Data storage that lasts

[hop-frog]

Why is it so difficult for the industry to come up with at storage medium that lasts?

Why haven't I heard of an inexpensive storage medium that doesn't get scratched, stretched, demagnitized, ruined in the sun, or destroyed by some other unavoidable means?

[mdwatts]

The 'human brain' fits most of those requirements.

[DMR]

Originally posted by mdwatts
The 'human brain' fits most of those requirements. I'm not so sure about that- If "destroyed by some other unavoidable means" includes having beer spilled on it anyway...

:D

[mdwatts]

Originally posted by DMR
I'm not so sure about that- If "destroyed by some other unavoidable means" includes having beer spilled on it anyway...

:D

Or soaked. :)

[DMR]

Originally posted by mdwatts
Or soaked. :) *hic!* :p

[Strogian]

Originally posted by hop-frog
Why is it so difficult for the industry to come up with at storage medium that lasts?

Why haven't I heard of an inexpensive storage medium that doesn't get scratched, stretched, demagnitized, ruined in the sun, or destroyed by some other unavoidable means?

Because backups are cheap. ;)

[Alex Cavnar, aka alc6379]

Originally posted by hop-frog
Why is it so difficult for the industry to come up with at storage medium that lasts?

Why haven't I heard of an inexpensive storage medium that doesn't get scratched, stretched, demagnitized, ruined in the sun, or destroyed by some other unavoidable means?

Because then it would be expensive. Or, did you mean avoidable means?

Besides, they put all of those labels on the media anyways, about not keeping it out in the sun, and not spilling stuff on it, etc.

Personally, if I care about what's on a CD or a floppy or a Zip, or whatever, I make sure I have multiple copies of it, and I make sure I keep the media safe from harm.

[hop-frog]

Originally posted by Alex Cavnar, aka alc6379
Because then it would be expensive.
How expensive?

If a piece of software sells for $100 and it is printed on a $.70 CD, why not pay $105 and print it on a medium that costs $5.70 that will not get ruined after 15 uses?

How much are your troubles worth? I would have paid $25 instead of $20 for every music CD I own if it meant that the data on them would last me a lifetime. Instead, I pay $20, my music is printed on a $.70 disk, and I have to handle my collection like it is a china set.

As it is, it would probably take 3 weeks for me to back up all of my CDs and then I'd have to buy a good storage case to hold them. This would cost me a lot more time and money.

I don't know about anyone else, but I'd like to see this option at Amazon.com:

Cassette: $10
CD: $20
Durable Disk: $25

[Artimus]

Those little mini-USB things are pretty good. They have a couple that are waterproof.

[Alex Cavnar, aka alc6379]

Originally posted by hop-frog
How expensive?

If a piece of software sells for $100 and it is printed on a $.70 CD, why not pay $105 and print it on a medium that costs $5.70 that will not get ruined after 15 uses?

How much are your troubles worth? I would have paid $25 instead of $20 for every music CD I own if it meant that the data on them would last me a lifetime. Instead, I pay $20, my music is printed on a $.70 disk, and I have to handle my collection like it is a china set.

As it is, it would probably take 3 weeks for me to back up all of my CDs and then I'd have to buy a good storage case to hold them. This would cost me a lot more time and money.

I don't know about anyone else, but I'd like to see this option at Amazon.com:

Cassette: $10
CD: $20
Durable Disk: $25

I guess maybe I'm looking at it from a different perspective. I take it for granted that media goes bad. I would only need a disc to work once, be it a floppy or a CD. The first thing I do when I get a new disc is make an image of it on my server. Then when I need to install from it, I'll just mount the image loopback and pull it down from my network to the machine I'm installing it on.

If I can't image the CD, then yes, I'll treat it like it's a piece of China. Computer media is just like anything else valuable in the world. If you want it to work right, treat it right. I do as much as possible to ensure that I don't have to actually spin the disc to use it by either imaging it, or making a direct copy to a CD-R. That way, my original has a better chance to survive. I've also invested in a $40 CD-book that holds 240 discs. It's padded, and that helps keep them safe.

If you image them one at a time, then it's no big deal to do. But, I would admit that it would take a good while to do if you start with a ton of CDs. I'd hate to have to image the nearly 300 software titles I have...

[psi42]

Originally posted by hop-frog
Why is it so difficult for the industry to come up with at storage medium that lasts?

Why haven't I heard of an inexpensive storage medium that doesn't get scratched, stretched, demagnitized, ruined in the sun, or destroyed by some other unavoidable means?

I have about 20 old floppies that have some problem or another. If I run out of working floppies, I can't use these for more than just temporary storage. So I have to go and buy replacements.

If a truly "lasting" medium was produced, then people would never have to buy replacements.:D


~psi42