than a CD, allowing it to store more data despite being the same size, and a finer red laser is used in DVD drives than CD drives. DVDs also allow dual layering to increase their capacity further. Blu-Ray took things to another level, storing data on multiple layers with even smaller bumps that require an even finer blue laser to read them.
- CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, and BD-ROM refer to read-only optical storage disks. The data written on them is permanent and cannot be removed or overwritten. This is why they can’t be used as a personal storage. Instead, they are typically used for software installation programs.
- CD-R, DVD-R, and BD-R format disks are recordable, but cannot be overwritten. Whatever data you save on a blank recordable disk will then be permanently stored on that disk. So, they can store data, but they’re not quite as flexible as other storage devices.
- CD-RW, DVD-RW, and BD-RE are re-writable. This allows you can to write new data on them and erase unwanted data from them as much as you want. They’ve been overtaken by newer technology like flash memory, but CD-RWs were once the top choice for external storage. Most desktop computers and many laptops have a CD or DVD drive.
CD can store up to 700 MB of data, DVD-DL can store up to 8.5 GB, and Blu-Ray can store between 25 and 128 GB of data.
Internal Hardisk HDD
KSh 86,900.00 (KSh 100,804.00 Incl. Tax)
External Hard Drives
KSh 78,000.00 (KSh 90,480.00 Incl. Tax)
Internal Hardisk HDD
KSh 64,000.00 (KSh 74,240.00 Incl. Tax)
Internal Hardisk HDD
KSh 64,000.00 (KSh 74,240.00 Incl. Tax)
Internal Hardisk HDD
KSh 56,400.00 (KSh 65,424.00 Incl. Tax)
External Hard Drives
KSh 56,250.00 (KSh 65,250.00 Incl. Tax)
Internal Hardisk HDD
WD Purple™ Pro Surveillance Hard Drive – 12TB, 256 MB, 7200 rpm – WD121PURP
KSh 50,700.00 (KSh 58,812.00 Incl. Tax)
Internal Hardisk HDD
KSh 46,800.00 (KSh 54,288.00 Incl. Tax)
solid-state drive SSD
LaCie 2TB Rugged USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C External SSD (STHR2000800)
KSh 45,000.00 (KSh 52,200.00 Incl. Tax)
Internal Hardisk HDD
KSh 41,600.00 (KSh 48,256.00 Incl. Tax)
solid-state drive SSD
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solid-state drive SSD
SanDisk Extreme Portable External SSD V2 2TB – SDSSDE61-2T00-G25
KSh 40,300.00 (KSh 46,748.00 Incl. Tax)
Internal Hardisk HDD
KSh 40,000.00 (KSh 46,400.00 Incl. Tax)
Internal Hardisk HDD
WD Purple™ Pro Surveillance Hard Drive – 10TB, 256 MB, 7200 rpm
KSh 40,000.00 (KSh 46,400.00 Incl. Tax)
External Hard Drives
KSh 38,750.00 (KSh 44,950.00 Incl. Tax)
solid-state drive SSD
LEXAR LNM620 INTERNAL SSD M.2 PCIe Gen 3X4 NVMe 2280, 256GB (LNM620X256G-RNNNG)
KSh 37,750.00 (KSh 43,790.00 Incl. Tax)
Internal Hardisk HDD
KSh 37,500.00 (KSh 43,500.00 Incl. Tax)
External Hard Drives
KSh 37,000.00 (KSh 42,920.00 Incl. Tax)
External Hard Drives
KSh 36,250.00 (KSh 42,050.00 Incl. Tax)
Internal Hardisk HDD
Toshiba S300 10TB 3.5″ Internal Surveillance Hard Drive (HDETV10ZSA51)
KSh 36,250.00 (KSh 42,050.00 Incl. Tax)
solid-state drive SSD
KSh 35,250.00 (KSh 40,890.00 Incl. Tax)
Internal Hardisk HDD
KSh 35,100.00 (KSh 40,716.00 Incl. Tax)
Internal Hardisk HDD
KSh 33,000.00 (KSh 38,280.00 Incl. Tax)
Internal Hardisk HDD
WD Purple™ Pro Surveillance Hard Drive – 8TB, 256 MB, 7200 rpm
KSh 31,850.00 (KSh 36,946.00 Incl. Tax)
solid-state drive SSD
Crucial BX500 2TB 3D SATA 2.5-Inch Internal SSD- CT2000BX500SSD1
KSh 31,250.00 (KSh 36,250.00 Incl. Tax)
Internal Hardisk HDD
KSh 30,000.00 (KSh 34,800.00 Incl. Tax)
Internal Hardisk HDD
WD Purple Surveillance Hard Drive 8TB 256MB 7200rpm – WD82PURZ
KSh 30,000.00 (KSh 34,800.00 Incl. Tax)
Internal Hardisk HDD
KSh 26,400.00 (KSh 30,624.00 Incl. Tax)
Internal Hardisk HDD
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Internal Hardisk HDD
WD 6TB Red 5400 rpm SATA III 3.5″ Internal NAS HDD (WD60EFAX)
KSh 25,000.00 (KSh 29,000.00 Incl. Tax)
Internal Hardisk HDD
Toshiba S300-72RPM -8TB 3.5″ Internal Surveillance Hard Drive – (HDETV11ZSA51)
KSh 25,000.00 (KSh 29,000.00 Incl. Tax)
solid-state drive SSD
LaCie 1TB Rugged USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C External SSD (STHR1000800)
KSh 25,000.00 (KSh 29,000.00 Incl. Tax)
solid-state drive SSD
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solid-state drive SSD
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solid-state drive SSD
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Internal Hardisk HDD
WD Purple Surveillance Internal Hard Drive HDD – 6TB 5640 RPM,128 MB (WD62PURZ)
KSh 21,900.00 (KSh 25,404.00 Incl. Tax)
Internal Hardisk HDD
WD Purple Surveillance Hard Drive 6TB 64MB 5700rpm – WD60PURZ
KSh 21,900.00 (KSh 25,404.00 Incl. Tax)
Internal Hardisk HDD
Toshiba S300 6TB Surveillance 3.5” Internal Hard Drive (HDETV13ZSA51)
KSh 21,250.00 (KSh 24,650.00 Incl. Tax)
solid-state drive SSD
KSh 20,800.00 (KSh 24,128.00 Incl. Tax)
Internal Hardisk HDD
KSh 20,000.00 (KSh 23,200.00 Incl. Tax)
solid-state drive SSD
SanDisk 1TB Extreme Portable External SSD (SDSSDE60-1T00-G25)
KSh 20,000.00 (KSh 23,200.00 Incl. Tax)
solid-state drive SSD
TRANSCEND 110Q INTERNAL SSD M.2 PCIe Gen 3*4 NVMe 2280 – 1TB
KSh 19,500.00 (KSh 22,620.00 Incl. Tax)
solid-state drive SSD
Lexar Professional NM700 M.2 2280 PCIe NVMe 1TB SSD (LNM700-1TRB)
KSh 18,750.00 (KSh 21,750.00 Incl. Tax)
Internal Hardisk HDD
KSh 18,000.00 (KSh 20,880.00 Incl. Tax)
Internal Hardisk HDD
KSh 17,500.00 (KSh 20,300.00 Incl. Tax)
solid-state drive SSD
Transcend 1TB 112s Nvme PCIe Gen3 X4 M.2 SSD SSD (TS1TMTE112S)
KSh 17,500.00 (KSh 20,300.00 Incl. Tax)
solid-state drive SSD
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KSh 17,500.00 (KSh 20,300.00 Incl. Tax)
solid-state drive SSD
Samsung 870 QVO 1TB SATA 2.5 inch (6.3 cm) Internal SSD (MZ-77Q1T0BW)
KSh 17,500.00 (KSh 20,300.00 Incl. Tax)
solid-state drive SSD
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solid-state drive SSD
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solid-state drive SSD
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solid-state drive SSD
LEXAR LNM610 Internal SSD M.2 PCIe Gen 3×4 NVMe 2280 1TB (LNM610-1TRB)
KSh 16,250.00 (KSh 18,850.00 Incl. Tax)
External Hard Drives
Transcend 4TB StoreJet 25H3 External Hard Disk Drive – TS4TSJ25H3P
KSh 15,650.00 (KSh 18,154.00 Incl. Tax)
External Hard Drives
Transcend 4TB USB 3.1 Storejet 25M3 Portable Hard Drive (Military Green)
KSh 15,650.00 (KSh 18,154.00 Incl. Tax)
solid-state drive SSD
Crucial BX500 1TB 3D NAND SATA 2.5-Inch Internal SSD- CT1000BX500SSD1
KSh 15,650.00 (KSh 18,154.00 Incl. Tax)
solid-state drive SSD
KSh 15,500.00 (KSh 17,980.00 Incl. Tax)
External Hard Drives
Toshiba External Canvio Ready 4TB; USB 3.2 Gen 1 (USB 2.0 compatible) – Black
KSh 15,000.00 (KSh 17,400.00 Incl. Tax)
Internal Hardisk HDD
WD Purple Surveillance Hard Drive 4 TB, 64 MB, 5400 rpm (WD40PURZ)
KSh 15,000.00 (KSh 17,400.00 Incl. Tax)
Out of stock
Internal Hardisk HDD
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KSh 15,000.00 (KSh 17,400.00 Incl. Tax)
External Hard Drives
WD My Passport 4TB External Hard Drive Black – WDBPKJ0040BBK-WESN
KSh 14,950.00 (KSh 17,342.00 Incl. Tax)