Backup with Zip Drive vs CD RW

[rharbin]

I have had a 100mb zip drive for about 2 years. I?m in the routine of backing up my data on a couple 100mb disks. I got a CD RW about a year ago. I use it for photos, mp3s and burning CDs. I?m thinking of doing all my backups on to CDs. Can anyone please help me with the pros and cons? It seems like CD is the only way to go but, if that is the case, how is it that Iomega keeps selling the 100 and 250 mb drives for more than the cost of a CD RW. Here are my thoughts.

Zip +s
Easy interface

CD RW +s
Fast
Cheap
Holds lots more
Lasts longer

Is there anything I?m missing? Thanks in advance. Ron

 

[CloroxCowboy]

I honestly cannot think of one drawback.

As too your question Zip disks are everywhere and easier to the general population to use. I think your average non-technical person thinks of CD burning as advanced.

just my 2 cents...

 

[CubicZirconia]

Zips are far better for quick and easy file storage. CDRW's are usually better for longer term storage.

 

[Shooters]

The Zip is still good for transporting files because right now it's more an a "standard" component. For example, almost all of the computers at the university I attend have Zip drives making it very easy for students to bring work from home, work on it at school and then save it to Zip and take it home again. However, not all the computers are equipped with CD burners. For backups and storage though, I would have to say that CDR is superior to Zip in every way.

 

[MisterBombastic]

CDRWs tend to take a while to format. My HP 8100 drive takes 90 minutes Q) to format one disk. I don't know how long the newer drives take though.

 

[Wolfsraider]

can't answer fo zip as i never used one

but for the last three years all my backups are cdr and i find this extremely profitable and convient

alot of people i know use zips but as i have my computers networked no need to share there

i even share files with my friends and we have a custom when sharing files we include things that we know the other doesn't have access to

ie..pay sites like file planet one has access there for all the downloads on a dedicated server so he gets all the rest the latest demos we
do the same in return as each keeps up with the sites the other has access to

try that with a zip and i think you will learn to love cdr's lol as far as small files we share them at the end of the disc

we also share video's made,audio files etc...

most don't share on this scale so maybe a zip drive would be better in lesser demands

on average we share 3 cd's a week each and rather than make six copies we just circulate them

it works for us

 

[sniperruff]

CDR 's are easier to use than CDRW since not every computer has a CDRW drive on them but every computer now have CD drives on them...
and CDRW are very vunerable to sketches. after they are sketched some cheaper CDRW drives may not read them properly...

 

[kjacobs]

I agree with CubicZirconia that zips are quicker to use and that Cds are good for storage. Silly me...I use both for backups but of course the CD has more space. Also we have an upstairs PC and a downstairs PC and we swap files via a zip disk. We are moving so am not going to network them.

Ken

 

[SocrPlyr]

zips are to the average user easier... no program necessary (definately a positive in my book) it is just like using the old floppy drive that they have been used to for years... for quick/ a few files they are faster... (no leadin leadout...) they are also easy to erase, copy over, and format... also i think they are easier to carry around than a cd (but about equal to the minicds, but the lack the storage capacity)
that is the pros for zips... now for cdr
lasts longer (can't erase-drawback), more space
cdrw has the advantage of being rewriteable like the zip disk

in reality for me it would depend on what i am backing up which to use...
if i was backing up something that i would probably back up tomorrow or the next day and the next day i'd definately use my zip drive, but if i backed up say once every two weeks or so i would definately do the cdr (i'd go down to about 1 week if i had a faster burner... 6X is pokey)
as for cdrw i don't really have a use for this because i only have one computer w/ a cdrw drive in it... and if lets say my computer does go down and i need to get to those files i am somewhat stuck until (but i have considered using it as a floppy w/ packet writing software but it just isn't viable for me)

just as an idea i back up things like school papers (done w/ them in less than a month) and temp work on a zip disk
on a cd i put stuff like old sets of webpages that i work on and after ever month or so i make a backup of it and put it on the disk this way i have the old stuff if i ever have to pull it back up or if anyone ever asks me for it...

finally i think it all depends on what kind of backups you are doing and your situtation, i guess i have a preference for the zip drive, but i am not backing up large amounts of data most of the time etc...

 

[ed21x]

zips:
zips are sturdier, more reliable (won't get scratched up), rewriteable many more times (quality of CDRW's tend to go down by a lot over time), don't require spin up time, don't require preformating (for packet writing), easier to use, solid feel.

On the downside- less capacity, expensive,

I use both... CDr's for long time backup, zips for everyday use.