Types of Disk Files: Optical or Magnetic

Monday, March 3, 2008

CD duplication and the technology options that have followed have allowed for new possibilities to be approached with CDs and what is needed in order to have a professional look as well as the correct data in place.  One of the recent developments within this area is with optical disks and the capability to create better options within the CD distribution industry.  This creation is one that is continuing to grow and allow for better services with CDs.


Optical disks are created by taking light to a blank disk.  This disk is then read and written.  The light has the capacity to hold the necessary information for the optical disks and to record all of the necessary data and designs through this light.  The abilities with creating this type of technology has allowed not only for new levels of professionalism within disks, but has also created better options for disk distribution. 


Within the line of optical disks are also magnetic disks.  These types of disks are used for storing information on computers by taking a magnet and recording the information and data that is being stored into a specific area.  In a CD, the magnetic disks are defined by tracks, which are located in small circles around the CD.  Each of these tracks are divided into sectors, which then contain a certain amount of storage in each sector. 


The magnetic disks began to be developed as far back as records and have continued into floppy and zip disks.  These are a common way to manufacture disks and are still often used in order to write CDs, DVDs and various other formats in disks.  When using this type of formatting, there is the possibility of re-writing over the disk and altering the storage and information that is used.  This is because of the use of the magnetic tape that is being used. 


With the evolution of the copy protection needs within CDs and disks, has also been the movement into the new technology of optical disks.  The major reason why these are now preferred over magnetic disks are because of the ability to write a CD without the ability to re-write over it.  Once the data is stored, they stay with that data.  This; however, depends on the format that is being used, with some CD types, such as CD-RWs still having the capacity to re-write. 


Another reason why optical disks are becoming more popular is because of the endurance levels that they have.  Generally, optical disks are known to last for a longer period of time even if they are in extreme cold or hot temperatures.  They can also endure crashes and corruptions that were popular with magnetic disks.  This would often times happen because of stray magnetic fields or other components that would interfere with the CDs and stop them from functioning, playing or keeping the stored data in place. 


The development of optical disks has not stopped at the major capabilities that are allowing for a change in disk formatting.  There are now newer technologies that are based around better options for disk formatting as well as for convenience within the CD.  Some optical disks, for instance, have multiple levels as well as storage spaces that are divided for protection needs and legalities.  This allows those who are duplicating CDs to create several types of data to be stored into a CD as well as divide and organize the information that is in each area.  This has become an option to the tracks and has allowed for better uses of the CD to be available. 


The concepts that are available within CD writing is also one that has created new ways to develop, duplicate and store CDs.  No matter what type of formatting or what the needs for the CD, there is the ability to have more available characteristics and capacities with the technology that is being used.

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