<P> A second generation of tape recorders was provided when videocassette recorders were pressed into service as backup media for larger disk drives . All these systems were less reliable and slower than purpose - built magnetic tape drives . Such tape drives were uncommon in consumer - type personal computers but were a necessity in business or industrial use . Interchange of data such as photographs from digital cameras is greatly expedited by installation of a card reader, which is often compatible with several forms of flash memory devices . It is usually faster and more convenient to move large amounts of data by removing the card from the mobile device, instead of communicating with the mobile device through a USB interface . </P> <P> A USB flash drive performs much of the data transfer and backup functions formerly done with floppy drives, Zip disks and other devices . Mainstream operating systems for personal computers provide built - in support for USB flash drives, allowing interchange even between computers with different processors and operating systems . The compact size and lack of moving parts or dirt - sensitive media, combined with low cost and high capacity, have made USB flash drives a popular and useful accessory for any personal computer user . </P> <P> The operating system can be located on any storage, but is typically installed on a hard disk or solid - state drive . A Live CD represents the concept of running an operating system directly from a CD . While this is slow compared to storing the operating system on a hard disk drive, it is typically used for installation of operating systems, demonstrations, system recovery, or other special purposes . Large flash memory is currently more expensive than hard disk drives of similar size (as of mid-2014) but are starting to appear in laptop computers because of their low weight, small size and low power requirements . Computer communications involve internal modem cards, modems, network adapter cards, and routers . Common peripherals and adapter cards include headsets, joysticks, microphones, printers, scanners, sound adapter cards (as a separate card rather than located on the motherboard), speakers and webcams . </P> <P> Computer software is any kind of computer program, procedure, or documentation that performs some task on a computer system . The term includes application software such as word processors that perform productive tasks for users, system software such as operating systems that interface with computer hardware to provide the necessary services for application software, and middleware that controls and co-ordinates distributed systems . </P>

What do personal computers use to be part of a network
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