Windows 10 All-in-One For Dummies. Woody Leonhard

drives, you can get three hard drives — one SSD, and two hard drives, either inside the box or outside attached with USB or eSATA cables — and run Storage Spaces (see Book 7, Chapter 4).Ultimately, though, most people opt for a fast SSD for files needed immediately, coupled with cloud storage for the big stuff. Now that Google offers free unlimited photo storage — and with the rise of data streaming instead of purchased CDs — the need for giant hard drives has hit the skids.For the enthusiast, a three-tier system, with SSDs storing data you need all the time, intermediate backup in the cloud, and multi-terabyte data repositories hanging off your PC, seems to be the way to go. Privacy concerns (and the, uh, intervention of various governments) have people worried about cloud storage. Rightfully so.

       SD/xD/CF card memory: Many smaller computers, and some tablets, have built-in SD card readers. (Apple and some Google tablets don’t have SD — the companies would rather sell you more on-board memory, at inflated prices!) You probably know Secure Digital (SD) cards best as the kind of memory used in digital cameras, or possibly phones (see Figure 1-8). A microSD card may slip into a hollowed-out card that is shaped like, and functions as, an SD card. Even now, long after the demise of floppy disks, many desktop computer cases have drive bays built for them. Why not use the open spot for a multifunction card reader? That way, you can slip a memory card out of your digital camera (or your Dick Tracy wristwatch, for that matter) and transfer files at will. SD card, miniSD, microSD card, xD card, CompactFlash, memory stick — whatever you have — the multifunction readers cost a pittance and read almost everything, including minds.Source: Skcard.svg, WikimediaFIGURE 1-8: Comparative sizes of an SD, a miniSD, and a microSD card.

       CD, DVD, or Blu-ray drive: Of course, these types of drives work with CDs, DVDs, and the Sony Blu-ray discs, which can be filled with data or contain music or movies. CDs hold about 700MB of data; DVDs hold 4GB, or six times as much as a CD. Dual-layer DVDs (which use two separate layers on top of the disc) hold about 8GB, and Blu-ray discs hold 50GB, or six times as much as a dual-layer DVD.Fewer and fewer machines these days come with built-in DVD drives: If you want to schlep data from one place to another, a USB drive works fine — and going through the cloud is even easier. For most storage requirements, though, big, cheap USB drives are hard to beat.

       USB drive or key drive: Treat it like it’s a lollipop: It's half the size of a pack of gum and able to hold an entire PowerPoint presentation or two or six, plus a few full-length movies. Flash memory (also known as a jump drive, thumb drive, or memory stick) should be your first choice for external storage space or for copying files between computers. (See Figure 1-9.) You can even use USB drives on many DVD players and TV set-top boxes.Pop one of these guys in a USB slot, and suddenly Windows 10 knows it has another drive — except that this one’s fast, portable, and incredibly easy to use. It's okay to go for the cheapest flash drives you can find. Some of the features on fancy USB drives are not useful to many users.

      Source: Nrbelex, Wikimedia

      FIGURE 1-9: The inside of a USB drive.

      SOLID-STATE DRIVES HAVE PROBLEMS, TOO

      Although I love my SSD system drives and would never go back to rotating hard disk drives (HDDs), SSDs aren’t perfect.

      First, they don’t have any moving parts, and it looks like they’re more reliable than HDDs. But when an HDD starts to go belly up, you can usually tell: whirring and gnashing, whining and groaning. Expiring SSDs don’t give off any advanced warning signals. Or at least sounds.

      When an HDD dies, you can frequently get the data back, although it can be expensive and time-consuming. When an SSD goes, you rarely get a second chance.

      SSDs must take care of lots of internal bookkeeping, both for trimming unused space and for load balancing to guarantee uniform wear patterns. SSDs slow down after you’ve used them for a few months, or years. The speed decrease is usually associated with the bookkeeping programs kicking in over time.

      Finally, the SSD’s own software has to be ultra-reliable. SSDs don’t lay down tracks sequentially like HDDs. They hopscotch all over the place, and the firmware inside the SSD needs to keep up.

What about USB 3? If you have a hard drive that sits outside of your computer — an external drive — or a USB drive, it’ll run faster if it’s designed for USB 3 and attached to a USB 3 connector. Expect performance with USB 3 that’s three to five times as fast as USB 2. For most other outside devices, USB 3 is overkill, and USB 2 works just as well.

      This list is by no means definitive: New storage options come out every day.

      Making PC connections

      Your PC connects to the outside world by using a bewildering variety of cables and connectors. I describe the most common in this list:

       USB (Universal Serial Bus) cable: This cable has a flat connector that plugs in to your PC, known as USB A (see Figure 1-10). The other end is sometimes shaped like a D (called USB B), but smaller devices have tiny terminators (usually called USB mini and USB micro, each of which can have two different shapes).Source: Amazon BasicsFIGURE 1-10: The most common USB A, B, C, mini, and micro USB cables. USB 2 connectors work with any device, but hardware — such as a hard drive — that uses USB 3 will be much faster if you use a USB 3 cable and plug it into the back of your computer in a USB 3 port. USB 2 works with USB 3 devices, but you won’t get the additional speed. Note that not all PCs, especially older ones, have USB 3 ports.USB-C is a special kind of USB connection that supports amazingly fast data transmission and high levels of power. You know when you have USB-C because it’s impossible to insert the plug upside-down — both sides work equally well. It’s becoming the go-to choice for connecting peripherals and, in some cases, power supplies. USB is the connector of choice for just about any kind of hardware — printer, scanner, smartphone, digital camera, portable hard drive, and even the mouse. Apple’s iPhones and iPads use a USB connector on one side — to plug in to your computers — but the other side is Thunderbolt (common on Apple devices, not so common on Windows PCs), and doesn’t look or act like any other connector.If you run out of USB connections on the back of your PC, get a USB hub with a separate power supply and plug away.

        LAN cable: Also known as a CAT-5, CAT-6, or RJ-45 cable, it’s the most common kind of network connector. It looks like an overweight telephone plug (see Figure 1-11). One end plugs in to your PC, typically into a network interface card (or NIC, pronounced “nick”), a network connector on the motherboard. The other end plugs in to your wireless router (see Figure 1-12) or switch or into a cable modem, DSL box, router, or other Internet connection-sharing device.

        Keyboard and mouse cable: Most mice and keyboards (even cordless mice and keyboards) come with USB connectors.Source: David Monniaux, WikimediaFIGURE 1-11: RJ-45 Ethernet LAN connector.FIGURE 1-12: The back of a wireless router.

       Bluetooth is a short-distance wireless connection. Once upon a time, Bluetooth was very finicky and hard to set up. Since the recent adoption of solid standards, Bluetooth’s become quite useful. It's now used for connecting all kinds of accessories, including speakers, headsets, mice, and keyboards.

       DVI-D and HDMI connectors: Although older monitors still use legacy, 15-pin, HD15 VGA connectors, most monitors and video cards now use the small HDMI connector (see Figure 1-13), which transmits both audio and video over one cable. Some older monitors don’t support HDMI