Path: cdrom.com!barrnet.net!autodesk.com!autodesk.com!apple.com!agate!news.ossi.com!ihnp4.ucsd.edu!usc!math.ohio-state.edu!magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu!csn!csus.edu!netcom.com!netcomsv!cdpub.pdsc.com!NewsWatcher!user From: Henri@PDCS.com (Henri Socha) Newsgroups: alt.cd-rom Subject: Re: producing cd-roms Followup-To: alt.cd-rom Date: Tue, 26 Apr 1994 12:24:19 -0700 Organization: Sony Electronic Publishing Lines: 47 Distribution: world Message-ID: References: <2nnft0$l32@engnews2.Eng.Sun.COM> <260@cucrd0.med.columbia.edu> <2p65i6$11ed@locutus.rchland.ibm.com> NNTP-Posting-Host: 162.49.74.78 In article <2p65i6$11ed@locutus.rchland.ibm.com>, poman@rs47382.rchland.ibm.com (Paul Oman) wrote: > > In article <260@cucrd0.med.columbia.edu>, reidar@cucrd0.columbia.edu (reidar) writes: > |> We want to replace our WORM drives which have become unmaintainable with > |> some other archiving (optical) medium. We store 42 Mbyte binary files > |> (digitized 24 hour ECG recordings). Would CD-ROM be an appropriate > |> technology for this purpose? Is it too slow, unreliable? > > The present state of the art as I know it is that writable CD-R media is > significantly less reliable than normal (stamped)CD-ROM. 3M offers 1 year > warranty on CD-R versus 10 years on CD-ROM. Also CD-R mastering is fairly > ... To quote from a flyer from "Taiyo Yuden (USA) Inc." (800) 348-2496 one of the many manufacturers of CD-R media. "This example [ed: Lifetime Estimation Chart] points to a longlevity factor that is beyond one hundred years for information storage with little or no error rate (average life time is estimated at 86 years). In fact, CD-R's error rate surpasses quality standards that are currently used for glass master discs. Once recorded, a CD-R can be used as a more dependable master disc for repeated, precise copying and distribution." Also, inside a chart showing "Sun Light Stability" over the "Wool Scale" (I don't know what that is) is the following: "Stability: Wool Scale is over #6. Corresponding time is over 4 years even if the disc is left at the place 2 meters from glass window with dye side up and no cover." I.E. if you left it on the dashboard in your car at the equator, it will probably warp due to the heat but if you could read it, the data would still be there [my editorializing]. And yes, CD-R's are susceptable to scratches and other abuses, maybe more so than normal CD-ROMs but if handled with reasonable care, they will last long enough. This is to help clear up some of the miss-information and not as a sales pitch. Though yes, we do sell writers, CD-R media, formatter software, etc. but that's handled by others in the office, I just use it (like you). -- Henri Socha (henri@pdsc.com), Project Manager | Remember that faith is SONY Electronic Publishing | better than doubt and 1 Lower Ragsdale Dr., Monterey, CA 93940 | love is better than hate. (408) 372-2812, (FAX) 375-7130 + Sir Wilfred Laurier (1916)