The tape drives are the best backup medium which is suitable for average PC user, if you get the right kind and use it properly. The advantages of tape Drives are: First is capacity, as we know, the hard drives keep on getting bigger and bigger, and tape is economical backup medium for similar size. Second is the cost, the tape drives are inexpensive; A normal PC user can buy a drive and reliable backups of several gigabytes of data. The third thing which has been offered is reliability. The tape is a reasonably reliable backup medium which is provided with the media. The fourth advantage is simplicity and universality: There is a support for tape drives and a number of software packages that will support a wide variety of devices.

Tape is perfect backup for the average user. The reliability is good and it is more expensive tape drives. Performance is also less than ideal in many cases, especially when random access is needed to specific files on the tape. A tape drive is also known as a streamer that reads and writes data stored on a magnetic tape. It is used for storage of data stored on hard drives.

Tape drives are sequential access, and must read all preceding data to read any one particular piece of data. The different types of tapes and drives are Digital Data Storage, Digital Linear Tape, Linear Tape-Open, and Advanced Intelligent Tape. Digital Data Storage is a format for storing and backing up computer data on magnetic tape that evolved from Digital Audio Tape technology, which was originally created for CD-quality audio recording.

In 1989, Sony and Hewlett Packard defined the DDS format for data storage using DAT tape. Tapes conforming to the initial DDS format can play on either DAT or DDS tape machines. However, most DDS tape drives cannot be used for the audio storage. DDS uses tape which is initially of 60 or 90 meters long, although advancements in materials technology allowed the length to be increased significantly. A DDS tape drive uses different scanning methods for recording, the same process. There are two read heads and two write heads. The read heads verify the data that has been written. If errors are present, the write heads rewrite the data. A DDS cartridge needs to be retired after 2,000 passes or 100 full backups.

Tape drives should be cleaned regularly to be kept in good working order. DDS tapes have an expected life of at least 10 years. The DDS 1 can stores up to 1.3 GB. The DDS 2 can stores up to 4 GB 120 meter cartridge. The DDS 3 Stores up to 12 GB. The DDS 4 can store upto 20 GB. The DAT 72 can store upto 36 GB uncompressed on a 170 meter cartridge.

Thus, the tape drive is the most economical method, which can be used for the average users who wants to backup their data without any fear of getting damage. Thus, tape drives are more cheaper when compared to other drives and is affordable by the average user without any problem.

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