So you thought you CDs and DVDs would last forever

CalifGuy · 01-13-2006

Just when I thought it was time to convert all my tapes to DVD along comes this German physicist.

http://msn.pcworld.com/news/article/...0.asp?GT1=7645

Califguy

Oops, should have been posted to Off-Topic forum

Greg in NJ · 01-13-2006

Maybe it's because I come from a technical background, but I thought most people were aware of this. This information has been available since the format began.

Greg in NJ

CalifGuy · 01-13-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greg in NJ

Maybe it's because I come from a technical background, but I thought most people were aware of this. This information has been available since the format began.

Greg in NJ

Greg, I also come from a technical background, but not in the chemistry of recordable optical devices. This one just caught me by surprise and I bet it will many others. The manufactures of these devices do not advertise that your backups or homemovies may disappear in 2 years.

califguy

James A. · 01-13-2006

Grrrr.

StephenB · 01-13-2006

Magnetic tape has some big drawbacks too. I've used it for years, and it's prone to drying out, stretching, and becoming de-magnitized. I guess nothings perfect. The shelf life of burnable CD's and DVD's is news to me. Good post !

Greg in NJ · 01-17-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by CalifGuy

Greg, I also come from a technical background, but not in the chemistry of recordable optical devices. This one just caught me by surprise and I bet it will many others.

I guess it was just something I picked up hanging out with the geeks at work.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CalifGuy

The manufactures of these devices do not advertise that your backups or homemovies may disappear in 2 years.

They never do. It sucks.

Greg in NJ

ryshkus · 01-17-2006

I have disks that are 5-8 years old that I haven't had a problem using.

**TeeZet** · 01-17-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by ryshkus

I have disks that are 5-8 years old that I haven't had a problem using.

Those are probably read-only, and non recordable cd's as manufactured directly in a factory, as opposed to recordable cd's which you can " burn" (record).

ryshkus · 01-17-2006

Nope, they are cheap cd's I burnt at my previous job. I am a computer engineer so I was burning some code and software. They definately still work.

01-13-2006	#1 (permalink)
CalifGuy beachaholic Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Nor Cal Posts: 287	So you thought your CDs and DVDs would last forever Just when I thought it was time to convert all my tapes to DVD along comes this German physicist. http://msn.pcworld.com/news/article/...0.asp?GT1=7645 Califguy Oops, should have been posted to Off-Topic forum Last edited by CalifGuy; 01-13-2006 at 03:58 PM.

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01-13-2006	#2 (permalink)
Greg in NJ beachaholic Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 284	Maybe it's because I come from a technical background, but I thought most people were aware of this. This information has been available since the format began. Greg in NJ

01-13-2006	#4 (permalink)
James A. sandbagger vidiot Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Bell Buckle, TN Posts: 2,354	Grrrr.

01-13-2006	#5 (permalink)
StephenB añejo Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: New York State Posts: 2,149	Magnetic tape has some big drawbacks too. I've used it for years, and it's prone to drying out, stretching, and becoming de-magnitized. I guess nothings perfect. The shelf life of burnable CD's and DVD's is news to me. Good post !

01-17-2006	#7 (permalink)
ryshkus beachaholic Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 313	I have disks that are 5-8 years old that I haven't had a problem using.

01-17-2006	#9 (permalink)
ryshkus beachaholic Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 313	Nope, they are cheap cd's I burnt at my previous job. I am a computer engineer so I was burning some code and software. They definately still work.

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