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expensive storage that persists without electricity. A hard disk consists of rotating
platters, which are coated with a magnetic material, and read/write heads, which can
detect and change the patterns of varying magnetic flux on the platters. This is
essentially the same recording and playback process that is used in audio or video
tapes.
Data and programs are stored in primary storage (memory) and secondary storage
(such as a hard disk).
Some computers are self-contained units, whereas others are interconnected through
networks. Home computers are usually intermittently connected to the Internet via a
dialup or broadband connection. The computers in your computer lab are probably
permanently connected to a local area network. Through the n etwork cabling, the
computer can read programs from central storage locations or send data to other
computers. For the user of a networked computer, it may not even be obvious which
data reside on the computer itself and which are transmitted through the network.
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Figure 2
A Memory Module with Memory Chips
Most computers have removable storage devices that can access data or programs on
media such as floppy disks, tapes, or compact discs (CDs).
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