| Today's home computers have some wonderful | | | | how far we have progressed even in just the last |
| features. The digital age has brought together some of | | | | twenty years! |
| our favorite past times and hobbies, such as | | | | The digital age has also drastically changed the way |
| photography, videos, and music. | | | | we store our precious photos and files. I imagine most |
| Not that long ago, all of these activities were very | | | | people rely on their home computer for storing their |
| much separated. | | | | digital media, which makes sense. It has a much larger |
| Photos taken with a film camera had to be developed | | | | hard drive and memory than a camera or an MP3 |
| into slides or prints in order to view and share them. If | | | | (music file) player. |
| you wanted to send photos to relatives or friends, you | | | | This is all well and good as long as your computer and |
| had to pay for more print copies and send them in the | | | | hard drive are in good working order. But as we all |
| mail. The photos themselves were most likely stored in | | | | know, machines break, and if you are prepared for it, it |
| a photo album or a box of some kind that ends up in | | | | can be a minor inconvenience. However, if you are not |
| the basement or attic. | | | | prepared, it can be a huge disaster. |
| Video tape recordings had to be played back on a | | | | Being prepared in the computer world means having a |
| VCR so that you could view the tape on your | | | | backup of your photos, videos, music, and data. |
| television. The video tape cassettes were stored in | | | | Without a proper backup, you are really taking a |
| some kind of container or cabinet. | | | | gamble on whether you will be able to enjoy your |
| To listen to music you had to turn on a radio or a | | | | memorable moments in the future. A hard drive crash |
| stereo system. Vinyl records were the only way to | | | | can result in a complete loss of your data in an instant. |
| purchase music at one time and you needed a | | | | Sometimes the data can be recovered by various |
| turntable or record player to play them. Next came | | | | means and sometimes not. There is no guarantee. |
| music cassette tapes which made it possible to listen | | | | There are companies that will charge a hefty amount |
| to your favorites in your car. | | | | to attempt to recover your data, but again the results |
| Of course, all of this happened in the "pre-digital age". | | | | are not guaranteed. |
| Nowadays, we take photos with our digital camera | | | | So how much are photos of your family worth? You |
| and can view them immediately. No more film to buy | | | | can't put a price on such things. Why risk it? External |
| and process. We take videos with our digital video | | | | USB hard drives are coming down in price every |
| camera, no tape, just a memory card or a hard drive. | | | | week. As of this writing you can get a 160 gigabyte |
| We no longer have to go to a store to buy music. We | | | | external USB drive for around $60. That will probably |
| download it from the internet. It seems like the | | | | sound ridiculously high a year from now. Even the USB |
| compact disc came and went in the blink of an eye as | | | | jump drives that you can carry in your pocket like a |
| far as music is concerned! I know that you can still | | | | package of gum are increasing in size. Recently, the |
| purchase music CD's, but for how much longer? | | | | upper limit is about 15GB, but it has probably increased |
| Now, all of this "digital media" from our various hobbies | | | | even as I finish this sentence. Backing up your |
| and activities can be brought together into one location | | | | important data has never been easier than it is right |
| where they can be manipulated and edited into one | | | | now. There is no excuse and you can't say that you |
| glorious presentation. A vacation video complete with | | | | haven't been warned. |
| music and dialogue is quite easily done by anyone at | | | | Do yourself a big favor and back up your PC as soon |
| home with the right software. Yes! The personal | | | | as possible! |
| computer has made all of this possible. Isn't it amazing | | | | |