Are magnetic tapes the ones we play in or old VCRs? In a message dated 1/16/2006 10:30:41 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, [email protected] writes: Although opinions vary on how to preserve data on digital storage media, such as optical CDs and DVDs, Kurt Gerecke, a physicist and storage expert at IBM Deutschland GmbH, takes this view: If you want to avoid having to burn new CDs every few years, use magnetic tapes to store all your pictures, videos and songs for a lifetime.