Data Storage Predictions for 2008

Lucas123 writes "IDC just released its predictions for 2008 with regards to data storage trends. Its research shows, among other things, a greater adoption of online backup and archiving services, the 'prevalent' use of full-disk encryption in the data center, and mainstream adoption of solid-state disk drives due to falling prices. From the story: 'There are very simple situations and application scenarios where solid-state disks will be worth the risk. It does promise some great potential benefit in terms of I/O ... [and] solid state will make a significant impact on reducing heat from spindle usage in server blade deployments and to boost functionality in mobile devices.' According to IDC, storage capacity is exploding at a rate of almost 60% per year."

Bigger tubes...

[russlar]

...we're gonna need them.

Redundant?

[thatskinnyguy]

This article along with all of those who have something to say about backups should be modded "Redundant". After all, what good is a backup solution without redundancy?

Tape drives?

[SacredByte]

Thats a sticky subject.

Re:Bigger tubes...

[Red Flayer]

No, we'll need smaller tubes.
FTS:

According to IDC, storage capacity is exploding at a rate of almost 60% per year."

No, you've got it backwards -- since only 40% of our storage capacity will be unexploded at the end of next year, we'll need tubes only 0.4 of the size of the current tubes. In 2010, we'll only need tubes 0.064 the size of the current tubes. See where this is headed?

In some 15 years and change, we'll only need microtubes.

In just 23 years, we'll need nanotubes. Let's just hope no one tries to send anything bigger than a picotruck down them.

Alternative Future

[Warbothong]

Or, the RIAA, MPAA et al actually succeed in their worldwide legal battles, thus without mountains of music and films to consume, home users' data storage use plummets and the floppy disk becomes the dominant format once more. The world begins to use floppy-based Linux distributions (because Vista takes too many disk swaps to install) and thus everyone enjoys a renaissance of console-based system rescue distros, streaming everything they might want through a lynx port of Gnash. Gradually, as more and more features are packed in to the disks it is realised that a modern form of storage is indeed beneficial. Hence the Zip drive makes a Lazarus style comeback. Hey, it could happen!

My prediction; high profile data loss

[Kris_J]

In 2008 some twit with a soapbox (magazine column, TV show, whatever) will lose 3TB or more in a single failure and rant about how digital is so much worse than analogue. I bet he'll mention Laserdiscs in there somewhere and possibly The Domesday Book if he's from the UK.