Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!att!linac!midway!chsun1!kusumoto From: kusumoto@chsun1.uchicago.edu (Bob Kusumoto) Newsgroups: comp.periphs.scsi Subject: Re: DAT versus 8mm Tape Message-ID: Date: 23 Nov 90 20:36:52 GMT References: <272DB1E1.9737@orion.oac.uci.edu> <9850010@hpcpbla.HP.COM> Sender: news@midway.uchicago.edu (News Administrator) Distribution: usa Organization: University of Chicago Lines: 39 mark@hpcpbla.HP.COM (Mark Simms) writes: >Bob Kusumoto writes >>> storage capacity: 8mm wins hands down. The new exabyte 8500 holds 5GB >>> of storage on an single 8mm tape (doubles the current throughput of the >>> 8200 as well). > >Storage capacity is where 8mm does win over DAT. The tape is twice as >wide and you would expect it to hold twice as much. However, I would >not hold your breath for the EX8500. It will probably be a little while >coming yet. I must add that higher density DAT products will be even >longer coming. There is a little DAT can do to catch up. Longer tapes >made with new thinner substrates will help a little. I do not know >whether this is being worked on for 8mm tapes. On drive data >compression helps, but I would be surprised if Exabyte weren't working >on that. The problem still remains that a DAT tape will probably only >ever hold about half what a comparable 8mm tape will hold. Also, since >DAT was later in the market, it may take a while for that DAT >manufacturers to catch Exabyte I don't know if you can believe it or not but this week's PC Week had an article that said that Exabyte announced their long terms plans for their 8mm drives, which include shipping the 8500 to OEMs in early 91 and a version of the 8500 with compression in late 91 (holds 10GB). The way I see it now, DAT can't really fit more data onto the tape without compression, or a longer and/or better tape. The reason I tend to put my money with 8mm tapes are two-fold: they hold more data, and only one company controls its technology. Although the second point does sound bad, I'd hate to have a newer generation DAT player with compression, only to find out that the compression routines with the drive aren't compatable with drives a few years down the line. I believe there are two companies vying for DAT compression routines, one being HP and the other slips my mind. Bob -- Bob Kusumoto | Find the electric messiah! Internet: kusumoto@chsun1.uchicago.edu | The AC/DC God! Bitnet: kusumoto@chsun1.uchicago.bitnet | - My Life with the Thrill Kill UUCP: ...!{oddjob,gargoyle}!chsun1!kusumoto | Kult, "Kooler than Jesus"