"8-track" data tapes, was Re: Compucolor items on eBay

From: Tom Jennings <tomj_at_wps.com>
Date: Wed Aug 4 14:48:36 2004

Wang used an 8-track-type cartridge for data and/or program storage. I
don't know what machine they are for.

I have a couple, to use in an art project (for data storage, not some
stupid collage), because they are beautiful -- 100% transparent plastic,
and instead of reels, an endless loop serpentine-tangle-stacked into the
case. I believe these tapes contain feature-data or fonts or whatever
since they are so short, but I'm just guessing.

Don't think those home tape-deck jobs with the book of matches to align
the head... think radio station cart recorders. Much solider (sic)
construction, though the data architecture still sucks rocks!

tomj

On Mon, 2004-08-02 at 10:38, Tom Hudson wrote:
> To be honest, I've never heard of any other computers using 8-tracks as
> storage. Tape is bad enough, but the nature of 8-track architecture (no
> rewind) would make usage of it almost completely untenable!
>
> -Tom
>
> Vintage Computer Festival wrote:
>
> >What, if any, other computers also used 8-track tape for storage? I
> >always figured there had to have been at least one computer that used them
> >but until now I've never known of any examples.
> >
> >
> >
Received on Wed Aug 04 2004 - 14:48:36 BST