I'd like to thank everyone who posted to my first topic, and
especially Mick for posting to my previous thread and, at the same
time, swerving into my next question<g>. Hard copies vs digital. Is
it an all or nothing proposition? Is there something more tangible
about having THE paper in your hand? In my earlier thread, someone
mentioned having copies that aren't readable with a newer unit.
However, so far (and I know we've only been in the computer age for
about 25 years or so), there are no files that could not have survived
from the first saved disk until now. However, there are no 8 inch
floppy drives around, and not many more 5 1/4 inch floppy drives
around, let alone in use. So, if you haven't migrated yet, you MIGHT
be too late!
have inherited from my grandmother, I haven't thrown ANY of them away.
I think there is something awesome about having THE deed to my great
great great grandfather's land, signed by his hand in the late 1800's.
But for the life of my, it's hard to say WHY. The copy looks just as
good, and it can be reproduced precisely over and over again, with the
tenth copy of the image file looking just the same as the first. And,
unless I lose every single copy I can make, I'll always have it. Paper
will more than likely disintegrate. And, all the old census records
everyone here posts, are all images. Do the originals still exist? Or,
is it just the microfilm, or even, just the images of the microfilm?
Do you print out a copy of the microfilm images for your records? Or,
in that case, is the digital enough?
And now for some personal questions... Where do you store your
documents? If you digitize, how many backups, and where are they? If
you keep the originals, where? Are there any preservation tips that
are not obvious to us newbies? More to follow
Michael