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From: toerting@kentvax.mcs.kent.edu (Tim Oerting)
Subject: Re: Is it possible to buy cheap RM devices to use with WORMs?
Message-ID: <1991Jun29.141716.17818@mcs.kent.edu>
Summary: Try Optical Storage 
Keywords: WORM,CD-ROM,OPTICAL STORAGE
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Organization: Kent State University
References: <379@cogsci.ucsd.EDU>
Date: Sat, 29 Jun 1991 14:17:16 GMT


In article <379@cogsci.ucsd.EDU> miller@cogsci.ucsd.EDU (Jeff Miller) writes:
>
>Scenario:  My colleagues and I use a few dozen IBM-compatible PCs,
>all with access to a common network (though most use the network
>only intermittently, because of RAM overhead).  Each of us generates
>data (on the order of 1 Mb per day) that we would like to save
>permanently (say, 10 years) and keep on line (or, at least, not too
>far off line) for at least 3 years.
>
>Desired Hardware:  The data volume seems to justify some WORM-like
>technology, but it seems silly for each of us to pay for the WO part.
>Ideally, we could buy one $4000 write-once device and put it somewhere
>on the net, then each of us could buy a $500 Read-Many device for our
>own machines.  Once a month or so, when my local hard disk filled
>up, I could transfer files across the net to the WO device, and then
>carry the media back and stick it in my local RM device.  To save
>media costs, it would be ideal to be able to add onto a given
>piece of media --- say writing a 400 Mb platter 40 Mb at a time.
>
>Jeff Miller
>jomiller@ucsd.edu

I think what you might be looking for is an erasable optical drive (they can
be written to as many times as you wish).  A while back I checked them out
to see the cost and really it wasn't bad.  A 650M (the Pinnacle Micro REO-650
to be exact) was quoted to me then (7 Jan 91) for $3995 with the 650MB Optical
Disks going for $250 each. They also have a 1300MB machine and a 6500MB version.
Those use multiple 650M disks (2) and (10).

Tim Oerting  ---- toerting@mcs.kent.edu