Disk storage

Disk storage is a group of [data storage]? mechanisms for computers; data is transfered to planar surfaces or disks for temporary or permanent storage. In the early 1960s single data bits were stored as magnetic charges in magnetic [core memory]?. The scientists at IBM in San Jose, California successfully created a rotating drum that was coated in a magnetically polarizable film that could be used to store data by changing and sensing magnetic polarization. The drum was superseded by disks, as the lower mass and inertia allowed smaller and lighter devices.

In musical and audio data storage, the first devices were also drums, which were popularized by Thomas Edison. These were replaced by vinyl recording disks called records?. From the 1950s through the 1980s, audio recordings were also done on magnetic tape media of several types. These were mostly replaced by compact disc technology, where the data is recorded in a digital format as optical? information. This compact disc technology has been widely accepted, and data storage, using writable compact disks or CD-R devices is very common.

For now see floppy disk or hard disk or compact disc.

Appropriate for this page would be things common to all disk based storage devices, that is a discussion of rotation (CLV, CAV). Low level formatting tracks, sector?s, cylinder?s, platter?s, heads. rotational delay, seek time.