>[1675] read the magnetic tapes - This is a problem
>NASA actually has. Reams and reams of data from past missions, stored
>on media that can't be read. The tapes may or may not even be any
>good any more, but even if they are, no working examples of the reader
>hardware survive.

Yeah, it's turning out that the longevity of data storage mediums is not so much an issue as the means to read them. Depending on the data stored, even if you can find the hardware, you may not be able to actually interpret what's there unless you also have software that can read it. One can only imagine how much sharper the tech curve is going to become as 25th century tech slowly trickles into Dìqiú.

"This is gonna replace CD's soon; guess I'll have to buy the White Album again"