Portable File Storage
Portable storage devices can be used to backup files and transfer them between different computers. There are many different types of portable file storage, but the three main types as of the Spring of 2008 - USB drives, external hard drives, and CDs/DVDs - are outlined below. In addition, ITS offers two different types of online or network storage to students, faculty, and staff that can also be used for backing up and storing data.
USB Drives
The USB drive is the most popular and convenient storage device on the market. They are around the size of a key and plug into the USB port on computers. Both PCs and Macs will automatically detect them and files can be dragged and dropped onto the drive. USB drives can be found for relatively cheap, as low as $5 per GB of storage. With its low price, small size, and decent capacity, USB Drives are the most popular portable file storage option for most people.
External Hard Drives
The External Hard Drive is a common desktop or laptop hard drive that is placed in an external shell to allow it to be transported. These hard drives typically have a USB interface, so they are compatible with nearly all computers. External Hard Drives can commonly be found in capacities ranging from 80GB to 750GB and are ideal for data backup. Because they are much larger in size then USB drives, they are not as portable, as portability is sacrificed for storage size. 250 GB drives can be found for around $80, and 500 GB drives for around $150.
CDs/DVDs
CDs and DVDs come in many different varieties and provide a decent amount of storage space. CD-Rs are one time use only and can store 700MB of data, while CD-RWs can be re-written multiple times while storing 700 MB as well. DVD-+Rs are one time use only, and can hold 4.7GB, while DVD-+RWs can hold the same amount of data and can be re-written. DVD-DLs are dual layer DVDs and can have 8.5GB written to them one time. With the advent of devices such as USB drives and inexpensive external hard drives, CDs and DVDs have become less useful as portable storage. However, they can be handy when it comes to backing up music or movies from a computer.
UI Online/Network Storage - MyFiles and Xythos
MyFiles is a University of Iowa online storage service that can be found at http://myfiles.uiowa.edu. MyFiles can be accessed through a basic web interface from any computer with internet access or, with a bit more configuration, as a separate "drive" on your PC or Mac. Although the storage capacity is much lower than you can find in an external hard drive or USB drive, MyFiles is a quick and convenient way to store files without having to carry around a physical device. See the Help Desk MyFiles Support Site for more information.
Xythos is another online storage service provided by ITS for University of Iowa students, faculty, and staff (http://xythos.uiowa.edu). Like MyFiles, Xythos accounts can be accessed from any computer with an internet connection. In addition to file storage, Xythos also allows you to share files with both UI and non-UI affiliated users. See the Help Desk Xythos Support Site for more information.
Return to Computer Buying Guide
Last Updated: 05/16/2008