Application Exercises Analyzing Growth
3-21. Excel Application: Analyzing Growth in Computer Storage Capacities
Pg. 89: Managing ICT Assets with a Database.
Since the computer hard drive was invented in 1956, a constantly increasing data storage capacity has been available at an ever-decreasing cost. Use the historical data of hard drive capacities and prices shown in Figure 3-29 (or download the Excel file named CH03Ex01). Modify the spreadsheet so that it includes a new column containing formulas that calculate a common measure of disk size (GB) and a second new column that computes the cost per GB for each year. (Recall 1 gigabyte = 1,024 megabytes; 1 terabyte = 1,024 gigabytes.) Now, create one line graph to show the cost per gigabyte from the period 1995 to 2016. Create a second line graph to show changes in the size of hard disks across the same period. (Tip: Use the “Hide” function to cover the columns you don’t need for each graph.) Write a brief summary of the trends you found. What factors have contributed to these trends? What are the implications of these trends?
Solve in this table
| Year | Size | Price | common measure of disk size (GB) | cost per GB |
| 1980 | 26 MB | $5,000 | ||
| 1981 | 63 MB | $2,895 | ||
| 1983 | 20 MB | $3,495 | ||
| 1984 | 20 MB | $2,399 | ||
| 1987 | 40 MB | $1,799 | ||
| 1989 | 20 MB | $899 | ||
| 1995 | 1.7 GB | $1,499 | ||
| 1996 | 3.2 GB | $469 | ||
| 1997 | 7.0 GB | $670 | ||
| 1998 | 8.4 GB | $382 | ||
| 1999 | 19.2 GB | $512 | ||
| 2000 | 27.3 GB | $375 | ||
| 2001 | 40 GB | $238 | ||
| 2002 | 100 GB | $230 | ||
| 2003 | 120 GB | $168 | ||
| 2004 | 250 GB | $250 | ||
| 2006 | 390 GB | $106 | ||
| 2008 | 1 TB | $200 | ||
| 2010 | 1.5 TB | $220 | ||
| 2011 | ||||
| 2012 | ||||
| 2013 | ||||
| 2014 | ||||
| 2015 | ||||
| 2016 | ||||
Figure 3-29
Hard drive capacities and costs by year.