Long-term backups

[davetron5000]

I've been backing up my sessions to DVD, but am a bit nervous about the longevity and reliability of that format. I've also come to learn that hard drives do not fare well long term when not operating (i.e. thrown into a drawer).

I looked at some AIT drives, and they are all quite pricey.

Is there an alternatvie that isn't so much?
Will DVDs actually keep?

[jdjustice]

Originally Posted by davetron5000

I looked at some AIT drives, and they are all quite pricey.

They are pricey but they are really worth the investment if you truly want to keep your data for years and years... AIT, SAIT, and VXA from Exabyte are extremely sturdy and should last forever. Optical discs like CD and DVD have a shelf-life of between 8-15 years before you risk losing your data. (I am estimating here, and no one can tell you for sure how long an optical disc will last).

You can procure an AIT-1 external drive for about $800. That's not TOO bad...... LaCie makes one I believe and then Exabyte makes external VXA drives for somewhere around the same price.

J.D.