| AIT-1 | DDS-4 | VXA-1 | DAT72 | DLT1 | |
| Capacity and Performance | |||||
| Max Native Capacity | 35GB | 20GB | 33GB | 36GB | 40GB |
| Max Compressed Capacity | 90GB | 40GB | 66GB | 72GB | 80GB |
| Max Native Transfer Rate | 4MB/s | 2.36MB/s | 3MB/s | 3MB/s | 3MB/s |
| Max Compressed Transfer Rate | 10.4MB/s | 4.72MB/s | 6MB/s | 6MB/s | 6MB/s |
| Average File Access Time | 27 to 40 sec | <55 sec | 60-95 sec | 50 sec | 68 sec |
| Average Media Load Time | <14 sec | <24 sec | 40 sec | N/A | 59 sec |
| Technology | |||||
| Recording Format | Helical-Scan | Helical-Scan | Helical-Scan | Helical-Scan | Linear |
| Form Factor | 3.5" HH | 3.5" HH | 5.25" HH | 5.25" HH | 5.25" HH |
| Media Type | 8mm - AME | 4mm - MP | 8mm - AME | 4mm DAT | 1/2" - MP |
| Automatic Head Cleaner | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Buffer Size | 12MB | 10MB | 4 Mbits | 16MB | 2MB |
| Auxiliary (Cartridge) Memory | Yes, 64 Kbit MIC | No | No | No | No |
| Power Consumption | 7 watts | 8 watts | 8.3 watts | 7.1 watts | 15 watts |
| Interface | IDE (ATAPI), Ultra Wide | Ultra Wide | Ultra Wide | Ultra Wide | Ultra Wide |
| Reliability* | |||||
| MTBF (Hours) | 300,000 | 250,000 | 300,000 | 400,000 | >200,000 |
| Duty Cycle | 100% | 40% | 12% | 12% | 100% |
| Head Life (Hours) | 50,000 | 20,000 | 30,000 | N/A | >30,000 |
| Media Uses (end-to-end passes) | 30,000 | 2,000 | 20,000 | N/A | <20,000 |
| Media Archival Life | 30 years | 30 years | 30 years | 30 years | 30 years |