Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!cs.utexas.edu!sun-barr!apple!agate!shelby!msi.umn.edu!cs.umn.edu!kksys!com50!chris From: chris@com50.c2s.mn.org (Chris Johnson) Newsgroups: comp.periphs.scsi Subject: Re: DAT versus 8mm Tape Message-ID: <1990Nov8.185805.10297@com50.c2s.mn.org> Date: 8 Nov 90 18:58:05 GMT References: <129505@jake.encore.com> Organization: Com Squared Systems, Inc. Lines: 25 In article <129505@jake.encore.com> wcarroll@encore.com (Mr. New Dad) writes: >From article , by kusumoto@chsun1.uchicago.edu (Bob Kusumoto): >> 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) In fact, you're exactly correct, Mr. Carroll. Blank DAT tapes cost _more_ than blank 8mm Video tapes, as do the drive components, presently. Volume manufacturing, and even better, competing manufacturers, generally tend to lower the prices. Right now, things are kind of backwards. 8mm mechanisms are only made by one company, but lots of companies make media. A lot fewer units of DAT are being made, but at least, there are more than one mechanism producer. Relative prices will change, soon, I suspect. -- ...Chris Johnson chris@c2s.mn.org ..uunet!bungia!com50!chris Com Squared Systems, Inc. St. Paul, MN USA +1 612 452 9522