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Data Storage

  • There are two primary types of memory card readers based on whether they’re intended to be used whether it’s internal or external. There are excellent models available in both designs, but external ones are easier to set up and use with a lot of different hardware options. In comparing them, you’ll primarily want to look for fast transfer speeds with an eye toward USB 3.0 connections. You’ll also want to find models that support as many different types of memory cards as possible. Not every reader out there offers support for every type of memory card on the market, so look at each one carefully to be sure it can read the types you need.We’ve chosen these best memory card readers in 2022 because they offer the best speed and performance thanks to support for USB 3.0, which offers great data rates while being backwards compatible with USB 2.0. All of these readers support at least SecureDigital (SD) cards, along with micro SD and CompactFlash (CF). These models also offer support for Ultra High Speed (UHS) cards that give you excellent read/write speeds with your memory cards. Additionally, these are all external models so you can easily use them with a wide range of computers without the need for installation or removing them from one computer to use with another.
    April 07, 2016
  • A secure digital (SD) card is a type of memory card used in a wide range of products, from digital cameras and home surveillance systems to mobile phones. These cards are small and offer non-volatile memory that remains stored even if there's no power being supplied to the card from an external device. As technology has evolved, and more and more data can be stored at a smaller size, these cards have also developed into various sizes, speeds, and memory amounts. With the right reader or small adapter devices, you can read from just about any SD card on any type of computer. This lets you store impressive amounts of images and data on a tiny card, and transfer it all to another device for viewing or other use. There are quite a few different manufacturers of SD cards, and they offer a wide range of products, so take a look at our picks for the best SD Cards in 2022 and the buyer’s guide below before making a choice.
    February 02, 2016
  • Flash drives come in all shapes and sizes. Ranging in capacity from less than 1GB to more than 256GB, a flash drive can be just enough to carry the files you need to a meeting, house your entire music and movie collection, and more. Depending on your needs and your lifestyle, USB 2.0 flash drives are standard and have lower prices versus the new, blazing-fast USB 3.0 standard that moves your files faster than ever. Flash drives can also be for those who need top-notch security for peace of mind with their files. All in all, there are all sorts of flash drives. Depending on your needs, you may need a bare-bones one for a few dollars or the most secure and durable one that costs hundreds of dollars— it all depends on your digital storage needs. Check out our list for the best flash drives in 2022 to learn more.
    July 29, 2015
  • Compact Flash cards are frequently used with digital cameras and can store a wide range of different types of data. As you look at different cards, consider the speeds of each one which will give you faster data transfer rates while making it easier to take large HD photos with a camera. It’s also important to consider the maximum size of a card as well as the options available for other storage sizes.These are CompactFlash cards which provide the best speed and performance thanks to the fastest transfer rates available. You get a minimum of 85MB/s as the fastest rate on these cards, though some of them can get up to as fast as 160MB/s for incredible read/write speeds. The maximum data size on these CompactFlash cards is excellent, with maximum storage sizes of at least 64GB although some of them are as large as 256GB. You also get a wide selection of data amounts to choose from and most of these cards are available in at least four different storage sizes. Lastly, all of these best compactflash cards in 2022 are made to be very durable and come with lifetime warranties from the manufacturers.
    July 06, 2015
  • We’ve come a long way in the last 50 years in regards to technology. From machines that took up entire rooms of space to devices that are thousands of times as powerful while fitting in the palm of your hand, we’ve seen computers come and go at breakneck speed. One technology that’s slowly phasing out is the hard disk drive. While it was heralded as a miracle in bulk data storage during its invention, it’s now being replaced by smaller, faster, and more reliable storage solutions: solid-state drives, or SSDs. The best SSDs will give you transfer speeds hundreds of times faster than your old hard disk that’s sitting in your computer right now.And even among solid-state drives, there’s a hierarchy, with newer models and designs being even faster than the much older versions. We’re here to show you some of the best SSDs that you can buy online right now, so read on.
    November 21, 2014
  • Just 20 years ago it was a wonder to have a storage device capable of storing just a gigabyte. Today, drives have exploded in size to 4TB - 4,000 times larger since - and in all sorts of shapes and sizes. While Solid State Drives (SSD) are beginning to gain momentum in the market, Hard Drives continue to be the gold standard of storage because of their cost-effectiveness, capacity, reliability, and longevity in the market. From usage in your notebooks and laptops to storage in your workstations to even mass storage for your NAS or Server, hard drives have and continue to be the very foundation of storage medium for millions of devices across the world. We've scoured the internet, putting in over 15 hours of research looking at reviews, feature breakdowns, and comparisons of over 100 different hard drives. From those, we've selected 20 which we think to be the top dogs on the market- read on to figure out the right one for you!
    August 04, 2014
  • External hard drives are a convenient solution for instantly adding more storage space without taking your computer apart. They can also be useful when larger files must be transferred between computers, or if you need your data on the go. Take a look at the list we've created for the best external hard drives in 2022.
    June 11, 2014
  • The external hard drive dock is a match made in heaven for those who want dirt-cheap hardware and hot-swap capabilities. For years PC owners have struggled with drive bays, external enclosures, and a generally problematic process of swapping drives quickly, but in recent years the dock has offered a quick and dirty way of quickly changing drives for connectivity to the PC by eSATA or USB. While you lack any protection for the drive, using docks is easier than ever, and the best hard drive docks in 2022 on this lists offer the most powerful hardware, and new software capabilities such as drive cloning, making a variety of great options available for your needs.
    April 22, 2013