Before trusting your CD-R media, read some of the research that has been
done. Some of the very cheap brand media lasts for only 3-4 years. The 100
year claims have never been tested, but I would still go with one of those
brands and make duplicates. This way, you don't have to worry as much that
repeated reading might "wear out" the media, as has been suggested.

Optical, of course is better. I've used it in the past and never had a
problem with it. Never a dead piece of media. Wish I could say the same for
JAZZ, ZIP, CD-R, tape or even Bernoullli media. But, optical is a pain: not
used by many, hard to find media, expensive equipment, etc...  So, for now,
I use CD-R, name brand that claims to last a long time, and make duplicates,
storing one set off-site (not a storage building, climate there can
damage -- try a safe deposit box, shelf at your parents or kid's house,
etc...).


-----Original Message-----
From: James Ralston
Sent: Wednesday, August 01, 2001 6:58 PM

The chance that CD-R media will degrade before a better archive
storage medium becomes available (and we have to convert all of our
archives) is relatively slim.  Most CD-R manufacturers claim a shelf
life of between 50 and 100 years for CD-R media under typical office
conditions (controlled heat and humidity).  I'd guess that it'll take
no more than 10 years (if that) for CD-R to cease to be a preferred
archive storage medium.