29 Jul
1999
29 Jul
'99
11:39 a.m.
At 09:20 AM 7/29/99 -0700, you wrote:
I did some research on media lifespans a couple years back, and the best
source of info I found was a government study. According to it the lifespan
of a CD-R is 10 years, IIRC.
Glass-mastered, pressed CDROMs can rot, too. Environmental conditions
make a big difference, as can the characteristics of plastics, and who
knows what's being used in $1200 runs at discount CD pressing shops.
If something is important to you, take care of it, and try to read it
now and then, and upgrade the media as time marches on. Careful what
you say, or you're going to inflame those on the list who believe they
need to archive the EEPROMs of their machines on baked clay tablets
because paper tape stretches when wet, and even Mylar burns.
- John