Data Storage

Every laptop computer should include a hard disk drive and at least one drive for removable media. Today, the removable drive is usually a combined CD/DVD drive that may or may not support recordable DVDs. In some systems, the CD/DVD drive is a removable module that a user can replace with an optional floppy disk drive or an extra battery. Many laptops also include readers for flash media.

Hard disk drives

The hard disk drive inside your laptop computer is physically smaller than the ones in desktop systems, which means that the maximum capacity for data storage is considerably less than in a desktop system with a physically larger disk drive.

Many manufacturers offer the same or similar models with more than one drive size. If you have a choice, it's probably worth the extra money to order a computer with a bigger drive, especially if you expect to store music files or videos on it. However, the drives with the largest capacity also cost more than smaller drives, so the best choice is probably someplace in the middle of the range. When you run out of space on the internal drive, you can always add a second, external drive through a USB port.

CD and DVD drives

Lower-priced laptops generally include an optical drive that can read and write CDs, but can only read data DVDs and play videos-more expensive drives can also store data on DVDs. If your computer does not come with DVD player software for movies and videos, you can download a free player from http://www.cliprex.com or http://www.xinehq.de/, or use the same RealPlayer or Windows Media Player programs that you use to listen to audio through the computer.

Flash drives

At some point, you may want to transfer files from the flash memory cards in your digital camera, sound recorder, and other digital device to your computer. You can connect the camera or recorder directly to your computer through a USB or FireWire cable, but it's often more convenient to remove the flash card and let the computer read the files directly. Some laptops include built-in sockets for the most popular flash card formats; if yours does not, you can use an inexpensive card reader that connects to the computer through a USB cable, or an adapter on a PC Card. Unfortunately, flash media come in about half a dozen different shapes and sizes, so it's essential to make sure you choose a card reader that supports the type of cards you use.