Old tape drive proves its worth

Mon Nov 10 11:01:57 CST 2008

2008/11/10 Antonio Carlini <arcarlini at iee.org>:
> http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/11/10/2415393.htm
>
> An IBM729 Mark 5 tape drive grabbed the data for NASA.

Golly, why use an IBM pinch-roller drive (I remember the 729-IV on 
S/360 gear) when a CDC vacuum-capstan drive would be far gentler on 
the tape?  A modern streamer might be gentler still.

Just curious about the selection of the drive.

Cheers,
Chuck