> Now, I've found 9tack tape to be _very_ reliable, second only to paper
> tape. Certainly a lot more reliable than EPROMs, PROMs, etc.
If kept in proper environment.
>> I had even new taps failing to record.
> Good, branded tapes, or just random cheap ones?
Branded - a pcs at 140 USD.
> The other thing is, nobody has said that you only keep one backup, right?
:)
> Keep the original EPROM, in use, and hope you don't need a backup
Shure thats why I have them - Backup isn't the bussines it's
the tool.
> Keep a copy on your PC's hard disk, for looking at, and for burning an
> EPROM from if your screwdriver slips and applies 12V to the Vcc pin of
> the EPROM...
I still use an 8085 systems for the EPROM thing :)
> Keep a copy on floppy disk or PC streamer tape, just in case you delete
> the wrong file
> Keep a copy on paper tape in case all else fails.
> And keep a copy on CD-R, 9-track, Zip, etc. Whatever else you can store
> it on. The more copies you have, the more likely one will be readable in
> the future.
:)
>>>> And any magnetic media is crap for long time archival.
>>>> Just ask some (ausio) tape fans about tapes from the 60s.
>>> Oh, I don't know. I've managed to play 1960's reel-to-reel audio tapes
>>> (and early 19790's video tapes, reel and cassette) with no real
>>> problems. If you pick a suitably redundant format for the data I suspect
>>> it'll be OK.
>> Managed to play and recovering all information are
>> different things.
> Yes, but
> (a) you'd use a partially redundant encoding system (I _know_ I
> would) so you could recover partially damaged data.
> (b) 'damage' that affects audio or video recordings may not have much
> effect on data (and vice versa). For example minor print-through would
> certainly be audible, but it might be possible to set the read thresholds
> so a digital tape drive wouldn't notice it. Ditto for fading. On the
> other hand drop-outs have a much greater effect on digital data than on
> audio or video recordings.
true.
>> And back to CDs (to reunite the two threads):
>> Theres a huge difference between your listed magnetic things
>> and CDs - the music sector - I bet any summ you want that
>> there will be new drives in 20 years from now, able to read
>> a CD made today (if the CD contend isn't damaged of course).
> Firstly a CD player is not that easy to convert into a CD-ROM drive. My
> CD-ROM drive _is_ based on a CD-player, and I have the service manuals
> both for the CD-ROM drive and the player. The mods are not that simple.
I'm not talking about converting - I'm talking that in 25 years
still new drives will be available to read CDs - Maybe some kind
of hyper-DVD-super-ultra drives - but able to read 'regular' CDs.
> Secondly, where do I get a 78rpm record player these days (new, of
> course). Or a Playtape player. Or an 8-track cartridge player. Music
> formats do go out of production as well.
Stop. 8-track - or what ever special formates beside regular
phonographic disks had always only a special small ocurence -
like ZIP drives, or almost any old media on computers beside
mybe tapes. For 78rpm players you should take a look at a
shop for analogue enthusiasts - there are still _new_ players
available - ok, I don't know if they sell more than 100 pcs
a year word wide, but they are available - and for 33/45rpm
players, almost any audio store still has at least one _new_
model to offer. Even Quelle (big mail order company in Germany)
still offers players. And now it's almost 20 years after the
CD.
Again, I give no chance for special devices and solution, but
I think there will be new CD Players even in 25 years - I am
shure ther will - I bet any money you want - or wait - I what
about my Pascal Microengine ? You'll get it if there is no new,
working, CD reading device availabe in 2023 :)
Servus
hans
--
Ich denke, also bin ich, also gut
HRK
Received on Thu Jun 25 1998 - 07:54:44 BST