The IBM 3480 tape drive has spawned a whole new generation of enormous automatic tape mounting and storage systems, and Fujitsu Ltd has released what sounds very much like the world’s largest jukebox: designed for use with Fujitsu’s M-series mainframes, the Facom 6455 can handle a phenomenal 5,200 reels of 205Mb tape cartridges – each storing the equivalent of 400Mb by the application of data compression techniques so that the thing can store 1,100Gb all told; the unit rents for $23,000 a month, and will no doubt soon win substantial OEM sales to the US and European marketers of IBM-compatible peripherals.
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