Data CDs store various file types and offer 680-700 MB of storage space. They are useful for backups, storing sensitive files, and transferring data. CD-Rs are write-once and less expensive, while CD-RWs can be rewritten but are more expensive.
A data CD is a compact disc formatted for storing files. File types typically stored on these CDs might include compressed zip files, word processing documents, spreadsheets, text files, graphics, QuickTime-style movie files, or MP3 music files.
A single data CD typically offers 680-700 megabytes (MB) of storage space, providing a respectable chunk of space for creating backups of anything from your MP3 libraries to your favorite shows. These CDs are also useful for storing sensitive files that are best kept off your computer’s hard drive where they could be subject to keyloggers, snooping or virus corruption. This could include financial records, business records, investment or tax files, and so on.
In addition to archiving, a data CD can also be used to easily transfer large amounts of data, presentations or programs to another computer. As large virtual disks, they are highly portable and fairly indestructible given a little care in handling. Just four CDs provide over 2.5 gigabytes of storage power.
Data CDs come in two basic flavors: CD-R (recordable) and CD-RW (rewritable). The difference is in formatting and price. A CD-R is sometimes called a “write-once” CD because once something is recorded on it, it can’t be rewritten. Information can be added until the disc is full, but the CD is not rewritable. CD-R is less expensive than CD-RW and is most often used as an audio CD to burn music in the standard .cda format, which can be played on any CD player.
A CD-RW can be rewritten many times by erasing and rewriting information. For this reason it is often called a data CD because it is more convenient for storing dynamic or changeable information such as backups and data files. However, these CDs are more expensive than rewritable CDs. For this reason, and because CDs contain so much data anyway, many people use CD-Rs as data CDs and simply buy new ones when they run out of space.
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