History Main / ComputerEqualsTapedrive

No longer as common, since in RealLife, almost everybody[[note]]except certain industrial class backup systems[[/note]] has stopped using the old-fashioned 9-track mag tape reel because of size and cost. E.g. a 6250 bpi, 1600 foot tape could hold, at most, a little over 100 megabytes of data,[[note]]the normal maximum block size is 32760 bytes, and each 32760-byte block takes, with the gap following it, 5.992 inches[[/note]] and costs about US$12. By 2012, it was possible to walk into a stationery store and buy a microSD card the size of a man's thumbnail for close to $12, and it would hold at least 4 billion bytes, or about 50 times as much as the above tape reel. And that's not even the cheapest example. A top-of-the-line 4 terabyte[[note]]that's 4 ''trillion'' bytes[[/note]] hard drive could often be purchased at or under US$200. That means data storage on modern hardware is ''[[ReadingsAreOffTheScale thousands]]'' of times cheaper today, and that's before factoring in inflation.[[note]]It's impractical to use because of extremely slow random access, not because of low capacity and high cost. Most have moved on to modern tape cassette drives, which have a capacity of up to [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tape_drive#History 12 terabytes.]][[/note]]

No longer as common, since in RealLife, almost everybody[[note]]except certain industrial class backup systems[[/note]] has stopped using the old-fashioned 9-track mag tape reel because of size and cost, e.g. a 6250 bpi, 1600 foot tape could hold, at most, a little over 100 megabytes of data,[[note]]the normal maximum block size is 32760 bytes, and each 32760-byte block takes, with the gap following it, 5.992 inches[[/note]] and costs about US$12. By 2012, it was possible to walk into a stationery store and buy a microSD card the size of a man's thumbnail for close to $12, and it would hold at least 4 billion bytes, or about 50 times as much as the above tape reel. And that's not even the cheapest example. A top-of-the-line 4 terabyte[[note]]that's 4 ''trillion'' bytes[[/note]] hard drive could often be purchased at or under US$200. That means data storage on modern hardware is ''[[ReadingsAreOffTheScale thousands]]'' of times cheaper today, and that's before factoring in inflation.[[note]]It's impractical to use because of extremely slow random access, not because of low capacity and high cost. Most have moved on to modern tape cassette drives, which have a capacity of up to [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tape_drive#History 12 terabytes.]][[/note]]

** In fact, certain systems, (the ZX Spectrum and TRS-80 Color Computer in particular, as well as the Apple ][,) actually used standard cassette players as their tape "drives" and you could hear the software when if you played the software tapes in a standard Hi-Fi (which also meant that a dual deck cassette deck of the sort that was common in the early 1990s made a perfect copying device!). If you did your own programming you could record to them as well, making them the exact precursor to home use floppy drives.

** In fact certain systems (the ZX Spectrum and TRS-80 Color Computer in particular, as well as the Apple ][) actually used standard cassette players as their tape "drives" and you could hear the software when if you played the software tapes in a standard Hi-Fi (which also meant that a dual deck cassette deck of the sort that was common in the early 1990s made a perfect copying device!). If you did your own programming you could record to them as well, making them the exact precursor to home use floppy drives.

Superseded by ComputerEqualsMonitor. It might seem weird though, but [[http://www.securitronlinux.com/bejiitaswrath/computer-tape-drives-coming-back-to-the-computers-of-2012/ the tape drive is not exactly extinct]] as a storage medium, and modern ones as of June 2018 can store up to 12 TB of data. Their niche today is generally backups for large multinational enterprises, though, given the low retrieval speeds and extremely high storage capacity. As for appearing in film, most filmmakers give the modern drive a pass since modern LTO tape drives don't look anything like those tape drives of old and are so uncommon that not many people have seen one; the tapes look like small videocassettes (nothing like the big open-reel tapes that used to be common) and the drives mount in the same bays as CD/DVD drives. Not to mention that the lack of activity indicators on one and the inability to see the tape reels spinning, as well as the above-mentioned speed issue, makes it a very boring subject to film.

* In the [[UsefulNotes/The8bitEraOfConsoleVideoGames 8 bit era]] of home computers (Commodore 64, Sinclair ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC, Dragon, TRS-80 and the like) software was available on cassette tapes, which were the exact same format as the Compact Cassettes that younger tropers associate with the 1990s for some reason (but were actually invented in the 1960s and were just as prevalent in the 1980s).

** [[http://www.irregularwebcomic.net/67.html Cue]] Webcomic/IrregularWebcomic:

In the 1990s the films ''Film/ClearAndPresentDanger'' and ''Eraser'' featured StorageTek PowderHorn robotic tape "silos".

-->-- '''[[https://youtu.be/kGGQ1wvMDr8?t=4m47s Gordon Freeman]]''', ''Machinima/FreemansMind''

-->-- '''Gordon Freeman''', ''Machinima/FreemansMind''

No longer as common, since in RealLife, almost everybody[[note]]except certain industrial class backup systems[[/note]] has stopped using the old-fashioned 9-track mag tape reel because of size and cost, e.g. a 6250 bpi, 1600 foot tape could hold, at most, a little over 100 megabytes of data,[[note]]the normal maximum block size is 32760 bytes, and each 32760-byte block takes, with the gap following it, 5.992 inches[[/note]] and costs about US$12. By 2012, it was possible to walk into a stationery store and buy a microSD card the size of a man's thumbnail for close to $12, and it would hold at least 4 billion bytes, or about 50 times as much as the above tape reel. And that's not even the cheapest example. A top-of-the-line 4 terabyte[[note]]that's 4 ''trillion'' bytes[[/note]] hard drive could often be purchased at or under US$200. That means data storage on modern hardware is ''[[ReadingsAreOffTheScale thousands]]'' of times cheaper today, and that's before factoring in inflation.[[note]]It's impractical to use because of extremely slow random access, not because of low capacity and high cost. Most have moved on to modern tape cassette drives, which have a capacity of up to [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tape_drive#History 5 terabytes.]][[/note]]

Superseded by ComputerEqualsMonitor. It might seem weird though, but [[http://www.securitronlinux.com/bejiitaswrath/computer-tape-drives-coming-back-to-the-computers-of-2012/ the tape drive is not exactly extinct]] as a storage medium, and modern ones as of June 2018 can store up to 32 TB of data- in comparison, the largest single hard drive of the same period can hold 12TB, about three-eights worth of data, unless clustered in a RAID array. Their niche today is generally backups for large multinational enterprises, though, given the low retrieval speeds and extremely high storage capacity. As for appearing in film, most filmmakers give the modern drive a pass since modern LTO tape drives don't look anything like those tape drives of old and are so uncommon that not many people have seen one; the tapes look like small videocassettes (nothing like the big open-reel tapes that used to be common) and the drives mount in the same bays as CD/DVD drives. Not to mention that the lack of activity indicators on one and the inability to see the tape reels spinning, as well as the above-mentioned speed issue, makes it a very boring subject to film.

* Magnetic tapes are the precursors of today's hard drive. Surprisingly, they ''are'' still used in the modern day, and new developments are still being made; as of December 2017, Ultrium LTO-8 tapes are available, storing 32TB of data. They're mainly stored in a backup location far from the main site of the source data, used as a long-lived backup and/or to replace data in case of a disaster. The reason is that magnetic tapes can be easily swapped quickly (since only the tape needs to be replaced) while hard drives cannot (unless the center pays for a hard drive that can, which can cost thousands). Also, when properly stored, in a dry and climate-controlled environment, magnetic tapes last for ''decades'', moreso than hard drives or [=CDs=].

Superseded by ComputerEqualsMonitor. It might seem weird though, but [[http://www.securitronlinux.com/bejiitaswrath/computer-tape-drives-coming-back-to-the-computers-of-2012/ the tape drive is not exactly extinct]] as a storage medium, and modern ones can store up to 12 TB of data. Their niche today is generally backups for large multinational enterprises, though, given the low retrieval speeds and extremely high storage capacity. As for appearing in film, most filmmakers give the modern drive a pass since modern LTO tape drives don't look anything like those tape drives of old and are so uncommon that not many people have seen one; the tapes look like small videocassettes (nothing like the big open-reel tapes that used to be common) and the drives mount in the same bays as CD/DVD drives. Not to mention that the lack of activity indicators on one and the inability to see the tape reels spinning, as well as the above-mentioned speed issue, makes it a very boring subject to film.

In the 1990s the films ''Film/ClearAndPresentDanger'' and ''Film/Eraser'' featured robotic tape "silos".

Superseded by ComputerEqualsMonitor. It might seem weird though, but [[http://www.securitronlinux.com/bejiitaswrath/computer-tape-drives-coming-back-to-the-computers-of-2012/ the tape drive is not exactly extinct]] as a storage medium, and modern ones can store up to 8 TB of data. Their niche today is generally backups for large multinational enterprises, though, given the low retrieval speeds and extremely high storage capacity. As for appearing in film, most filmmakers give the modern drive a pass since modern LTO tape drives don't look anything like those tape drives of old and are so uncommon that not many people have seen one; the tapes look like small videocassettes (nothing like the big open-reel tapes that used to be common) and the drives mount in the same bays as CD/DVD drives. Not to mention that the lack of activity indicators on one and the inability to see the tape reels spinning, as well as the above-mentioned speed issue, makes it a very boring subject to film.

Superseded by ComputerEqualsMonitor. It might seem weird though, but [[http://www.securitronlinux.com/bejiitaswrath/computer-tape-drives-coming-back-to-the-computers-of-2012/ the tape drive is not exactly extinct]] as a storage medium, and modern ones can store up to 8 TB of data. Their niche seems to be for the purpose of backups in large multinational enterprises though, given the low retrieval speeds and extremely high storage capacity. As for appearing in film, most filmmakers give the modern drive a pass since modern LTO tape drives don't look anything like those tape drives of old and are so uncommon that not many people have seen one; the tapes look like small videocassettes (nothing like the big open-reel tapes that used to be common) and the drives mount in the same bays as CD/DVD drives. Not to mention that the lack of activity indicators on one and the inability to see the tape reels spinning, as well as the abovementioned speed issue, makes it a very boring subject to film.

* ''Series/{{Banacek}}'': In "If Max Is So Smart, Why Doesn't He Tell Us Where He Is?", the object stolen is Max; a 1970s supercomputer with spinning tape drives and blinking lights that takes up half a room.

* Lampshaded in ''Machinima/FreemansMind'' when Gordon enters an old but still in-use rocket test site. Despite being under attack from an {{Eldritch Abomination}}, it is the sight of a tapedrive (and punchcards, see the page quote) that sends him to a raging rant.

* The [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEiwzcbKq0Q music video]] for the song "Computer Games" by [[NewWaveMusic New Wave]] group Mi-Sex was filmed on location at what was then Control Data Corp's [[UsefulNotes/{{Sydney}} North Sydney]] processing centre. In 1979. It does overlap with ComputerEqualsMonitor though.

* ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyBlackOps'' features them, given its '60s setting. Memorably, one is used in the fourth mission as the basis for a QuickTimeEvent right before the shooting starts, wherein you sneak up on an unsuspecting guard and smash his head into the tape reel.

** In another episode, [[spoiler: malevolent supercomputer]] M.U.T.H.eR. is on a reel-to-reel mainframe. [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]] when M.U.T.H.eR. [[spoiler:tries to launch a nuclear missile]]; while everyone else is panicking, Pete White mentions that a computer that runs on such an ancient mainframe (and uses a dial-up modem) can't act very quickly.

* ''Series/DoctorWho'' in the 1960s, of course, although some episodes set in the future eschew the tape drives for more blinking lights. An {{egregious}} example in the First Doctor serial ''[[Recap/DoctorWhoS3E10TheWarMachines The War Machines]]'': [=WOTAN=], the MasterComputer, is expectedly chock full of blinking lights and tape drives - but ''so are the titular War Machines'', which were built on the mastercomputer's specifications. But that's not the best bit. The War Machines, which were largish mini tanks that roamed the streets of London, had the tape drives mounted on the outside.

* In ''WesternAnimation/DuckTales'', Glomgold's computer in "Wrong way to Ronguay" is of this type.

** In ''Film/RogueOne'' we get to see said tapes, along with many others at the Imperial data center on Scarif.

* Magnetic tapes are the precursors of today's hard drive. Surprisingly, they ''are'' still used in the modern day, and new developments are still being made; as of 2017, Ul trium LTO-7 tapes are available, storing 15TB of data. They're mainly stored in a backup location far from the main site of the source data, used as a long-lived backup and/or to replace data in case of a disaster. The reason is that magnetic tapes can be easily swapped quickly (since only the tape needs to be replaced) while hard drives cannot (unless the center pays for a hard drive that can, which can cost thousands). Also, when properly stored, in a dry and climate-controlled environment, magnetic tapes last for ''decades'', moreso than hard drives or [=CDs=].

* Played with in ''WesternAnimation/MegasXLR'' in the episode "Viva Las Megas", which features [[MonsterOfTheWeek R.E.C.R]], a giant military robot built in the 60's. It has a tape reel and a "massive" 56 kilobyte processor.
* In ''WesternAnimation/TheVentureBrothers'', The computer system that stores [[spoiler:The minds of the Venture brothers]] is apparently run on tape.
** In another episode, [[spoiler: malevolent supercomputer]] M.U.T.H.eR. is on a reel-to-reel mainframe. [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded when M.U.T.H.eR.]] [[spoiler: tries to launch a nuclear missile]]; while everyone is panicking, Pete White mentions that a computer that runs on such an ancient mainframe (and uses a dial-up modem) can't act very quickly.

* Magnetic tapes are the precursors of today's hard drive.
* Magnetic tapes are STILL USED today, mainly in backup and archiving procedures, and new developments are still being made. Currently Ul trium LTO-7 tapes are available, storing 15TB of data in 2017.
** The reason is that magnetic tapes can be easily swapped quickly (since only the tape needs to be replaced) while hard drives cannot (unless the center pays for a hard drive that can, which can cost thousands).
** There is also the fact that when properly stored, in a dry and climate controlled environment, magnetic tapes last for decades. Try getting an HDD or CD to last that long.
** Typically stored far away from the site of the source data in case of a disaster. Data can be restored from the tapes ensuring business continuity.

* Magnetic tapes are STILL USED today, mainly in backup and archiving procedures, and new developments are still being made. Fujifilm has announced a 158 TB tape to be available in 2015.

* ''Franchise/StarWars Episode IV: Film/ANewHope'' had one of the Imperial brass on the Death Star mention that said superweapon's plans were stored on tapes. The opening does say that the series is set a long time ago...
** Cue some joker (I think it was ''Robot Chicken'', but don't quote me) commenting that they have all these hi-tech goodies but the most advanced recording medium they have is tapes.

* In ''Film/IronSky'', the moon-nazi scientist doesn't beleive that a smartphone is really a computer. He points to, yes, a room-filling beast of a computer with tape reels and blinky lights and says, "That's not a computer. ''This'' a computer!" He's forced to admit his machine is woefully out-of-date upon actually ''using'' said phone. He then reverse-engineers the phone's USB jack and uses it to [[spoiler: run a space cruiser]].

* The computers in ''VideoGame/{{Fallout}}'' are often found with tape drives. In ''VideoGame/{{Fallout 2}}'', these are described as being very modern reel-to-reel devices. Justified, given the slightly twisted alternate history the games exist in (e.g. the transistor was never invented in the ''Falloutverse'').

* ''VideoGame/WolfensteinTheNewOrder'' zig-zags this; the game is set in an AlternateUniverse where Nazi Germany won World War II thanks to [[StupidJetpackHitler super-science]] provided by the BigBad Deathshead. As a result, the Germans have personal computers and even an elaborate moon base in the [=1960s=]...but the launch codes for a stolen nuclear submarine (which are stored at said moon base) come in the form of punchcards.
* ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyBlackOps'' features them, given its '60s setting. Memorably, one is used in the fourth mission as the basis for a QuickTimeEvent wherein you sneak up on an unsuspecting guard and ram his head into the tape reel.

* In the [[The8bitEraOfConsoleVideoGames 8 bit era]] of home computers (Commodore 64, Sinclair ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC, Dragon, TRS-80 and the like) software was available on cassette tapes, which were the exact same format as the Compact Cassettes that younger tropers associate with the 1990s for some reason (but were actually invented in the 1960s and were just as prevalent in the 1980s).

* In the [[The8bitEraOfConsoleVideoGames 8 bit era]] of home computers (Commodore 64, Sinclair ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC, Dragon, TRS-80 and the like) software was available on cassette tapes, which were the exact same format as the Compact Cassettes that younger tropers associate with the 1990s for some reason (but were actually invented in the 1960s and were just as prevalent in the 1980s) In fact certain systems (the ZX Spectrum and TRS-80 Color Computer in particular, as well as the Apple ][) actually used standard cassette players as their tape "drives" and you could hear the software when if you played the software tapes in a standard Hi-Fi (which also meant that a dual deck cassette deck of the sort that was common in the early 1990s made a perfect copying device!). If you did your own programming you could record to them as well, making them the exact precursor to home use floppy drives.

* In the [[The8bitEraOfConsoleVideoGames 8 bit era]] of home computers (Commodore 64, Sinclair ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC, Dragon, TRS-80 and the like) software was available on cassette tapes, which were the exact same format as the Compact Cassettes that younger tropers associate with the 1990s for some reason (but were actually invented in the 1960s and were just as prevalent in the 1980s) In fact certain systems (the ZX Spectrum and TRS-80 Color Computer in particular) actually used standard cassette players as their tape "drives" and you could hear the software when if you played the software tapes in a standard Hi-Fi (which also meant that a dual deck cassette deck of the sort that was common in the early 1990s made a perfect copying device!)