Alpha Microsystems Announces ‘Videotrax’

Alpha Microsystems, a Santa Ana business computer maker, Thursday introduced a video tape back-up storage system for the IBM family of desk top computers.

The new product, similar to systems already available for Alpha Micro’s own computers, is the company’s first for desk top computers and represents Alpha Micro’s initial attempts to serve what has already become the dominant business computer.

The system, called Videotrax, allows computer users to duplicate on video tapes the information stored on the hard discs in their machines. Like other types of back-up data storage, secondary systems serve as insurance in the event of problems with the primary recording system.

Alpha Micro officials said their new system’s principal advantages included its reliability and the fact that a single tape can store 80 mega bites of information, the equivalent of 80 floppy discs, another method of recording information.

The new system will work with standard VHS or Beta video casette recorders to provide back-up storage for IBM PC and PC-compatible computers.