Need new removable storage drive: DVD or Tape?

[ClickHere2Surf.com]

Here's my problem: I have a tuner card so I record a lot of TV shows on my PC so I use up the space pretty fast. I used to put the files larger than 1GB on two 15/30GB ADR tapes that I used for movies and backed up my PC to 2 other ADR tapes but now my 4 tapes as well as my hard drive are full, so I cant backup anymore and I'm out of space.

I can either get a DVD writer but at only 4.7GB/disk it's pretty useless especially since I'm used to 15GB/disk. This would take me about 20 DVDs just to move my movie files, then I would be able to make a full backup of my other files to 2 or 3 tapes, which is still a lot of tapes for a full backup.

Or I can get a tape drive with at least 30GB uncompressed and use 1-2 tapes for my video files and 1 tape to backup (it would have to be a drive supported by 1Safe or with drivers that allow drive letter access so I can watch movies right from the tape like I do now).

I'm leaning towards a Sony AIT tape drive rather than a DVD writer since in less than a year there will be 9.4GB (dual layer) recordable DVDs and I dont feel like having my movies spread out on 20 DVDs that I have to juggle each time I want to find a movie. I can also sell my current tape drive and tapes for at least $150 US if I get a new tape drive.

Which option would you think is best?

I want to pay $500 US max. for a tape drive with at least 30GB uncompressed, I dont mind getting it used. Is AIT the most cost effective? I was very impressed that the 35/90GB tapes are only $39, thats cheaper than the 15/30GB tapes I use now! New AIT drives seem to be about $100-150 above my budget, is it worth saving for a few weeks and get a new $600-700 AIT drive? It seems pretty expensive to me since I'm a student but I desperately need a large removable storage drive.

Thanks

[silencio]

Have you thought about compressing the files more with something like divx?

[ClickHere2Surf.com]

I've got hundreds of videos, it would take days to convert them all, and I have a 72" XGA screen so I dont want to sacrifice any quality, they already arent recorded at a very high bitrate. Plus I'm missing at least 40GB in space. I really need a removable storage drive.

[Gabriel]

Hello,
IMHO
Tape Vs. DVD-R

Tape
Pros: Good Gb/$ Ratio, Can Hold up High amount of Data
Cons: Slow, Tape Drive Expensive

DVD
Pro: FAST, Reliable (Not Influenced By EM or Heat/Humidity), Drive is Cheaper
Cons: Expensive Media, Small amount of DATA.


I think You can do two things:
1. Reduce your data size
2. Try thinking about Larger HDD (HDD's offer best Data Per $ ratio).
With 500$ you can buy something like 3-4 120GB Seagate (or any other) HDD.

Just Make upi your mind:
Backup/Archive = Tape
Removable Media = DVD
Mass Storage Device / Removable Media (Yes I have External USB case) = HDD


Cheers,
Gabriel

[kato2274]

Hello,

2. Try thinking about Larger HDD (HDD's offer best Data Per $ ratio).
With 500$ you can buy something like 3-4 120GB Seagate (or any other) HDD.

this is a really good point. I just looked and 120GB drives are $78 at newegg. purchase 4 of these along with a raid controller card (probably about $25-$40) and set up a RAID 0+1 and you've got 240GB of additional storage that is faster to access than a single drive and redundant because it's mirrored. . . . and you haven't spent $400.

I can't see playing anything off tape directly. . . you'd have to restore first then play. and I could see lot's of dvds being a bit of a pain, though if properly indexed and stored it really wouldn't be bad.

I like the hard drive idea.

newegg also has samsung 160GB Hard Drives with 3 year warranty for $99.

[confus-ed]

...& you can of course make it all removable by buying hard disk caddys which are about $10-15 each ...

p.s buy sata not pata , think 'future proof' (the cost of a sata controller card is about the same as an additional ide/pata one- from $30 upwards)