[rollei_list] Re: CDs and reality of things
- From: Eric Goldstein <egoldste@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: rollei_list@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Mon, 17 Apr 2006 10:26:34 -0400
Don Williams wrote:
I agree with Peter with regard to commercial CDs, just based on their
construction. For some reason (probably because I'm a saver, something
might just come in handy some time you know) I have many AOL CD's from
long ago that still read perfectly. (No, I don't use AOL, I just get
CD's from them regularly) It may be that in the early days the cover
plastic might have had a different coefficient of expansion, or a
different chemical makeup, than the base section which holds the stamped
image, but if that problem ever existed, it's surely not with us these days.
I have never had a problem with a self-burned CD-R EXCEPT in a couple of
cases. I got some cheap ones from Fry's and they didn't even complete
burning. I also got some cheap CD-R blanks which indeed failed right
away, just after a day or so. Now I buy only brand names and don't have
any problem.
My point here is to get reliable information out to people who may risk
loosing images because of what they read here. As an engineer Don, I
would think you understand why I am not talking about anecdotal
information or manufacturer's estimates; these are both unreliable and
frankly useless. The problem I reference relative to commercially burned
CDs failing within months or just a few years is well documented...
search the net and see for yourself. Tens or hundreds of thousands of
instances. Anecdotally, I have experienced it myself and know many
others who have as well. The Library of Congress is spending millions of
dollars researching a reliable means of storing digital archives because
nothing now exists that meets any reasonable standard of archivability
by traditional library standards. Again, this is well-documented on the
net.
In the past, I've provided ample links detailing this. Personally, I
think it's essential that folks not take anyone's word for this but
research it for themselves so that they will understand the magnitude of
the risk. Or, ask your IT guy at work; if he is half worth his salt he
will fill your ear full for half an hour... this is a big problem.
Eric Goldstein
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