Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!cs.utexas.edu!usc!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!ncar!ames!ptolemy!eos!shelby!helens!baroque!jim From: jim@baroque.Stanford.EDU (James Helman) Newsgroups: comp.sys.sgi Subject: Re: Best 8mm tapes? Message-ID: Date: 29 Jun 90 21:19:26 GMT References: <938@voodoo.UUCP> <9006291803.AA10452@forest.asd.sgi.com> Sender: news@helens.Stanford.EDU Organization: Stanford University Lines: 18 In-reply-to: baskett%forest.asd@SGI.COM's message of 29 Jun 90 18:03:40 GMT Does anyone know if using the top quality tapes completely saves you from the write-through problem? The problem (myth?) as I understand it is that over time (> 1 year) the magnetic pattern written on one section tape can affect the next layer with which it is in contact. I've heard that some manufacturers advise you to rerun the tape every year just to change the way it's wound on the reel. Otherwise it's data decay time. Since we keep many tapes for 5 or more years, we've been too paranoid to buy an 8mm drive, although others here seem quite happy with theirs. If top quality tapes don't guarantee long term data storage, will SGI or a third-party have a DAT subsystem out soon? I understand they are much better in this regard. Jim Helman Department of Applied Physics 6 Trillium Lane Stanford University San Carlos, CA 94070 (jim@thrush.stanford.edu) (415) 723-9127