Tape VS HDD

[kuddlesworth9419]

Why don't we all use tapes instead of HDD's. I just came across a cheap consumer tape and dock that runs over USB 3.0 and I kind of want to get it to store all my backups on however I would like some thoughts. Also can a tape be written to and then stuff deleted from it and written to again.

 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tandberg-8667-RDX-QuikStor-Including-AccuGuard/dp/B0050ATJIO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1410192213&sr=8-1&keywords=tape+drive

[ForsakenLive]

It is more reliable but extremely expensive and inconvenient for daily use, specially with large amounts of data. Let's just leave tape for critical data back ups from multinational companies and banks.

[kuddlesworth9419]

It is more reliable but extremely expensive and inconvenient for daily use, specially with large amounts of data. Let's just leave tape for critical data back ups from multinational companies and banks.

The one in the link is cheap as chips. And why is it inconvenient please explain. 

[C_Mike]

A tape is a sequential data store, so it has to be read and written to in the same order, so rewriting can be tricky. Also they are slower than hard drives. 

[ForsakenLive]

The one in the link is cheap as chips. And why is it inconvenient please explain. 

It takes more space fiscally and it needs to be properly stored and handled to be actually more reliable. You need to be careful when you take the data out of the tapes, and when you are done with them store them on a room with correct temperature and humidity, the top of your desk won't do.

Tape is slower and more tricky to get it working, and prices for it are very high.

The product you linked seems to be a USB dock where you put a hard drive or a SSD, not a tape reader.

[Jack.EXE]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfx8IhruW2s

[Blade of Grass]

Keep in mind that tapes are slow, and meant for achieving data, not for real time use.