In a message dated 06-01-15, Sean Dennis said to Tom Walker:   
      
   Howdy Sean,   
      
   SD> Tapes, on the other hand, when cared for properly, can last decades.   
      
   No they don't.  Just like music cassettes the magnetic information   
   migrates between the rolled up tape layers.   
      
   In this regard CDs and DVDs are better but they aren't perfect either.   
   The silver platters are prone to destroy themselves with age if you   
   don't know the quality of them.   
      
   Only time will tell you the true quality of the platters so the only way   
   to ensure that the data is reliable is to make new copies of them within   
   their life expectancy. What that is, is unknown ;o)   
      
      
   73 de Sam, OH0NC   
      
   aka Holger   
      
   ___   
    * MR/2 2.30 * OS/2 and Old age are better than the alternatives.   
      
      
   --- PCBoard (R) v15.22 (OS/2) 2   
    * Origin: Coming to you from the Sunny Aland Islands. (2:20/228)