New subject: Archives (was Re: VCFe Munich report)

12 May 2003

...
 From: ard(a)p850ug1.demon.co.uk

  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

Hi Tony
 I'm more interested in getting the information spread to multiple
locations, regardless of the media. Even paper tape burns up in
a fire. The only real hope is a lot of copies spread around the
world. This is why I've made my efforts for the Poly88 and I'm
doing similar for the H89.
 Multiple media and multiple locations is the only hope.
Dwight