On Mon, 01 May 2006 05:37:42 +0100, Godfrey DiGiorgi <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
wrote:
Once you put all your files into a repository as large and as fast as a
hard drive based backup system, making conversions en masse is simply
not an issue.
- Move the data to a new archive? Plug in the new drive, plug in the
original, tell the OS to copy it. Have lunch or go to bed. It will be
done by the time you get back.
- Convert the data to a new format? Plug in the original archive, write
a short script to do whatever conversion is necessary, go away and let
the computer work.
It's not that difficult, once you pass a certain threshold of resources
and understanding.
They say that tight-rope walking over Niagara isn't that difficult - once
you pass a certain threshold of resources
and understanding.
John
Godfrey
On Apr 30, 2006, at 9:05 AM, George Sinos wrote:
Bob -
I don't see the time or cost of format conversion as different than
the investment I'm making in scanning slides and prints into digital
formats. And digital files are much easier and cheaper to convert to
new formats than film and paper.
Usually these conversions can be performed over a relatively long
period of time. It's rare that everything must be converted on short
notice.
I see the situation as better than that of film conversion.
As far as cheap on-line storage is concerned, I mentioned one current
partial solution for photos earlier in the this thread. Others cannot
be far behind. But US$ 40 per year for unlimited storage of jpg files
is extremely cheap. Given that four copies of the files are stored in
three locations in different regions of the country I feel pretty
secure in using this as one part of my backup strategy.
See you later, gs
<http://georgesphotos.net>
On 4/30/06, Bob W <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> > <snip>
the problem is, though, that you will probably have to maintain an
unbroken
chain of conversions for however long you want to keep the files. This
involves cost, either as work or as money, for each conversion.
<snip>
The only other possibility that might have a viable future is online
storage
similar to that that Google offer (or may offer soon). If storage
online is
cheap enough and secure enough, some company will offer it as a
long-term
archive for things like photos. They will take care of conversions
transparently to the user, and economies of scale will make it
profitable.
Bob
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