Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!husc6!encore!wcarroll
From: wcarroll@encore.com (Mr. New Dad)
Newsgroups: comp.periphs.scsi
Subject: Re: DAT versus 8mm Tape
Message-ID: <129505@jake.encore.com>
Date: 7 Nov 90 17:34:13 GMT
References: <kusumoto.657844687@chsun1>
Organization: Encore Computer Corp, Fort Lauderdale, FL
Lines: 25

From article <kusumoto.657844687@chsun1>, by kusumoto@chsun1.uchicago.edu (Bob Kusumoto):
> 8mm:
> Cheap tapes (commerical Sony 8mm tapes can run between $5 and $10, exabyte
> certified tapes run between $10 and $15).

Note: Exabyte tapes ARE Sony tapes. Exabyte buys them from Sony and
repackages them. I don't recall whether the Exabyte tapes are screened
in any way to improve data reliability.

> 
> DAT:
>   Lots of companies
> sell DAT drives because the technology is connected to commerical audio
> markets (cost of R&D is lower on DAT than 8mm).

I don't buy this. I'd wager that a whole lot more 8mm video units have
been sold than audio DAT drives. The interface to the DAT unit may be
easier than with 8mm, but the economies of scale for the drive/head
assembly favor 8mm, not DAT.


-- 
William R. Carroll  (Encore Computer Corp., Ft. Lauderdale FL)
wcarroll@encore.com         uunet!gould!wcarroll
"The brain-dead should not be allowed to operate motor vehicles!" - Me