-kamikaze-: other 2ndary storage

there are about 3 basic storage options which are

hard, solid, optical.

however, there are other specialized devices.

according to the textbook tittle

COMPUTING ESSENTIALS Complete 2011 written by Timothy J O'Leary and Linda I. O'Leary,

these are the specialized devices:

internet hard drivers
floppy disks
magnetic tape

internet hard drives---

+ special service sites on the web that provide this

+ this type include low cost as well as flexibility as we can get access from any location using internet

+ BUT!!

the access speed is slower because all information must travel across the internet
can only depend on the availability and security procedures of the service sites

another info regarding this device:

Function

The sole purpose of an Internet hard drive is to offer a means of accessing your computer files (pictures, documents, music, videos, etc.) from any computer, as long as that computer has access to the Internet. Similar to depositing money into your bank account, and later withdrawing that same money from any ATM machine, an Internet hard drive will allow you to "deposit" your computer files into a remote hard drive, and then later access those very same files from any other computer.

Benefits

Unlike your local hard drive, which may have a limited storage capacity, a competitive Internet hard drive provider will offer virtually unlimited disk space such as offered by LiveDrive.com. By uploading regular backups of your files, you can remain immune from the dangers of file loss due to viruses or your hard drive crashing; your local computer can be completely destroyed and yet the files which were stored online would remain safe and unharmed.

Drawbacks

Uploading your files takes time. The larger the file, the longer it will take to upload to your Internet hard drive. Likewise, the amount of time it takes to retrieve a file will be relative to its file size as well, although this rule may not necessarily apply to videos. Companies such as LiveDrive.com offer the option to view your videos directly from the Internet without having to first download the video to your local hard drive.
Despite any apparent benefits or drawbacks, whether you will choose to store your personal files on this clever remote device or not, the Internet hard drive will give you the freedom to retrieve your files using any computer with Internet access.

Setup

Setting up an account for your own Internet hard drive is generally simple. Visit the website of a provider such as LiveDrive.com, and follow the simple instructions. Once your account is created, you will be able to immediately log in and begin "uploading" or sending files from your local computer to your remote Internet hard drive.

Warning

Always remember that despite any promises made of security, whenever you are uploading your files to the Internet, you are entrusting your personal information to the safekeeping of someone else. The safest backup is always going to be a "hard backup," such as a floppy disk, CD or DVD.

all of the additional info about this secondary storage is taken from

http://www.ehow.com/about_5087863_internet-hard-drive.html

then, what about floppy disks??

this secondary storage were once widely used before.

it is because it is portable.

normally used to transport relatively small word processing, spreadsheet and etc.

according to the web:

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-floppy-disks.htm

Floppy disks are small, removable, media storage devices. They record data onto a thin, circular magnetic film encased in a flat, square plastic jacket. Floppy disks are somewhat antiquated, having been replaced by memory sticks and re-writable CD storage devices.
Original floppy disks were 8-inch floppies used in 1971-1975, but the first floppy disks that were widely used commercially were 5.25-inch disks. These floppy disks were quite flexible and required a 5.25-inch floppy drive. The disks could store up to 360 kilobytes (KB) of data, or about one third of a single megabyte. Later, high-density floppy disks held 1.2 megabytes (MB) of data. These floppy disks were widely used until about 1987.