 |
Sony DAT 4 GB / 8 GB
by ben-lloyd
The Sony DGD120P is the second incarnation of the DDS tape format used for computer backup in the 1990s. Back in the days when company data took up a few gigabytes of disk space, the DDS2 cartridge provided a relatively cheap and efficient way to backup and restore data easily.
~~~ Appearance ~~~
Looking not unlike a ... modern Mini-DV casette, the DGD120P measures 72mm x 52mm x 10mm in black plastic with a small window showing the tape spooled inside. Unlike a video casette, the tape contained within cannot be easily accessed by prying fingers and the wheels used for spooling the tape are inaccessible until the cartridge is inserted into a drive. On the spine of the cartridge is a small white switch allowing the user to write-protect the tape and preserve a copy of the data contained thereupon.
Each cartridge is also supplied with a plastic storage case, a card allowing information regarding the backup set to be recorded by hand and also two sets of stickers so that the tape can be labelled.
~~~ Use ~~~
Using the DGD120P cartridge is as simple as using a video (if you can remember what one of those is!); you just put it in the slot provided by your tape backup drive and it is ready to be written to or read from. All of the backup/restore functions are taken care of by the backup software installed on your computer. The cartridge will hold 4Gb (gigabytes) of data straight out, but with compression (performed by backup software) this capacity can be doubled to 8Gb.
~~~ Observations ~~~
Although tape used to be the preserve of enterprise-size companies, the cost of a second-hand drive from eBay now means that anyone can have one relatively cheaply. However, one of the biggest problems with tape is the sheer lack of speed in reading and writing. It is slow. Really slooooow. Especially when you compress data to fit more onto the tape!
Also of concern is tape storage. Just like audio and video cassettes, tapes wear out from over use, poor storage or handling so a tape is NOT for life.
~~~ Conclusion ~~~
With rapid developments in DVD storage and ever-falling prices, there really isn't any need to look at tape for your storage needs, especially not the DDS2 format. Each DGD120P cartridge will cost approximately £5 new and hold between 4 and 8 gigabytes of data. A new dual-layer DVD+R disc will hold 8.5 gigabytes of data and will also cost approximately £5 BUT will be much faster to backup to and restore from. A 4Gb DVD+RW will cost little more than £1 and can be written to several times (1000+) before needing replacement.
Unless you like retro hardware or already have a DDS2 drive which is in use, you are not likely to need the DGD120P cartridge, BUT if you do want tape, this one will not fail you.
© ben-lloyd 2009. This review appears on other website under the same user name.
Read the complete review |
 |
Digital Innovations Skipdoctor Advanced Disc Repair System
by JJJJ
Ever felt the need to take your favourite CD or DVD, place it in an odd looking machine and grind it to dust?... no? - me neither, and the 'Skipdoctor Advanced' wouldn't do that anyway, as its aim is to repair rather than destroy damaged discs. Scratches on discs are usually a big problem, and can often spell the end for our shiny ... circular friends - they can make CD's skip, computer files unreadable, and DVD's very jumpy - therefore a machine that can fix the problem is surely a must-have - but does it work?.
Made by Digital Innovations, the grey and rather delicate handheld device costs £13.97 from Amazon. Requiring a little bit of assembly (with a small-headed Phillips screwdriver) when you take it out the box, the Skipdoctor Advanced is a manual device - although there are self-powered versions available from the same company.
To use the product, you first take the CD, DVD, or game which has 'issues', and spray the 'Resurfacing Fluid' (included) onto the playing side. Then, slot the disc into the machine, and turn the handle - it's a really simple process.
In my experience, the Skipdoctor Advanced is effective at fixing light scratches - although it can take a few goes on the machine before the problem is solved. Any deep scratches, or Grand Canyon like valleys will obviously not be fixed - although it is worth giving it a go, as the machine certainly won't make the problem any worse.
I had four damaged CD's in my collection, and three of them were repaired, whilst the other remained damaged. Therefore, I would recommend the product as a useful tool which may be of particular interest to the clumsy CD and DVD droppers amongst you.
Read the complete review |
 |
Verbatim DVD+R DL 8.5 GB 2.4x
by danz001
For starters Verbatim have always been the pioneers in data storage. With their edition of the Dual layer DVD this pioneering ability has not altered. I have used these discs for numorous purposes, from backing up large quanities of images to lenghty sessions of video and are yet to come across many hickups. They work and are understood ... by the majority of DVD burner on the market. However as a general piece of advice, make sure your particular drive has the latest firmware installed, as otherwise you may have an issue with what's known as "booktype". Lets get this straight 8.5Gb is alot of storage space, so mathematically 10 of these equate to an operating system drive. In terms of the comparison between these and other dual layer media available on the market, I would have to say that these discs are second to none. I so far have had 0 coasters, out of the 10 discs that i have burnt. Please also note as an added bonus that some DVD burners ( like mine for example) can show this media as compatible with 8.0x write speed, which will then further the speed at which you can back up data. All in all a great writeable media!
Read the complete review |
