On Sun, Jan 4, 2009 at 9:29 PM, aussieshepsrock <[email protected]> wrote: > > HiYa Wallace, > Wikipedia was my first stop and while the entries I found were > informative, they were for the most part more frightening than > definitive about my choices. I've also seen multiple references to the > inherent dangers magnetic tapes face over the long term. I also do not > have access to 'corporate standard' equipment or budgets that would > allow for the avoidance of technological obsolescence let alone > Magnetic field avoidance. I also see that CD sized optically read > media seems to have a nice leg up on tape drives when it comes to the > breadth and depth of their adoption and implementation. The DVD > standards mandated CD Reading and Blue Ray mandated DVD and CD > reading. I think the breadth of CD and DVD libraries in use around the > world can 'help' keep them alive for quite some time as long as > optical discs of that size remain in use as the technological advances > come and go. > > I am planning a 'defense in depth' strategy by deploying well made > copies of the data to be held by numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, and > siblings across the united states. A 'horrific' person married into > the family and actively destroyed the vast majority of my Grandmothers > extensive photo and memorabilia collections. I want no person and > disaster to be able to do that to this family again. >
Actually the tape formats in use 10 to 20 years ago can be found cheaply. Along with used tapes. they still work. However some of the drives may require SCSI. A stable place in an attic might suffice for storage barring fire. I'm don't know what the material life of CDs / DVDs is projected as these days but have read of re-recording strategies. I wouldn't count on optical drives being any more long lived technologically than other formats that have passed into antiquity in my lifetime.But someone somehow will be able to transcribe them. I know the felling regarding memories in photos. A vindictive Ex is all it takes to destroy a lot of good memories for a family. --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed Low End Mac's G3-5 List, a group for those using G3, G4, and G5 desktop Macs - with a particular focus on Power Macs. The list FAQ is at http://lowendmac.com/lists/g-list.shtml and our netiquette guide is at http://www.lowendmac.com/lists/netiquette.shtml To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/g3-5-list?hl=en Low End Mac RSS feed at feed://lowendmac.com/feed.xml -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
