Subject:OT: Tape drives

Posted by: kbruff

Date:11/26/2003 4:15:11 PM

I am currently backing up my data to CD's however there are just many CD's now than I have vinyl records. Therefore I was curious about using tape drives to archive the data. The advantage is that the storage capacity ranges from like 10 gigs to 80 gigs, all depending upon what model is purchased. I wont need to access the file in "real time", I just want to improve my backup logistics.

Please provide suggestions or comments - I am curious as to what the you folks are doing about -- "backing up" -

Thanks --
Kevin
***

Subject:RE: OT: Tape drives

Reply by: Iacobus

Date:11/26/2003 5:28:29 PM

Tape is slow.

You could pick up an external FireWire or USB 2.0 drive and use that as backup (plus they have higher capacities too). There's also DVD+/-R or DVD+/-RW, but that has a 4.7 GB limit (for now anyway).

Iacobus
-------
RodelWorks - Original Music for the Unafraid
mD's ACIDplanet Page

Subject:RE: OT: Tape drives

Reply by: Rob_D

Date:11/27/2003 3:30:55 AM

IDE Hard drives in removable caddies work well too.

Rob

Subject:RE: OT: Tape drives

Reply by: ATP

Date:11/27/2003 6:15:29 AM

my personal experience with tape units is not only that they are slow, but also that they are unreliable as well. new, unused tapes can be made unusable by the tapedrive even before data is written, i have also had tapes failing on me at 90%. not to mention the tapes themselves are expensive. the only pro is the amount of storage tapes offer, but i think in the long run you're cheaper off with an extra hard disk or even a DVD writer.

Subject:RE: OT: Tape drives

Reply by: kbruff

Date:11/27/2003 3:26:47 PM

OK thanks -- I can convert my extra harddrive -- to be removable drive, additionally I will add a DVD writer.

I was considering a portable DVD writer -- are there any recommendations?

Thank you all very much for your time.

Bye,
Kevin
***