Backing up your data has always been a problematic issue. I'd estimate that every two weeks I deal with a customer that has lost data that hasn't been backed up. I had another one today to ask me to try and find a data file that disappeared. The bad issue is that they were backing up their My Documents folder to a CD. They weren't backing up the data of a particular program that does not save its info into My Documents. After 20 minutes of search I couldn't find the file and the bad news was in. Fortunately there were paper backups so the data could be restored but at a terrible cost in time.
What does backup have to do with tape? The first storage units for PC's were cassette tapes. The first dedicated backup up devices for hard drives were tape units. Its the early 80s and the Robert Palmer is Simply Irresistible! Its 20 years later and people are still using tape backup. Tape is my least favorite method of backup for several reasons. First tape is sequential. You have to start someplace and then move the tape. If you want to restore files that are on the other end of the tape you have to rewind or wind the tape to get to it. A slow and tedious process. Secondly, tape wears out fairly soon. The process of wind and rewind take a toll on the tape. It stretches after so many uses and then the data is poof, gone. So much for backup.
There are many alternatives to tape so I'm confused why people still use it. There are optical drives (CD/DVD), Flash Drives, External hard Drives and even hard drive cartridges (my favorite!). Costs are actually less for most of these technologies. Lets all say a fond farewell to tape backup and good riddance.
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