【正文】
al device that attaches to the system unit is called a peripheral device. Storage Devices Storage holds data, instructions, and information for future use. Storage differs from memory, which can hold these items permanently, whereas memory holds these items only temporarily while they are being processed. A storage medium (media is the plural) is the physical material on which data, instructions, and information are stored. One monly used storage medium is a disk, which is a round, flat piece of plastic or metal on which items can be encoded, or written. A storage device is used to record and retrieve data, instructions, and information to and from a storage medium. Storage devices often function as a source of input because they transfer items from storage into memory. Four mon storage devices are a floppy disk drive, a hard disk drive, a CDROM drive, and a DVDROM drive. A disk drive is a device that reads from and writes onto a disk. A floppy disk consists of a thin, circular, flexible disk enclosed in a plastic shell. A floppy disk stores data, instructions, and information using magic patterns and can be inserted into and removed from a floppy disk drive. A ZIP DISK give is a higher capacity floppy disk that can store the equival ent of about 70standard floppy disks. A hard disk provides much greater storage capacity than a floppy disk. A hard disk usually consists of several circular disks on which data, instructions, and information are stored magically. These disks are enclos ed in an airtight, sealed case, which often is housed inside the system unit. Some hard disks are removable, which means they can be inserted and removed from a hard disk drive, much like a floppy disk. Removable disks are enclosed in plastic or metal cartridges so that they can be removed from the drive. The advantage of removable media such as a floppy disk and removable hard disk is it can be taken out of the puter and transporter or secured. Another type of disk used to store data is the pact disc . A pact disc stores data using microscopic pits, which are created or played using a CDROM drive, which is accessed or played using a CDROM drive. A variation of the standard CDROM, you can also erase and store data on a CDRW. A newer type of pact disc is a FVDROM, which has tremendous storage capacities enough for a fulllength movie. To use a DVDROM, you need a DVDROM drive. Communications Devices Communication devices enable puter users to municate and to exchange items such as data, instruction, and information with another puter. Communication devices transmit these items over transmission media, such as cable, telephone lines, or other means, used to establish a connection between two puters. A modem is a munication device that enables puters to municate via telephone lines or other means. Although modems are available as both external and internal devices, most are internal。 and sometimes generates coupons customized to your buying patterns. Even your car is equipped with puters that operate the electrical system, control the temperature, and run sophisticated antitheft devices. Computers are valuable tools. As technology advan