inside a computer or in a computer

[Shenfeng]

Hey,

1) The data is stored inside a computer.
2) The data is stored in a computer.

Which one is commoner or are they used equally?


Thanks.

[IHIVG]

I'd use 'in'.

EDIT: To answer the question what is more common:

"stored inside a computer" -- 86,900 Google hits.
"stored in a computer" -- 31,700,000 ones.

[billmcd]

Hey,

1) The data is stored inside a computer.
2) The data is stored in a computer.

Which one is commoner or are they used equally?


Thanks.

"In" is more common.

[emsr2d2]

"In" is more common.

Of the two choices, I agree that "in" is more common. However, if I may add a further choice, which I believe is more common than the other two:

It is stored ON a computer.

That sounds more natural to me. If someone said "Where do you store your digital photographs?", I would reply "On my computer", not "In my computer".

[billmcd]

I agree, but the original question was a choice between only "in" and "inside".