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Path: euryale.cc.adfa.oz.au!newshost.anu.edu.au!harbinger.cc.monash.edu.au!nntp.coast.net!zombie.ncsc.mil!news.mathworks.com!newsfeed.internetmci.com!in2.uu.net!news2.digex.net!digex.net!not-for-mail From: rdd@access1.digex.net (R. D. Davis) Newsgroups: comp.unix.bsd.freebsd.misc Subject: Re: Tape Backup Options Date: 20 May 1996 08:50:28 -0400 Organization: Society for the Obsolescence of Obsolescence Lines: 31 Message-ID: <4nppqk$941@access1.digex.net> References: <4n5l94$rqq@csugrad.cs.vt.edu> <4nb2d0$20d@uriah.heep.sax.de> NNTP-Posting-Host: access1.digex.net In article <4nb2d0$20d@uriah.heep.sax.de>, J Wunsch <joerg_wunsch@uriah.heep.sax.de> wrote: >jaitken@csugrad.cs.vt.edu (Jeff Aitken) wrote: >QIC 40/80 enhancements. You are free to call them `crap', that's why >they are so cheap. This reminds me of how a tiny piece of dust caused one of those tiny Archive 250 tape drive to fail - those little nylon gears get their sprockets clogged rather easily and need to be cleaned with a pin. Urrggh! >[...] >Even DAT is called crap by many people... It may be useful for backups, but I wouldn't want to have to depend upon it for long-term storage - I'd much rather use 9-tack magtapes. The same goes for those little tiny 3-1/2" microfloppies - they're not as dependable as 8" floppies. It appears that newer technology is more about having new-fangled gadgetry, that is as small as possible, not reliability or durability. After I get FreeBSD installed, I'll have to add an additional floppy controller, set it for DSHD 5-1/4" drives and attach an 8" Shugart floppy drive to it. This would be a good way be being sure that one has good, dependable, boot floppies. -- R. D. Davis * http://www.access.digex.net/~rdd * Computer Preservationist PERQ Logic Systems & Unconventional Computer Consulting divisions of Transpower Industries, Inc. +1 410 744-4900