The demise of VHS

[John in Covina]

The question was rhetorical. The real question is, with everything being digital, where do you find an original or anything? Photographs can exist as only data on a device. Long term storage, on something that will be compatible in the future is going to be a concern someday.

Actually there is tons of data for government and corporations stored on old formats of computer tape that can longer be retrieved today. The information is there but the hardware or software is gone out of date and is lost too.

 

[The Wolf]

This reminds me how few Alan Ladd movies that were on VHS still aren't on DVD.
Not even "Blue Dahlia". Can you believe it?

Sincerely,
The Wolf

 

[CharlieB]

Actually there is tons of data for government and corporations stored on old formats of computer tape that can longer be retrieved today. The information is there but the hardware or software is gone out of date and is lost too.

Fortunatley, as long as human beings have eyes, paper will always be viable!

 

[Michael Carter]

The Library of Congress has been collecting various media devices and spare parts for some time now. Punch card readers, multi-track tape machines, Victrolas, hi speed computer tape readers, cassette decks, even wax roll machines.

I don't think any sort of media will ever be unrecoverable.

 

[martinsantos]

...But this don't mean that would be easy!!! Last year I needed to work in a proceding about some taxes information from a client. He had what i needed, but in those large diskettes from the 80s, in a program that now nobody knows. At the end of the story we got it - but after two weeks looking for a computer that could be used to this.

The Library of Congress has been collecting various media devices and spare parts for some time now. Punch card readers, multi-track tape machines, Victrolas, hi speed computer tape readers, cassette decks, even wax roll machines.

I don't think any sort of media will ever be unrecoverable.

 

[CharlieB]

...But this don't mean that would be easy!!! Last year I needed to work in a proceding about some taxes information from a client. He had what i needed, but in those large diskettes from the 80s, in a program that now nobody knows. At the end of the story we got it - but after two weeks looking for a computer that could be used to this.

Excelent point. Not just having the hardware, but the correct software is going to be just as important. Remember all the varieties of "home computers" that existed before PC and MAC?

 

[martinsantos]

Sure I remember!

The first computer my dad bought (1981 or 1982) had a large memory of 8 Kb, we had to make our own programs. And they were recorded in those audio tapes.

Somewhere in home I still have some magazines with "programs", that you would copy (word by word) to try!

I don't remember the hardware used. Pascal? Basic? :eusa_doh:

Excelent point. Not just having the hardware, but the correct software is going to be just as important. Remember all the varieties of "home computers" that existed before PC and MAC?

 

[CharlieB]

Sure I remember!

The first computer my dad bought (1981 or 1982) had a large memory of 8 Kb, we had to make our own programs. And they were recorded in those audio tapes.

Somewhere in home I still have some magazines with "programs", that you would copy (word by word) to try!

I don't remember the hardware used. Pascal? Basic? :eusa_doh:

I had a Texas Instruments TI994a. it ran their own basic. I started with the cassette tape drive for program and data storage, but upgraded to the 5 1/2 inch floppy drive....big time!