Any suggestions for a tape backup device?

[frankpel]

I am looking to purchase an internal tape backup device. I need some suggestions badly, for the more I read about them, the more confused I get. I would like to spend about $200-$300 for one. I don't need one that has capacity over 20gb. This is for home use. I prefer to go with a name brand. Any help will be much appreciated. Frank
P.S. I already have a CD writer, and to back up my system would take over a dozen CD's. Don't want to do that!

[KillerBug]

Hard drives are guaranteed for 3 years of daily use at 1-4 hours a day, tapes are guaranteed for 10 years at once a use per month to 6months and for about 2 hours at a time therfore, such a tape is rated at far less of a time span than a hard drive. That is why the government stores the launch codes for its nuclear missiles on hard disks and then pulls them out. They are good for hundreds of years when not in use. Tapes corrode at a constant rate even when not in use and in ideal conditions.

[Stan]

Yeah... and I'm sure he wants to store launch codes for his nuclear/proton/atomic/cosmic missiles... http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

[Mntsnow]

Hmmm...I wonder whats going to happen to that HD once it gets dropped once.?

[KillerBug]

Good point, his launch codes might be compromised...come to think of it, the gov. uses laptop hard drives (up to 150g, or 15x the gravity that will make a well trained astronaught pass out.) Those cost more, but your launch codes will be more secure.

[Mungla]

Most modern hard drives are rated for something like 10 G's or more if I'm not mistaken. I wouldn't recommend you trying it, but I'm sure that one will survive a drop. Note this, the actual components on the drive are rated for the G's, I don't know if the circuity, solder points, ex. are rated in the G figure or not. If you dropped the hard drive on concrete at 6' or so, I would plan to rebuild the drive.

[KillerBug]

Or a lpatop drive for 60ft...

[Stan]

Hi

I have bought the Onstream (http://www.onstream.com) DI-30 (internal IDE).
This is a great drive at a great price. I paid 160 UK pounds (approx $250).

Capacity is 15GB native / 30GB compressed.
Transfert rate is 60MB/min.
There are several 15/30GTB models:
- internal IDE
- external SCSI
- external LPT
- external USB

There is also a 25/50GB version, but only available in SCSI flavour.

Stan

[KillerBug]

$250 US will buy you a 61gb hard drive. Just a note, as many people buy tape drives expecting them to preform like hard drives or even zip drives, and they don't.

[Stan]

True, HD are way faster than backup drive, but backup tapes will always be safer than HD.

Tapes are garanteed for a minimum of 10 years, if not life-time.
HD have a 3 year warranty for IDE, 5 years for SCSI.

It all depends on the purpose of your backup.
In my case, I backup extremely important files (electronic album photos, personal docs). I alternate my tapes and keep one outside of my house (at the office), in case of a fire/burglary/...
If someone steals your PC, how good will be your backup HD ?

Stan

[This message has been edited by Stan (edited 08-12-2000).]