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Friday, February 18, 2005CD-R last many many moonA few weeks ago I read an article from the Local “news paper” about CD-R media. The article said that the manufacturer media reliability estimates where grossly incorrect. Claming CD-R media would last 2 to 5 years a mere fraction of the 50 to 250 year manufacture estimates. I took this shocking revelation to heart and relayed it to a few of my customers. Needless to the news caused panic and frantic questions. So I did what I guess should have done earlier. Researched new and better means of backing up data. I found out that the chucklehead that authored said article is full of smelly stuff. Although he may have confused the blank media shelf life (5 to 10 years) with the written media storage life. His statements are mostly unfounded. From what I read it does not matter what pigment your CD-R uses Cyanine or Phthalocyanine if you don’t store them in a windowsill (direct light). The Phthalocyanine might last a wee bit longer. But your CD drive better be in tiptop shape because Phthalocyanine has a smaller threshold for laser light fluctuation. Which means that cyanine may read better in an older drive. I doubt any CD drive will last 75 years but that's another issue altogether. Now I must go back to my customers and apologize for his ineptitude and my laziness. So feel safe in storing your backups on CD as long as you 1. Use quality CD-R's (TDK, Kodak, etc.) 2. Keep your CD's out of direct light 3. Store them at room temp 60 - 80 deg 4. Store them in a paper sleeve or quality CD book 5. Handle them by the edges (finger oil degrades CD's) Your CD's will last at least 50+ years with out degrading. 
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