Differences between optical and magnetic storage devices are how they store and retrieve data. Both devices are used for long term data storage. However, magnetic storage devices such as hard disk exists because of huge storage capacity and optical storage devices such as CD exists because of it’s portability feature.
Optical Storage Devices:
Optical storage devices are flat, round disks which spins around its center. The difference with magnetic storage devices is that in optical storage devices LASER light is used to read and write data in disks. Examples are CD, DVD etc.
Read More: Write short notes on Optical Storage Device
Magnetic Storage Devices:
The most common type of storage device is magnetic storage device. In magnetic storage devices, data is stored on a magnetized medium. Magnetic storage use different patterns of magnetization to in a magnetizable medium to store data.
Read More: Write short notes on Magnetic Storage Devices
Basic Differences Between Optical and Magnetic Storage Devices:
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Optical Storage Devices
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Magnetic Storage Devices
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1
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Stores data as patterned image
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Stores data in magnetic form
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2
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Optical storage devices offer lesser capacity
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Magnetic storage devices offer much higher capacity
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3
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Requires LASER light to read and write data onto the disc
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Doesn’t require LASER heads to read and write data
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4
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Slower data read and write
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Faster data read and write
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5
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Data on the disk will not be damaged by magnetic fields
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Magnetic field can destroy the data stored on Magnetic storage devices
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6
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Optical storages can be readable, writable and re-writable
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Magnetic storage devices are always readable and re-writable
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7
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Optical storage devices require additional drives to function
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Almost all magnetic storage devices comes with built-in drives
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8
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Easy and safe to take around
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Not as safe as optical storage devices to take around
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