I fully understand your concern, I was working in computer field for more
than 10 years. Although I didn't have the chance to use punched cards, but
I have been paying with computer since the Apple II ages. Although I cannot
get back the data from my Apple II diskettes, but the only reason is
because I don't need them.
I am still using Ashton-Tate dBase III plus (86' version). They are copied
from my old 5.25" diskette to the 3.5" diskette and now backup on the MO.
If I think I still need it, I will continue to backup it to next generation
of disk media... until one day, the hardware didn't support it. The data? I
am not worry about that they can translate into newer programs like Excel,
Access .... then I will be forced to learn the new programming language (I
am a bit lazy to learn now, I can do any data processing with the dBase III
only with the drawback of poor printing layout and display window as
compared with the Windows programs).
You cannot read the puched cards was because you didn't need the data, if
you need them you should backup them to other medias before the phase out
the your card reader.
Back to the image files, I don't think I will lost any of them if I think
they are important. They can be copy to newer medias with further lower
storage cost, translate to newer formats... and I am well prepared for the
next generation. The DVD-ROM? they are compatible with the current CDs.
C.H.Ling
> I've mentioned this before and I'll mention it again. The problem
> with the fast changing technology is not the fact that it is not
> big/fast/cheap/accurate/durable, but the problem is in the fast
> obsolescence of the digital storage technology itself.
>
> I still have boxes of punched cards that are less than 25 years old, and
> the information is still there. The life span of those punched cards
> can last another 50 years. But just try to find a card reader that
> can recover the information today, and you'll understand what I mean.
> The same can be said for 1/2 inch mag tape, 14 inch disk cartridges,
> SMD hard drives, MFM hard drives, ESDI hard drives, 8 inch floppies,
> 5.25 inch floppies, various cartridge tapes, various removable archival
> storage devices, and so on and so on...
>
> And even if you can find a physical device that can handle the storage
> media, trying to find a device driver that can interface that device
> to the current operating systems is another obstacle. I can still buy
> 8 inch floppy drives from salvage companies, but who is going to build
> the interface to today's computers (both HW and SW)? Sure, the data
> is still there on those floppies, but you just can't get to it.
>
> The current CD technology is very quickly being replaced by newer
> formats; MD and DVD are probably the most visible, but there are many
> other similar new technologies. I know, someone will say: "CD is not
> just for computer storage, there are billions of audio CD's around,
> they can not get rid of it that quickly." Well, if you remember the
> old vinyl records of not too long ago, they disappeared overnight and
> are completely replaced by CDs. The same can happen to the current CD
> technology.
> -Dan
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