Small files and everyday use
Floppy disks are fine for small file transfer. As files get bigger, though, a floppy frequently isn't enough. Plus, not all computers include floppy drives these days.

An external superfloppy drive, like Iomega's Jaz, uses disks that can handle up 2 gigabytes (GB) of data. It's an ideal solution for copying and distributing everyday office files like PowerPoint presentations and digital photos, provided there's a drive on the other end to read the disk.

Fatter files and occasional accessing
If you want to permanently copy files that will be regularly accessed, take a look at a writable CD drive. These devices can record up to 650 MB of data on each disc. They are often used to copy multimedia files, large numbers of very high-resolution photos, or customer databases. And at less than $2 a disc, the cost of storage is a fairly economical solution.

Writable DVD drives have recently entered the market. They can record up to 5.2 GB of data on double-sided disks and have been receiving a lot of attention lately; the current standard available is called DVD-RAM.

Regularly scheduled backups
Computer backup systems help businesses protect against both system failures and business catastrophes by providing a safe way to back up and store copies of data outside the office.

The oldest and least expensive option is the tape drive. Storage capacity for some of today's tape drives has reached 50 GB on a single cartridge.

But there are alternatives to tape, if your storage needs aren't astronomical. Many storage devices can archive your data starting in the gigabyte (GB) range. For example, a removable hard disk like Iomega's Jaz drive can hold up to 2 GB of data per disk.

Generally speaking, if you don't plan to access the backed-up data frequently, you're better off basing your decision on the cost of backup. That typically means a tape drive will be your most economical solution. While the difference may only be pennies per MB, that can definitely add up over time. See Price Guide