On Mon, 15 Jan 2007 19:46:11 -0500, John Husvar
wrote:

In article .com,
"Too_Many_Tools" wrote:

A whole big bunch of text and data files will
_still_ fit on a floppy. It's just that floppy drives are being replaced
by inexpensive CD and DVD RW storage that store more and have better
data retention, more or less.


Better data retention? Think again.

Hard drive/tape/floppy (as in magnetic) storage have the best lifespan.
Not necessarily true. Drop that high density floppy on a concrete
floor. Set it on top of your monitor and turn it on. How about hanging
your disc storage on the wall where a high-power mains cable runs up
the wall within 3 feet? Your data can be unreadable in from 1 second
to 2 years.

DC/DVD storage life can be measured in just a few years.
I have a few of the first CD data disks ever sold in Canada back in
about 1985? That are still perfectly readable, and they have not been
stored in "archival" conditions.

Ach, so? I'll have to look farther into this. I'd heard some mumblings
about CD and DVD not being as lasting a storage method as they were
first thought to be.
And if tape is not refreshed it's good for something less than 10
years in proper storage.
Properly stored,pressed CD/DVD life is almost infinite. Die Sub based
rewritables have a more limited lifespan, but still better than 10
years if properly stored and reasonable quality media.


Archival storage of data is a BIG deal that the industry doesn't like
to talk about.

Well, I suppose one could print and store all all the data records on
acid-free paper and then physically go find the ones they wanted.
Shouldn't take more than a medium-sized army of clerks and only a small
hollowed mountain range for the storage.

We could then test the adage about it requiring (some large number)
clerks working (some large number) years to make an error a computer can
make in nanoseconds too.


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