Compared to diskettes (floppy disks), hard disks in a computer are generally which of the following?

Introduction / Context:
Historically, personal computers used several types of magnetic storage, including floppy disks (diskettes) and hard disks. Although floppy disks have become obsolete, many examination questions still compare them with hard disks to test understanding of storage characteristics. Factors such as cost, capacity, access speed, portability, and physical strength are commonly discussed. This question asks which statement correctly describes hard disks compared to diskettes.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The comparison is between hard disks and floppy diskettes.
• Options mention portability, access speed, cost, and physical rigidity.
• We assume the older era when both types of media were available.
• Hard disks stored much more data and were fixed inside the computer in most cases.

Concept / Approach:
Hard disks have much higher capacity and faster access times than floppy disks. They were originally more expensive components of a computer system, though they provided far more storage per device. Floppy disks are removable, small, and light, making them more portable than traditional fixed internal hard drives. Hard disks are rigid metal or glass platters, often enclosed in a protective case, and are physically more robust than the flexible plastic media of diskettes. Access time on hard disks is also significantly faster than on floppy drives. Therefore, the correct statement from the options is that hard disks are more expensive, but they offer much higher capacity and speed than diskettes.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Evaluate portability. Floppy diskettes were small, removable, and easy to carry; hard disks in desktop systems were usually fixed inside the case and not meant to be carried around, so hard disks are not more portable. Step 2: Evaluate access speed. Hard disks spin faster and have advanced read write heads, leading to much faster access times than the slow spinning floppy drives. Step 3: Evaluate cost. Historically, hard disks were more expensive components compared to individual floppy diskettes. Step 4: Evaluate rigidity. The term hard disk comes from the rigid platters; floppy disks are physically flexible, so hard disks are more rigid, not less. Step 5: Select the option that correctly combines cost and performance. Option C states that hard disks are more expensive but offer much higher capacity and speed, which matches reality.

Verification / Alternative check:
Technical comparisons from the period when both media were common show that floppy disks typically stored 1.44 MB, whereas hard disks stored many megabytes or gigabytes, with faster seek and transfer rates. Hard drives were indeed more costly hardware items but offered far better performance and capacity. Portability guides described floppies as convenient for moving small files between machines, while hard disks were considered fixed storage. The term hard refers to rigid platters, confirming that they are not less rigid than floppy media. This evidence supports option C as the correct statement.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A (More portable): Floppy diskettes are more portable; hard disks are usually internal devices. Option B (More slowly accessed): Hard disks are significantly faster than floppy disks, so this statement is false. Option D (Less rigid): The opposite is true; floppy disks are flexible, whereas hard disks use rigid platters.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes misinterpret the phrase more expensive and assume the exam is asking which device is cheaper. Others may focus only on one attribute, such as speed, without considering that the statement must be fully accurate. The distractor about portability is tempting because many people now use portable external hard drives, but the comparison in textbooks is usually with fixed internal hard disks. Keeping the historical context in mind helps you select the answer that hard disks are more expensive yet provide much higher capacity and speed than diskettes.

Final Answer:
Compared to diskettes, hard disks are more expensive but offer much higher capacity and speed.