Appendix B
A Summary of Storage Possibilities

Film

• low-cost archival storage
• should experience a rebirth due to use in digital-imaging systems
• core technology for archival storage on imaging systems for at least the next several years

Magnetic Disk:

• high-speed random access
• will continue to be used for high-speed buffer storage and temporary working storage on fileservers and workstations in digital imaging systems

Magnetic Reel Tapes:

• slow sequential access, low cost
• will become extinct in five to ten years

Optical Disc:

• random access, removable, medium speed
• will be the core data storage technology for providing low-cost random access in imaging systems during the 1990s and beyond
• archival issue will be solved, obsolescence will require recopying

CD-ROM (660 MB, read-only):

• stores approximately 330,000 character-coded text-only pages
• 6,000 to 10,000 300 dpi compressed images
• ideal distribution and database publishing medium
• increase in capacity and throughput due shortly

Optical Card:

• ten MB of laser-written data on credit-card-size card
• important medium for notebook PCs

Helical Scan Tape (new technology, shows promise for back-up and possible distribution of large data files, including image files):

• 4mm digital audio tape (DAT) at 1.2 to 2.4 GB
• 8mm video at 2-5 GB
• both have robotic handling systems available

New Technology Optical Tape:

• experimental technology, first deliveries in ’91
• single 12″ optical tape stores the equivalent of 1,500 CD-ROMs or one terabyte* of data
• cheaper than any other form of storage; may compete with film for storage of greyscale images in future
• 28 second average and 60 seconds maximum end-to-end access time claimed