Applications For Optical Storage

Optical storage libraries are available for all levels of data processing; large mainframes, intermediate workstations, and personal computers on local area networks. Interest in these libraries is large and growing. While there are several attributes which make optical libraries attractive, by far the most significant is the relative cost of on-line storage (relative to traditional magnetic disks). Other attributes which sometimes make optical storage desirable are also discussed along with attributes which work against optical storage libraries. Many applicatioris find optical storage desirable. Some are unique in that they were not commonly done before optical storage became available. Others have been around for a long time using other storage media.