Disadvantage to saving to DVD+RW Permanently ??

[scott_w]

I am pretty new to all this and have a basic question. I just got a DV camcorder and taped our trip to Disney World last week. I used my computer thru FW to make 2 DVD+RW's of the footage and it plays great. Someone gave me a box of brand new Sony DVD+RW's (which is what I used).

My question is are there any problems keeping the DVD+RW's as archives as opposed to using DVD+R's, besides the cost factor???

I didn't know if the RW's should only be used as temporary storage since you can write over them. I plan on keeping these to watch over and over again, should I go buy some +R's and copy onto them??

Thanks and sorry for such a basic question,
Scott

[lenti_75]

NO

but usually people play with RW, and save it on R's.....

[solarfox]

In theory, an RW disc ought to be more archivally "stable" than an R disc; since the recording medium is a phase-change metal alloy rather than an organic dye, they shouldn't be nearly as susceptible to chemical breakdown of the data layer.

Whether or not anyone's actually done any studies to confirm this, I don't know.

didn't know if the RW's should only be used as temporary storage since you can write over them.

I should think that'd only be a problem if you're in the habit of putting discs in the drive without looking at them first. As long as you label them in some way (whether by using stick-on labels, inkjet-printable discs, or felt-tip marker, take your pick) so you know what's on them, I don't see an issue. Unlike an audio- or videocassette recorder, a DVD burner and authoring software will warn you when you're about to write over a disc that already has data on it.

[indolikaa]

Hello.

I've asked this question before, and really never got a solid answer because there doesn't appear to be a solid answer. However, if you will check out the following link, you will note that Memorex estimates a 30-year shelf life and a 1,000 rewrite capability.
http://www.memorex.com/about_memorex/press.php?release=9

Imation is also quotes a simliar life expectancy (and burn cycle as well) in the following article...
http://www.camcorderinfo.com/content/dvd_products_announced_10_12_01.htm

But, here we have a 100-year shelf life being quoted for +RW media...
www.dvdplusrw.org/pc/leaflets/qps_quedvdburnerplusrwplusr.pdf


30 years seems to be the magic number. Two different manufaturers report that storage life as being realistic, although neither actually makes +RW discs, so that's what they are apparently being quoted by their subcontractors.

Keep in mind that in 10-15 years, we will probably have seen at least one new DVD format based on an blue/indigo/violet laser, the wide availability of low-cost solid-state memory, and who knows what else. So the chances are good you'll be moving your data onto a newer format anyway.

[lordsmurf]

Phase change is not as stable as dye.

[yoda313]

Hello,
Or as mentioned in other posts just make backups of your backups to play it safe . I tend to do that every month or so in case of a harddrive failure or windows crash. Better safe than sorry.
Kevin
P.S. Long term there will be so many format changes it's hard to tell what will stay and what will go. As long as they're the size of a dvd they can always be "backward compatible". Just like dvd players can play cds. Also, storage capacity will shoot sky high and all of are data will be storeable on one physical removable/portable media (hopefully, but it looks like it will happen)

[scottw]

Thanks for all the responses!!!

I had thought of making copies a few years down the road but like said above something new will be out sooner or later and I am a gadget freak so I will most likely upgrade


Again thanks for the help, it looks like I will be fine.

[BSR]

The september 2004 issue pg115 of PC World talked about backups.
This is what they stated.
-R +R = 60 years
-RW +RW = 30 years

These were their approximates from disc manufacturers simulated, accelerated life tests.
Goes along with what people said above.

[Lucien]

There was also an article while ago that tested CD's longevity and a few surprisingly lasted only 5 years (because of dye issues). The tester though that there are similar issues with DVD but would do tests later to confirm. He also said CD-RW would be better but not clear if that would also apply to DVD RW's.

I think the PC world ratings are way too high. I already saw some issues after a few years with one of my DVD-R's (few dropouts) and I kept those in a dark safe place But could be caused by something else of course as well. Best to keep multiple copies either way.

[tjdmobile]

Well, as one of those people who put my trust in the Dye in the CD-R, I found that there were variable results:

My TDK media burned in 2000 are starting to report errors on the 2-year old CD-RW drive, still okay in the DVD-RW drive. The Sony green disks burned in 1998 look pretty good still. The Memorex blue burned in 1998 are slow to recognize now. At the time, reports said CD's would last about 10 years. Yeah, good luck there. My disks are fading!

On the other hand, all my CD's burned on CD-RW still work great. Go figure?

My Data archives are on DVD+/-RW.

TJD

[DereX888]

The only CD-R discs that are not fading yet from my 1997-98 burning period are TDK and Kodak Gold (the first "Gold-on-Gold", not the ones that came out in 98 or 99 and replaced them).
Set of tv-captured show Seinfeld on VCDs, on a very expensive back then (and highly recommended and praised as best back then) Verbatims is practically useless, maybe 5 out of 60 disc set are errorless. Its copy made at the same time on a much cheaper (back then) TDKs is 100% intact.
Go figure.
I dont trust in any reports. Only time will tell the truth.