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From: rbp@investor.pgh.pa.us (Bob Peirce #305)
Newsgroups: comp.misc,comp.periphs,rec.music.cd,rec.music.misc
Subject: Re: What medium will be readable in 25 years?
Keywords: computer music
Message-ID: <1991May1.174841.3321@investor.pgh.pa.us>
Date: 1 May 91 17:48:41 GMT
References: <8144@jhunix.HCF.JHU.EDU>
Reply-To: rbp@investor.pgh.pa.us (Bob Peirce #305)
Organization: Cookson, Peirce & Co., Pittsburgh, PA
Lines: 48

In article <8144@jhunix.HCF.JHU.EDU> barrett@jhunix.HCF.JHU.EDU (Dan Barrett) writes:
>
>	Suppose you were going to put some audio recordings and computer
>media into a "time box" for 25 years.  At the end of 25 years, people would
>open the box and look at/listen to the stuff inside.
>
>	In 25 years, what media are the most likely to be READABLE?
>For music:
>		cassette tape?
>		vinyl record?
>		DAT?
>		VHS?
>		reel-to-reel?
>		CD?  (Not really an option, since we need to record our own
>		      music on it.)

Vinyl, definitely, assuming reasonable temperatures.  I have vinyl much
older than that which still sounds like new.

Watch out for tape and similar media.  A lot of the record company
archives are in terrible shape.  Some of the worst problems seem to have
come from what was considered to be the best tape.  The oxide falls off.
The tape sticks together.  A strong magnetic field can wipe them, and so
on.  In spite of this, I have tape well over 25 years old which seems to
be okay, so it may work.

CDs could separate; some laser discs did early on -- pit rot.  Opticals
may have the same problem.  I don't know how they are constructed, but
if they are equal to CD or better, opticals and a NeXT would be an option.
Of course you have to assume there will be equipment to read them in 25
years!  Another vote for vinyl.

>For computers:
>		3.5" disk?  For which computer?
>		5.25" disk?
>		9-track tape?  tar?
>		Punch cards? :-)
>		Optical disk?

I vote for paper.  It can be read by hand if necessary.  Punch cards
lasted for extremely long periods of very heavy abuse.

As above, I would avoid magnetic media.  

CD Rom and optical discs are a possibility, as above.
-- 
Bob Peirce, Pittsburgh, PA        rbp@investor.pgh.pa.us         412-471-5320
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