The Logic Off Topic list

Dennis Gunn:

> do you think a disengaged hard drive on a shelf would be more or less stable
> than DVDs or CDRs or for that matter tape as a storage medium?

I'm going optical.

> As long as the bearings can last OK on the shelf it seems like a HD might more
> stable than a reel of tape.  It would mainly be a matter of how long the bits
> could keep their magnetic alignment I wouldn't it?

I am not an expert on the chemical composition of binder that holds the
oxide particles to the hard drive platters.  I imagine that is a critical
issue, as it is with tape.  However, as information density goes up,
longevity goes down, which makes me doubt the long term viability of the HD
format even if you could remove bearings from the equation.

-- Marvin Humphrey
Mastering Engineer and Graphic Designer, emeritus
CD design website - http://marvin.mrtoads.com