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Tape Drives: What the Future Holds
New Formats
Several new formats available now or soon...
- LTO: Linear Tape Open Consortium (two different types)
- VXA (new technology, low price)
- AIT (8mm with chip-on-cartridge)
- All incompatible with existing formats!
| Type | Name | Capacity | Speed | Available | Cost/Media | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VXA | VXA1 | 33 GB | 3 MB/S | Now | <$900/$80 | Multi-speed, 4 heads, helical scan 8mm |
| AIT | AIT-1 | 25 GB | 3 MB/S | Now | $2.4k/$100 | Chip on each 8mm cartridge Not compatible with Exabyte |
| AIT-2 | 50 GB | 6 MB/S | Now | $5k/$100 | Next Generation AIT | |
| LTO | Accelis | 25 GB | ? | Any day now? | ? | 8mm helical scan |
| Ultrium | 100 GB | 10-20 MB/S | Any day now? | ? | 1/2-inch linear tape |