Cnet posted Buyer's Guide to Storage
"..Want a fatter PC? If you're looking to beef up your machine, you'll need extra storage space. Storage products encompass everything your computer needs in order to hold data, from hard drives to the tiny memory cards used with digital cameras. What people want to do with the data they save is as varied as the data itself. We created this guide on storage to give an overview of your options.
Hard Drives
The good: Large storage capacity and the fastest read/write access times around--a long-term, low-cost option. / The bad: Media is not portable, and someday you might outgrow it.
CD-R and CD-RW Drives
The good: Low initial and continuing costs; media can be read by MultiRead CD-ROMs and DVD-ROMs; great for long-term storage; you can even make audio CDs. / The bad: Slow read and write speeds (most write at 2X and read at 6X); CD-R discs can be written once only.
DVD-RAM Drives
The good: Tons of storage; versatile; inexpensive media. / The bad: Expensive drives; slower than hard drive storage; DVD-RAM discs play only on DVD-RAM drives.." NULL
Hard Drives
The good: Large storage capacity and the fastest read/write access times around--a long-term, low-cost option. / The bad: Media is not portable, and someday you might outgrow it.
CD-R and CD-RW Drives
The good: Low initial and continuing costs; media can be read by MultiRead CD-ROMs and DVD-ROMs; great for long-term storage; you can even make audio CDs. / The bad: Slow read and write speeds (most write at 2X and read at 6X); CD-R discs can be written once only.
DVD-RAM Drives
The good: Tons of storage; versatile; inexpensive media. / The bad: Expensive drives; slower than hard drive storage; DVD-RAM discs play only on DVD-RAM drives.." NULL