A possible solution to very long term data storage needs?

[Ellis Vener]

It is very early for the technology but seems to show promise: http://phys.org/news/2012-09-japan-hitachi.html

Maybe it will be practical for large storage needs (TBs) in a few years?

The one problem I foresee is not durability - it is the age old problem of being able to read that data after four or five  generations of technology change.

[John.Murray]

Shades of Star Trek or 2001 Space Odyssey   unfortunately data density is very low 40MB/square inch (current magnetic HD's are at 1TB/square inch)

[Ellis Vener]

Shades of Star Trek or 2001 Space Odyssey   unfortunately data density is very low 40MB/square inch (current magnetic HD's are at 1TB/square inch)

It's very early. I suspect data per square inch density will increase.