RE: Data Archive: SOLUTION

J.Paul Robinson (jpr@flowcyt.cyto.purdue.edu)
Fri, 30 May 1997 00:56:05 -0500

The question of data archive is important and must be assessed with great
care. My bias is toward CD-R - recordable CDROM. I have some good reasons
and we have had a lot of experience. We have been recording CD-Rs for 3 1/2
years and we are about to buy a replacement recorder as the old one is worn
out. We paid $5,500 for the first one and expect to pay about $500 for the
new one! Disks are now at $5.00 or below - so it's really cheap even when
making 2 copies which you should do. We have recorded several hundred CDs -
they work great. I'd put my money on them, I did and I will again!!

Main Advantages of CD-R:

1. Cost is low
2. Interchangeable platforms (can read on Macs and PC and UNIX etc)
3. Readers are very cheap
4. Writers are very cheap
5. EVERYONE has a CDROM drive somewhere close by! (even your kids)
6. Almost EVERY new laptop now has a CDROM drive - just think of the fun
you can have on vacation at the beach analyzing that wonderful flow data!

Main Disadvantages of CD-R:

1. Software is often trashy and unpredictable -so use the basic stuff
(Corel SCSI)
2. Don't make MULTISESSION disks - You are better to archive 250 megs and
waste the rest - its safer (so it costs you $5.00 to archive 250 megs
rather than 650megs!! - big deal)
3. Disks still have to be treated with care - don't use them for coffee
coasters.
4. I predict CDs in their present format will still be a viable technology
for at least 5 more years and they will be readable for at least 10 more
years (DVDs will read CDROMS) - your computer will be out of date in 12
months - tough!
5. DVDs sound great, but recorders will cost an arm and a leg - so forget
them for a couple of years. Lets put it this way - if you haven't got a CD
recorder now (after they've been around for 5 years) you don't need a DVD
either!
6. CDs are slow to read, but frankly WHO CARES! If you are reading your
archive backup, you'll be so happy to get the files back, you won't worry
about it taking 2 minutes to copy the files rather than 20 seconds!

This is not a rocket science decision...CD-R are just like floppy drives
were 5 years ago...

Regards
Paul Robinson

J.Paul Robinson, Ph.D.
Professor of Immunopharmacology
Director, Purdue University Cytometry Laboratories
EMAIL: robinson@flowcyt.cyto.purdue.edu
WEB http://www.cyto.purdue.edu
Phone: (765) 494 0757 FAX (765) 494 0517

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CD-ROM Vol 3 was produced by Monica M. Shively and other staff at the Purdue University Cytometry Laboratories and distributed free of charge as an educational service to the cytometry community. If you have any comments please direct them to Dr. J. Paul Robinson, Professor & Director, PUCL, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907. Phone: (765)-494-0757; FAX(765) 494-0517; Web http://www.cyto.purdue.edu , EMAIL cdrom3@flowcyt.cyto.purdue.edu