Difference Between Flash Drives & Hard Drives
Flash drives store files for transfer from one computer to another. They are portable and convenient. Hard drives usually store computer operating systems within a computer and hold much more data. They are heavier and bulkier than flash drives.
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Hard Drive
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Platter and actuator arm of a hard drive A hard drive is a machine that physically stores data. A mechanical actuator arm reads and writes magnetic data stored on spinning platters.
Flash Drive
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These are flash drives. A flash drive typically is much smaller than a hard drive and has no moving parts. These drives typically plug into USB ports and can quickly and easily store computer files.
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How a Flash Drive Works
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Electric charges store data on transistors separated by a thin oxide layer. This allows the memory in flash drives to maintain data even without an electrical charge.
Noise Levels
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Because hard drives have moving parts, they make some sound when reading and writing. Flash memory is silent.
Storage Space
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Hard drives can store up to 2 terabytes, while flash drives can store a maximum of 128 GB. This data is based on the December 2009 market availability.
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References
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- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Matt Rudge Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of christyxcore
