Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!ucbvax!agate!helios.ee.lbl.gov!nosc!humu!uhccux!yuan From: yuan@uhccux.uhcc.hawaii.edu (Yuan 'Hacker' Chang) Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.tech Subject: Re: New stuff Summary: DAT are much more reliable Keywords: DAT, VCR, Backup Message-ID: <3598@uhccux.uhcc.hawaii.edu> Date: 29 Mar 89 02:24:04 GMT References: <2017.AA2017@panchax> <16339@cup.portal.com> Reply-To: yuan@uhccux.UUCP (Yuan 'Hacker' Chang) Organization: Univ. of Barbarians. Honolulu, Hawaii Lines: 27 In article <16339@cup.portal.com> Classic_-_Concepts@cup.portal.com writes: -> ... DAT decks are on the verge of replacing CD's - -Were you referring to it as a backup storage system? Why wait for DATs??? -Most people already have VCRs. VCRs hold OOOdles of computer data on nice -reliable 1/2" tapes. The IBM world already has boards to interface their -computers with VCRs. And DATs have been scuttled by nervous North American -manufacturers who are afraid they will be used for piracy. Judging by the -computer software market, they're right. In many people's minds, DAT is -dead. Is anyone working on VCR-Amiga interfaces for archiving???? Julie VCR holds oodles of data: True. 1/2" tapes are pretty reliable: True. Problem is that VCRs is an analog device. Data has to be converted to analog, and converted back when read. High-end DATs will have digital interface, so you can record straight data without going through the analog process. DAT has a smaller form factor, so the recorder will be smaller. With all these advantages, I think DATs will catch on quickly as backup devices for PCs and workstations. As for the "piracy" issue, I'm sure it's been beaten to death already. Basically, the broadcast and movie industries thought the same of VCRs. -- Yuan Chang "What can go wrong, did" UUCP: {uunet,ucbvax,dcdwest}!ucsd!nosc!uhccux!yuan ARPA: uhccux!yuan@nosc.MIL "Wouldn't you like to INTERNET: yuan@uhccux.uhcc.Hawaii.Edu be an _A_m_i_g_o_i_d too?!?"