[Discussion] Gold CDs [was: Disk Backup to CD (Carl Gehr)]

[Norm Metcalf]

Archival CD & DVD's are also available at www.lightimpressionsdirect.com
	Norm Metcalf, Boulder Colorado

Thomas Clayton wrote:
> Dear Joseph,
> 
> Thanks for the (re-)reference. After ? ?'s comments about my use of ?
> brand media (which I use frequently!), I like knowing about something
> 'better' that is avavilable.
> 
> Sincerely,
> 
> Thomas Clayton
> 
> Yeah. I've forgotten and didn't take the time to 'look up',
>  neither, the person's name nor manufacturer's name.
> 
> 
> 
> --- Joseph Hansen <jhansen at LexSA.com> wrote:
> 
>> May 10, 2007
>>
>> I think I posted this information here about a year ago.
>>
>> Inkjet Art sells gold-plated mitsui CDs that are claimed to be highly
>>  
>> resistant to deterioration from heat and UV radiation, with a  
>> projected lifetime of 200 years.  They're expensive: about $1.50 each
>>  
>> in small quantities.
>>
>> For more information, see: http://www.inkjetart.com/mitsui/index.html
>>
>> I do not have personal experience with these CDs, but would like to  
>> hear from anyone who has.
>>
>> Joe
>>
>>
>> On May 10, 2007, at 5:48 PM, Carl Gehr wrote:
>>
>>> Specifically regarding STORING of whatever media you use:
>>> 	I have a Safe Deposit Box at a nearby bank!
>>> The fireproof safe/box that I keep in house is only temporary
>>> before the media is moved to the bank.
>>>
>>> Carl
>>>
>>> On Thu, 10 May 2007 13:00:12 -0700, Bill Nicholls wrote:
>>>
>>>> Keep in mind that CDs are *not* a robust mechanism for storage.
>> Both
>>>> heat and light will accelerate the aging of the CD.
>>>>
>>>> As my friend Van found out, never leave you CD on a windowsill. He
>>>> picked it up after the afternoon sun had hit it for about two  
>>>> hours and
>>>> it was totally erased.
>>>>
>>>> Unless you have a fireproof safe that limits the inside temp to  
>>>> boiling
>>>> water, the heat from a fire will also destroy non-stamped CDs. All
>> in
>>>> all, they really are only a temporary storage medium.
>>>>
>>>> Alternatives:
>>>> 1. DVDs - these are harder to erase, but not proof against a lot
>> of
>>>> light or heat.
>>>> 2. Tape - the traditional backup still has a lot of value. Van  
>>>> tells me
>>>> that good tape drives, often with useable tapes, are available on 
>>>> ebay
>>>> for 5% of original cost, sometimes less. A good tape in a
>> (non-cheap
>>>> 2000 degree F, 2 hours)) fireproof safe will survive even a very  
>>>> hot fire.
>>>> 3. Raid Drives - This is my current mecanism for backup, though I 
>>>> am in
>>>> the process of setting up a cheap DDS4 tape backup system, using  
>>>> Bacula
>>>> (recommended open source). A pair of RAID1 200GB drives is about  
>>>> $125,
>>>> and even a fire is unlikely to destroy the data unless the drives
>> get
>>>> hot enough to warp.
>>>>
>>>> Recommendation:
>>>> This is what I am doing. I already have multiple RAID1 drives in
>>>> different systems. I backup core files to two sets of raid drives
>> if
>>>> they are important. For my video files I have a 1T RAID5 that can
>> be
>>>> expanded to 2.5T with three more 500GB drives. I can recommend  
>>>> Hitachi
>>>> for this, though Segate's best are also fine, about the same
>> price.
>>>> Currently high quality 500GB drives go for about $130-140.
>>>>
>>>> In the next month I will be setting up the tapes and buying a
>> $3-400
>>>> fireproof safe.
>>>>
>>>> I know it's not cheap, but have you considered how much it costs
>> to
>>>> recover data from one drive? $300 down, no upper limit and no  
>>>> guarantee.
>>>> Ouch!  Remember, digital photos and other personal stuff cannot be
>>>> replaced and insurance is not much compensation.
>>>>
>>>> BillN
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>>>
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>> Joseph J Hansen
>> Lexington Strategic Associates
>> 221 Follen Road, Lexington, MA 02421-5802
>>
>> tel (781) 863-5003
>> jhansen at LexSA.com,  www.LexSA.com
>>
>>
>>
>>
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> 
> 
> 
>  
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