Photograph; employee of Deutsche Post der GDR inserting a magnetic tape into an electronic data processing unit (EDVA) at the Organization and Computer Center (ORZ) of Deutsche Post der GDR in Berlin/East Germany.

Among other things, the usage, the storage and the quality of the magnetic tape are decisive for the service life. A particularly characteristic feature of the magnetic tape is that it can only be wound in one direction and therefore has a long access time.