Discussion on:

SolutionBase: Simplify SMB backups using Iomega Rev Disks

I replaced my unreliable tape library with a 10 drive REV autoloader. It works great with one major exception. Computer Associates Brightstor ArcServe backup software (we have an enterprise edition) is the biggest, most unreliable piece of crap I've ever used in my life. The only consistent thing about it is it's continued unreliability. We had used it before and stuck with it because IOMEGA recommended it for use with the autoloader. If you can find something else that will drive your autoloader, I'd recommend it over anything by CA, sight unseen.

I'll leave tape options out of the discussion even though there is little reason to and tape media costs are DRAMATICALLY lower once you've bought a tape drive.

However, what's the point of this device? Hard disks are $100 for 500GB. A 5.25" mountable bay sells for $12 and extra drive enclosures to mount the hard drive in, which then can be added and removed are $7.
Alternatively USB/firewire and now eSATA drive enclosures are are $30 and under and are truly plug and play.

Zip disks were the shiznit back when the only other consumer alternative was the floppy. That ended with affordable CD burners and media. Since then, Iomega has been irrelevant.

Lastly, what is the reliability of these Rev disks? I'm assuming they are more prone to failure than tape media if they are hard disks.

Is anyone else having flashbacks of the infamous Zip drive? Click-of-death... oh the horror...