Quote:
Originally posted by dogbait
Been using tape to back up my systems for about three or four years, and although it's reliable, the media is durable and very few tapes have gone bad the problem lies in the fact that it's just too damn slow. Then of course there's no guarantee the tape copied the file correctly, so you need to verify its contents each time, it doubles the time it takes.
You can certainly get faster tape backup solutions now, and they do about 850mb/h, and with automated backup you stick in the tape and you're away. But we're talking about a lot of money for that kind of speed. Try and retrieve something on tape though...you'll wonder whatever happened to 'drag 'n drop'. Wait for minutes for the tape to wind to the point and then await its slow delivery to your hard disk...
For a home user, even for a power user, tape's too archaic and inconvenient (and expensive) for it to be worth while.
I've got my tape system gathering dust, only doing the monthly backup now. Running hard disks over USB2, or firewire to backup is easier. 60gb, 120gb, at 30mb/s, and as quick retrieval as I need. A backup system is only as good as its ease of use, and tape is pretty much obsolete outside large companies needing the 200gb+ storage tape provides.
You mention the reliablity of hard disks...most have 1yr warranties and a lot of disks still have 3yr warranties - not too many tape manufacturers guaranteeing their tapes these days beyond 30 days.
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unfortunately a warranty on a hard drive doesn't make it a reliable storage device
. i've never had a drive die on me, but i figure it's bound to happen.
i'm still not sure which i want to go with tho. the seagate 10/20gb tape drive retail box is $165, comes with a tape and the software, and i could get all my important stuff backed up with one tape (the one it comes with), and this isn't the case with dvd.
ugh... so i dunno. and with that route, i wouldn't have a useless dvd recorder in 6 months when i want to upgrade to the +/-.
i was also thinking dvd ram, i hear those work better for data archival. i see LG makes a dvd +/- now that also writes to dvd ram. but, the drive gets bad reviews. although, it seems it may have started a new trend in future drives. yet another good reason to wait on dvd...