Comment on NSA Claims It Can’t Watch a Tape It Recorded in the 1980s

• ChaoticNeutralCzech@feddit.org ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

  I don’t think tapes degrade that fast. Yes, the quality will get slightly worse but it can be played until it becomes too brittle.

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  • Vorticity@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    Video tape isn’t really that durable over time. Most of the info I can find comes from digitization services, but they are fairly consistent in saying that, for tapes that are stored in “normal” conditions, you can expect 10-25% degradation in 20 years. These tapes are 40 years old. They have likely degraded significantly already and may fall apart when played.

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    • Sanctus@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

      These bad boys have been screaming for preservation since the 90’s tbh. There’s no reason this shouldn’t be public domain. Its our history, its computer history.

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