Come to think of it, perhaps a sub-$50 B/W QuickCam would make a
cheaper reader than a scanner.
Good idea. I hadn't thought of that. I think there's Linux software
for the QuickCam.
I know the video/scanning route sounds like
technological overkill.
What's wrong with that? :-) It reminds me of my day-dream to
rescue audio cassette data using PC sound card digitizing.
Been there, done that. There's a commercial program to convert .WAV
files of C-64 data tapes back into usable files. It also works if
you hook a real C-64 datassete to the parallel port.
I like these novel solutions because they are less
dependent on
esoteric hardware, and the core - the software - is more portable
and transportable into the future and to users who need it.
Yes. I have enough forms of esoteric media that I have a vested interest
in keeping them readable.
Sounds like Ethan has more spare time than I do,
though!
Perhaps.
- John
Jefferson Computer Museum <http://www.threedee.com/jcm>
-ethan
Computer Museum curator-in-training