Mike Loewen wrote:
On Fri, 14 Aug
2009, Seth Morabito wrote:
Does anyone have any TK-50 (CompacTape) tapes
that they'd be willing
to let go of? I need maybe six to ten of them. I'd also welcome some
TK-70 (CompacTape II) tapes, but my need of TK-50s is more pressing.
I am also looking for a couple of CompactTape II tapes for a TK-70.
I have both TK50 and TK70 media. All but 2 of the TK70 media were
formerly TK50 media, bulk erased, then initialized in a TK70 drive. I have
used at least 30 of these media as backup tapes with 256 MB of data
files (8 * 32 MB each) and they still verify correctly after 5 years.
Over 10 years ago, Memorex had a site with the physical and magnetic
characteristics of most DLT tapes. The CompacTape (TK50) and the
CompacTape II (TK70) were identical in all respects as far as I could
understand, except for 2 items:
(a) CompacTape II name was in blue and CompacTape name was brown
(b) CompacTape II cost significantly more than CompacTape
Just my experience with these media.
By now, most of the media have been initialized as TK70, so a bulk erase
would be required before they can be used again as TK50.
As for availability, shipping might be high since I am in Toronto, Ontario.
Also, US customs might want their cut.
Let me know if you can't find some CompacTape in the US.
Jerome Fine
