5 ms·

100GB M-DISCs are still pretty decent archival means. All photos/videos I've ever generated are roughly 1.2TB so that's 12 of those M-Discs.

• magic_hamster 4y ago
  Those are BD-R. According to the linked research, those will last 5-10 years, or up to 20 years if you're using a gold metal plate. Either way, they're not close to top performers that last 50 to 100 years and more. I'd suggest creating multiple backups, including additional mediums such as hard drives and cloud storage (something like S3 Glacier Deep Archive could be relevant), and refresh the media periodically.
  • bitL 4y ago
    M-Disc are supposed to last 100-1000 years. They literally engrave data into an inorganic layer with high melting point instead of writing to a dye.
    • gruez 4y ago
      >They literally engrave data into a polycarbonate with high melting point instead of writing to a dye. Are you sure you're not talking about pressed (ie. mass produced) discs? I find it unlikely that a blu-ray/dvd burner equipped with only a laser can "engrave data into a polycarbonate with high melting point".
      • vorpalhex 4y ago
        > Verbatim M DISC™ optical media is the new standard for digital archival storage. Unlike traditional optical media, which utilize dyes that can break down over time, data stored on an M DISC is engraved on a patented inorganic write layer – it will not fade or deteriorate. This unique engraving process renders these archival grade discs practically impervious to environmental exposure, including light, temperature and humidity. https://www.verbatim.com/subcat/optical-media/m-disc/ https://www.verbatim.com/subcat/optical-media/m-disc/
        • TedDoesntTalk 4y ago
          One wonders why M-DISC is not included in the original article at all.
      • bitL 4y ago
        See https://www.m-disc.com/technology.html https://www.m-disc.com/technology.html "The M-DISC engraves data into a patented rock-like layer that is resistant to extreme conditions of light, temperature and humidity"
  • vel0city 4y ago
    They aren't normal BD-Rs nor are they gold plate. They use a different technology for the reflective and recording layers. These discs weren't included in the linked research.
  • vorpalhex 4y ago
    M-Disc is BD-R compatible but operates under a different set of principles. Their claim is 100+ years. So far testing seems to generally support that claim but that is all simulated aging.
• squarefoot 4y ago
  This is really good news! I thought M-Discs were no longer available after their manufacturer went bankrupt years ago.
  • password4321 4y ago
    If my understanding is correct, the 4.7GB M-DISC DVD's which recommended use of certified DVD burners are no longer manufactured. The various Blu-ray M-DISC are "more widely compatible". The 25GB size from Verbatim survived outdoors when a normal disc failed: http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/indexmag.html?http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/artsep16/mol-mdisc-review.html http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/indexmag.html?http://www...
  • bitL 4y ago
    Verbatim still sells them, though they are a bit expensive.