From owner-freebsd-hardware Wed Mar 18 05:00:14 1998 Return-Path: Received: (from majordom@localhost) by hub.freebsd.org (8.8.8/8.8.8) id FAA28228 for freebsd-hardware-outgoing; Wed, 18 Mar 1998 05:00:14 -0800 (PST) (envelope-from owner-freebsd-hardware@FreeBSD.ORG) Received: from smtp2.xs4all.nl (smtp2.xs4all.nl [194.109.6.52]) by hub.freebsd.org (8.8.8/8.8.8) with ESMTP id FAA28220 for ; Wed, 18 Mar 1998 05:00:09 -0800 (PST) (envelope-from schofiel@xs4all.nl) Received: from diamond.xs4all.nl (enterprise.xs4all.nl [194.109.14.215]) by smtp2.xs4all.nl (8.8.8/8.8.8) with SMTP id OAA26637 for ; Wed, 18 Mar 1998 14:00:05 +0100 (CET) Message-ID: <350FC5B5.55B1@xs4all.nl> Date: Wed, 18 Mar 1998 14:01:41 +0100 From: Rob Schofield Reply-To: schofiel@xs4all.nl X-Mailer: Mozilla 3.04Gold (Win95; I) MIME-Version: 1.0 To: freebsd-hardware@FreeBSD.ORG Subject: Re: CD-R and Scanner recomendations for CD archiving of records? References: Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Sender: owner-freebsd-hardware@FreeBSD.ORG Precedence: bulk X-Loop: FreeBSD.org Open Systems Networking wrote: > Rob, > > What you say above is probably true. But I think you have just backed up > my 2nd post about using a more reliable media than CD-R like punchcards. Sorry, I think I missed that! > I mean look at all the work involved in your steps above to do archiving. > reliably :) {8^D > It would be MUCH easier, and more reliable for me anyway to just grab a > SCSI DAT drive and archive away. Currently the best, most economical choice in my opinion. > I dont mean to tear down your obvious > love of CD-R, but your guidelines are like that of windows. You can run > windows reliably! Just only run it on tuesdays, BUT you have to have a > black cat ON the monitor, AND it has to be past sunset!! And some holy > water never hurts :) {8^D Well said! Naw, to be honest, I hate the damn things. They are just another way for people to break copyright without breaking into a sweat {8^( I wouldn't recommend them for either archive or backup. The cost is too high compared to other media forms. Plus, they really aren't suited to bulk storage - have you tried stacking the damn cases (which you DO need, unfortunately)? Considering You can only stash 4 X 640M in a volume equivalent to a box of 20, 4G DAT tapes, I think that says it all! Reality is, they are only useful for prototyping program delivery packages, etc. before you go to bulk production of the final distribution media. > I still say after my CD-R problems it's a better choice to just use a SCSI > DAT tape drive. More storage, and will last far longer in my opinion than > CD-R which is aparently quite finicky for more people than just myself. The problem is the power reaching the drives, which has to be hyper-smooth (have you ever seen the current spike on a 5V line caused by a modern disk performing a long cross-disk seek? Think of Everest/Buzz saw, you're along the right lines) and the production tolerances for the laser focussing; to deliver enough energy to the disk surface with a cheapo diode, it has to be pretty tightly focussed, which means the "spot size" is a bit titchy compared to the etched pits seen on press-mastered bulk CD ROM media. Readers like big, fat spots whizzing past to give 'em time to focus (or get their bifocals back on {8^). Net results? "Disk not readable" or some such..... > But as I said it's just my opinion! :) ... and genteely welcome to it! Nice one, Chris ;^) To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org with "unsubscribe freebsd-hardware" in the body of the message