Hi Russell, While I do agree with most of what you wrote I'd not be so quick in dismissing floppies, nor tape for that matter.
> (An Example: Does anyone remember the 8-inch floppy, which came in both > single- and double-side versions, and in both single- and double-density > variations? And does anyone still have running a system which can read > these floppies? And are 20-year-old floppies still readable, or has the > binder for the magnetic oxide turned to gum?) Just to pick up that glove you threw I got my oldest floppies from storage (I keep them and their contents just for sentimental value, all data has been copied to backup media years ago) and put them in the FDD to see if they would be "A-OK". They were. These were both 5 1/4 and 3 1/2 inch floppies. I must admit to having been quite careful with them over the years but they are from 1986 and later, so to answer your question: yes those floppies are still usable. You'd have to be a fossil just like me to even want to, but the fact still remains that these floppies are perfectly fine after 20 years. So are tapes (I know of tapes even older than that which are still in use). To me tape is still *the* most reliable medium for long term storage (not the most convenient though!). Sincerely, HdV -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]
