RAM is the computer's drafting table. If you only have a little RAM, the computer can only use small programs or can only open small designs. As the amount of RAM that is loaded into your computer grows, so too does the number and size of different programs that can run simultaneously. Storage space is different from RAM in that it is more permanent and you can control precisely what goes into it. When you buy a floppy disk you usually have to format it first.
Tapes come in all forms and sizes.
Some computers come equipped with a tape drive that allows you to read and write to them. Tapes can contain from 80 Megs to 1 Gig. Both Zip and Syquest as popular examples. They employ a separate drive that plugs into your computer. Some of the machines in this lab are equiped with Zip drives.