puter inserialform:
the
information is recorded
on
the
tape
as a
row
of data. If
you
have a list of
names
and
addresses
stored
on
a
cassette
and
you
want
to
recall
the
last
name
on
the
tape,
the
computer
has
to
read
all of
the
names
on
the
tape
until it finds
the
last one. This
can
be
very
time-consuming.
Much
of
the
software
for
advanced
uses,
such
as
business applications, isonly available on floppy
disks. The ability to access information in this
manner
allows
your
computer
to
create
exten-
.
sive file^
the
computer
uses
the
disk drive as an
extension
of
the
computer's
memory.
Disk
drives
are
also
a
more
economical
means
of
storage after the
initial
purchase. A single floppy
disk will
store
the
equivalent
of six
cassette
tapes
and
is
just
slightly more expensive
than
a
quality cassette tape. Each single-sided 5
Winch
floppy disk will
store
approximately
90,000
characters of information,
or
roughlyJOO
BASIC
programs
that
are fifty lines in length.
Do
you
need
a disk drive?
Consider
your
ap
plications. The fast access
to
information
stored
on
the
floppy disk
makes
a disk drive a
near-
must
for
any
computer
system
used
in small
business
applications. If
you
plan
to
learn
pro
gramming,
you
may
need
the
additional
pro
gramming
commands
that
are available
when
using
a disk drive.
163
To Next Page
Loading...
