Posted on 08/24/2003 7:12:45 AM PDT by Eala
The Dutch PC-Active magazine has done an extensive CD-R quality test. For the test the magazine has taken a look at the readability of discs, thirty different CD-R brands, that were recorded twenty months ago. The results were quite shocking as a lot of the discs simply couldn't be read anymore:
Roughly translated from Dutch:
The tests showed that a number of CD-Rs had become completely unreadable while others could only be read back partially. Data that was recorded 20 months ago had become unreadable. These included discs of well known and lesser known manufacturers.
It is presumed that CD-Rs are good for at least 10 years. Some manufacturers even claim that their CD-Rs will last up to a century. From our tests it's concluded however that there is a lot of junk on the market. We came across CD-Rs that should never have been released to the market. It's completely unacceptable that CD-Rs become unusable in less than two years.
On the image you can see the exact same CD-R. On the left you see the outcome of our tests done in 2001. On the right you see the same CD-R in 2003. The colours indicate the severeness of the errors in the following order; white, green, yellow and red whereas white indicates that the disc can be read well and red indicates that it cannot be read.
For those of you who are interested, the original Dutch article can be found here and in the September issue of PC-Active. Please discuss this subject in our Media Forum.
(Excerpt) Read more at cdfreaks.com ...
What almost made me cry is the discovery that a Japanese company actually is producing a contact-free laser driven turntable that nobody can afford to buy at $10k a pop.
If mass produced and simplified by advancing electronic technology, I can foresee stamped media literally lasting indefinitely, and affordable to a larger segment of the world.
I sure as heck can't afford one currently.
Ever read the book "Heiro's Journey"?
I have a 486-66 machine that is still functional. Has 3.5" and 5.25" drives. It didn't come with the 5.25", I had to install it when I needed to use some old software about 6 years ago. I have a functional (I think) punched tape reader in storage.
Hmmmmmm. My first tape recorded was a Beta. I should drag it out and check it out. Circa 1976. Yes, I still have a Beta machine too.
No, but I'll put it on my list.
I do however, recall vividly Fahrenheit 451.
A significant problem might be deciding what is worth storing and what is not. A historian and a scientist might have very different views as to what is and is not important.
Now that I dont have! But I do have both Laser and Capacitive disc players!
Take a look at this site:
Both books caused me to think deeply about what could happen.
That very thing was addressed in H. G. Wells "The Time Machine".
"The 9 Billion Names of God". Great short story. :-)
I even have a few of those laying around, however, I cant read them except by hand now.
But always, always, always sequence-punch them!!!
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