Facebook-f Instagram X-twitter Youtube Linkedin-in
We Buy Used IT Equipment Logo
DES Technologies Logo
Get A Quote
Menu

Blog

Whether you’re a business looking to recover value from retired assets or an individual hunting for affordable tech, our guides and insights help you make smarter decisions in the IT resale market.

Category: Tape

old tape reels
Data Tape Media
Alex

The History of Data Tapes: From Round Reels to LTO and IBM 3592

Data storage has come a long way — but few technologies have shown the longevity, resilience, and cost-efficiency of magnetic tape. From the massive round reels of the 1940s to today’s compact, multi-terabyte LTO and IBM 3592 cartridges, tape has evolved into a technology that remains not only relevant but essential in the age of big data, AI, and compliance regulation. So why does a storage medium that predates the moon landing still dominate the world’s largest data centers? Let’s

Alex October 17, 2025
Which Organizations Still Use Data Tape
Data Tape Media
Alex

Who Still Uses Tape Storage in 2026, and Why

Tape has been called “dead” for decades. Yet some of the largest data operations in the world still write petabytes to tape every year. If anything, tape matters more now than it did ten years ago. This guide explains who still uses tape storage, why they rely on it, and what it means for your own backup and archive plans. As a company that buys and processes used LTO and IBM 3592 tapes every day, we see firsthand how much

Alex September 11, 2025
Data Stored on Tape
Data
Alex

How Is Data Stored on Tape? Magnetic Tape Storage Explained

How Is Data Stored on Tape? Magnetic Tape Storage Explained Tape might seem old-fashioned, but a single modern cartridge can hold more data than a stack of hard drives. Cloud providers, banks, and research labs still trust it with their most important long-term archives. So how does a strip of plastic film store tens of terabytes? This guide explains how data is stored on tape, how tape drives read and write it, and why tape is still one of the

Alex August 12, 2025
Technician Using LTO Cleaning Tape in a Data Center
LTO
Alex

How to Use LTO Cleaning Tape the Right Way

Your tape drive just flashed a “clean” light. Do you run a cleaning tape right away? Every week? Every time a backup fails? Getting this wrong wears out drive heads faster, and LTO drives are not cheap to replace. This guide covers when to clean, how to do it step by step, the mistakes we see most often, and what to do with the tapes and drives you no longer need. We handle thousands of used LTO cartridges every year,

Alex August 12, 2025
Modern Data Center Tape Archive
Data Storage
Alex

How Dependable Is Tape as a Data Backup Solution?

Short answer: Yes, tape is dependable for backup and long-term archives when it’s stored properly and you can accept slower restores. Cartridges are rated for up to 30 years, tapes kept offline can’t be reached over the network, and modern cartridges hold up to 40 TB (LTO-10) or 50 TB (IBM 3592 JF) native. It’s a poor fit when you need instant recovery. Browse what we buy and sell: Our tape media hub covers every format, including the LTO tape

Alex June 27, 2025
The Strengths and Weaknesses of Tape Backup
Data Tape Media
Alex

Strengths and Weaknesses of Tape Backup: Is It Still a Smart Choice for Long-Term Storage?

The Strengths and Weaknesses of Tape Backup: What You Need to Know Tape backup has been a cornerstone of data storage since the 1970s—and despite the rise of cloud and disk-based alternatives, it still holds value in today’s IT strategies. If you’re considering long-term storage solutions, it’s essential to understand the strengths and weaknesses of tape backup before making an informed decision. Let’s break down where tape backup shines—and where it may fall short. Strengths of Tape Backup 1. High

Alex September 5, 2019

Search