🚀 go-pugleaf

G'day all,

I've got a bit of a dilema, I've managed to find some pretty good prices
in Australia for three different (brand new) tape drives. I'm after a
cheap but reliable backup drive for my linux system.

segate TR-3, floppy interface, 1.6G native,	$310
segate TR-4, SCSI interface, 4.0G native,	$580
Wang DSS2 DAT, SCSI interface, 4.0G native,	$670

I can probably live with the meager 1.6G native of TR-3, but I'm a bit
worried about the floppy interface. Also, I'd like to plan a bit for
future expansion. However, it's very cheap, so if they were reliable, I'd
still consider them.

The TR-4 has good capacity, SCSI interface, and OK price. The raw stats on
these drives put them as being better (faster etc.) than the DSS2 DATs.
The only problem is they are pretty new, and I don't know how reliable
they are. Also, the tapes are more pricy than DAT.

The DSS2 DAT is very cheap. These drives used to be above $2000. DAT
has been around for a while, so they should be pretty reliable, and would
normaly have been a shoe-in at this price. However, I've been reading a
fair few reports of reliability problems with them lately, and even had a
few verbal reports of problems (however, the solution suggested of going
to DLT is a bit out of my price range).

I'm keen to hear any suggestions on what I should go for or avoid. If
anyone is interested, I can email or post the results of my search for the
best backup/buck when I've finished.

ABO