Let's talk of this here.
Spin-off from:
http://reboot.pro/to...se-of-isostick/
http://reboot.pro/to...stick/?p=166755
Particularly starting from this post:
http://reboot.pro/to...stick/?p=166797
Where basically ambralivio stated how DVD-RAM discs have longer life than other DVD formats:
In fact, while I agree with your remark on the maybe for the M-Disc solution, I think that its final usage, if any, is (will be) only limited to large organizations and istitutions. For a simple end-user, I think there are other, more friendly solutions, such as DVD-RAMs, even if they have been surprisingly abandoned in these last years (I have to admit I'm continuing to use them for archiving, until I'm able to find them on the market).
It should be clear that for making this solution to work in a safe way, it need to be complemented with other (more simple) ones.
Anyway, this topic is OT, but if Wonko agrees, we could open another specific thread and discuss about it.
After some back and forth about the availability of real data/research somehow stating the superiority (in terms of expected longevity) , ambralivio kindly supplied:
http://reboot.pro/to...stick/?p=166899
a link to this page (citing it as a reliable source):
http://dvddemystified.com/dvdfaq.html
Where you can read:
[3.12] How long do DVDs last?
DVDs are read by a laser, so they never wear out from being played since nothing touches the disc. Pressed discs (the kind that movies come on) will probably last longer than you will, anywhere from 50 to 300 years.
Expected longevity of dye-based DVD-R and DVD+R discs is anywhere from 20 to 250 years, about as long as CD-R discs. Some dye formulations (such as phthalocyanine and azo) are more stable and are expected to last longer, 100 years or more, compared to 20 or 30 years for less stable dyes. The phase-change erasable formats (DVD-RAM, DVD-RW, and DVD+RW) have an expected lifetime of 25 to 100 years.
In actuality DVDs often don't last as long as the above statistically-based longevity figures would lead you to expect. Longevity can be reduced by problems in manufacturing or recording and by poor quality material. Shoddy pressed DVDs may deteriorate within a few years and cheap recordable DVDs may produce errors when recording or may become unreadable after a while. (See 1.24.) In other words, you get what you pay for. If longevity is important, invest in high-quality media.
As expected the given ranges are totally unlike senceful, a range (very wide) is something like "2 to 3" or maybe "2 to 4", something like "20 to 250" or "25 to 100" are not "ranges" they represent "random data" or "wild guesses".
However following the above statement:
- DVD-R and DVD+R range from 20 to 250 years depending on the formulation of the dye
- DVD-R and DVD+R with dye made out of phthalocyanine or azo are rated more than 100 years
- DVD-RAM, DVD-RW, and DVD+RW (UNdistinguished) are rated for 25 to 100 years
The kind with the longest expected lifetime is evidently either DVD-R or DVD+R discs with phthalocyanine or azo dye (expected lifetime > 100 years).
There is nothing in the above confirming any kind of "superiority in expected lifetime" for the DVD-RAM format (25<expected lifetime < 100 years).
On the basis of the referenced, if you want to preserve data you should write them on DVD-R or DVD+R with phthalocyanine or azo dye.
The referenced page links to an interesting article (though possibly a bit dated, being from 2005), titled The Relative Stabilities of Optical Disc Formats:
http://www.uni-muens...loads/iraci.pdf
which unfortunately does not take specifically into consideration DVD-RAM.
The CD format (IMHO somehow connected with it's much lower density format) is a clear winner over *any* of the DVD types analyzed.
The article has however an interesting paragraph that perfectly reflects my personal opinion on the matter:
Current opinions
There are contradictory opinions in the sparse literature and research or from
individuals’ own experience when it comes to the longevity of optical discs. The
disc manufacturers have generated most of the longevity data presented in the lit-
erature. There are few independent studies and yet plenty of anecdotal evidence.
For example, some have claimed that CD-R discs have failed within five years.
On the other hand, some manufacturers claim lifetimes of 100 to 200 years. A
similar situation exists for other optical disc formats. Unfortunately, for those
considering the use of optical discs for archival storage of information, these
broad longevity ranges are not very useful.
We simply do not have valid (or valid enough) results/experiments/data.
From the little we have DVD-RAM seems not in any way a "better choice".
Wonko
NOTE: THis thread is DUPLICATED from the one posted here:
http://reboot.pro/to...-optical-media/
that for *whatever* reason the "main recipient ambralivio CANNOT post into.