The design of media, heads, positioning systems and data detection and coding techniques for various generations of magnetic recording systems are discussed. We will start with current systems, such as longitudinal hard disc and tape. Next we will discuss the near future, where perpendicular recording (thicker films, higher stray fields) will address the problem of thermal stability. In the third section we will give an outlook on future developments (patterned media, thermally assisted recording, self assembled arrays of nanoparticles and probe storage).