[Ti] OT Durability of DVDs

[William Scammell]

[big snip]

>For data, of course, all of this that I mention is beside the point. 
>The big issue, to my way of thinking is: What happens when, through 
>advancement, or consolidation (whatever) directories on the CDs and 
>DVDs are no longer in the lingua franca of playback systems? No 
>matter how well preserved the actual data, once you get the "This is 
>not a recognizable format" dialog, it's over. Data recovery can get 
>pricey, and is justified in extreme, and limited, cases, but an 
>entire collection of years of data/images/video, etc???   I wouldn't 
>want to have to pay for it.
>
>I wouldn't bank on anything lasting all that long.

[snip]


i don't use CDs or DVDs at all, instead i buy a fresh back up drive 
every 1.5--2 years.

i keep the newest 2 drives as redundant back ups.

while this isn't a perfect system either, even if 1 drive goes bad, 
at least i have the other.

(i also try to actually use these drives as little as possible,
i.e. don't use them for photoshop or browser cache, etc.)

my 2 cents.


b

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William Scammell                     Creative Director
wscamel @ pop.ici.net                  781-956-3548

http://www.idesignofboston.com provides
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