[ARSCLIST] Backing up to HD in some kind of [relatively] reliable fashion?

[Alyssa Ryvers <alyssa@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi,

I am about to archive some shows I am working on, and this LACIE
Firewire 120 GB drive looks awfully appealing at $400 CND. I hate CDs
and don't trust their reliability - even the Gold ones. OK...I admit I
am the stone tablet type, so given that, and keeping that in
mind...What's the scoop on hard drives? I know a number of places,
including the National Library of Canada, are archiving to HD and at
least getting rid of the pesky CD.

I assume these drives need to be exercised: at what interval?

Are some kinds of drives considered more reliable than others?
(FW/SCSI/EIDE)

What's the scoop on Magneto Optical and [the apparently upcoming] Ultra
Density Optical? I've heard over the years MO is the most reliable of
backup media, but expensive. Perhaps things have changed?

Thanks, and best regards,

Alyssa.
___________
Alyssa Ryvers
www.musicnorth.com