Storage and media
When it comes to data storage, consumers all seem to agree - the more space, the better! Media storage devices became popular with the invention of the floppy disc and have since expanded into their own vibrant enterprise. Floppy discs are now a relic and once dominant CDs are in danger of being phased out as well in favor of smaller, more secure forms of storage. The history of media storage begins long before the advent of the floppy disc. In 1946, RCA developed the first computer memory device called the Selectron tube. A decade later, IBM introduced magnetic tape as an alternative to old fashioned punch cards; this tape became the industry standard up until the 1980s (cassettes are simply a condensed form of magnetic tape). Floppy discs replaced magnetic tape at that point and cornered the market until the late 1990s. During the 1990s, CDs emerged and eventually cornered the data storage market. Presently, CDs remain at the top of the game, though ultra compact flash drives are quickly closing in. For users with large capacity needs, external network storage machines can provide the necessary space, though without the convenience of portability.
