cessed, but that may be needed in the future, cannot be stored in primary storage because primary storage is volatile. Secondary storage, on the other hand, is nonvolatile, and so it is used to store data and programs needed in the future."
             * Different types of storage devices are optimal for different situations. Explain what situations are appropriate for the following devices and explain why:
             "Magnetic disk is the main form of secondary storage on most computers because it enables large volumes of data to be stored or retrieved rapidly. In addition, data can be accessed randomly or sequentially. Because of these characteristics, many computers use magnetic disk as their sole form of secondary storage." Optimal for system software hosting and application hosting, because it is "permanent" memory.
             portable magnetic disks (see a) - growing obsolete due to the advent of CD-RW's and DVD-RW's; appropriate for smaller files that need portability but don't require the byte-space taken up by larger files.
             "Random access [memory] means that data in any part of the primary storage can be retrieved (accessed) in any order (i.e., randomly). RAM is the main type of primary storage used with computers and, as you know, it is volatile." Appropriate for spooled documents to the printer, or viewing pages on the web.
             "...disks used with CD-ROMs and DVD-ROMs contain prerecorded data such as a computerized encyclopedia or a movie video." Appropriate for portability purposes - allows larger files to be stored (has more room than floppies).
             "Magnetic tape is not used as the main form of secondary storage on a computer because tape data can only be accessed sequentially, and usually an information system needs to access some data randomly. Normally, tape is used along with magnetic disk on a computer. Tapes are much less expens
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