12 May
2003
12 May
'03
3:34 p.m.
Hans' presentation on storing vintage computer
data as XML made me
realise that the most important thing is to get everything preserved,
and then work out what to do with it. I could store everything I've
ever written on an 8-bit computer in a corner of my existing hard drive
and not even notice it was there. I've got to dig out all those KCS
cassettes, ASR33 printouts and even a few bits of paper tape and get
them transferred.
I can assure you those paper tapes will still be readable long after your
hard disk had headcrashed!. Why do people insist on transfering reliable
storage media onto modern, unreliable stuff? It's the same with
photographs and cine films -- people transfer them to CDs and DVDs. The
originals have a much longer life...
-tony