<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 14 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>You all will probably laugh at this… but… I am vintage computer collector for Commodore and Apple ][ equipment. Many if not most of my old 5.25” disks still work perfectly after almost 25 years. For the most part, the more expensive floppies appear to be the best. I can see some discoloration or “blotches” on my cheap floppies.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>That said… I would go with the “archival quality” DVDs. I *<b>think</b>* they are made of gold or some other metal. Not cheap… but worth it.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://jvc-media.com/archives/technology.html">http://jvc-media.com/archives/technology.html</a><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://adterrasperaspera.com/blog/2006/10/30/how-to-choose-cddvd-archival-media">http://adterrasperaspera.com/blog/2006/10/30/how-to-choose-cddvd-archival-media</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#17375E;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#17375E;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>Hope this helps.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>-=Raj=-<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> ale-bounces@ale.org [mailto:ale-bounces@ale.org] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Andrew Wade<br><b>Sent:</b> Saturday, July 28, 2012 12:59 PM<br><b>To:</b> Atlanta Linux Enthusiasts<br><b>Subject:</b> [ale] [OT] Lifespan of Storage Devices<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I am working on archiving some of my pictures/videos/etc. through the years. I'm trying to decide on what storage media would be best for this.<o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>The main consensus that I've seen on the internet is that the optical disc (Dvd-DL) is still going to be the winner. The problem is that once you get a scratch on it, you may not be able to access that 1MB picture. I've had this happen before.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>What do you all think about the following mediums for 10+ year (and the tech format itself still being around - like zip disk, etc.)<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>SDHC/XD Memory Cards (Fat32)<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Optical Disk (DVD +-R, CD, DVD-DL)<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Hard Drive (Put in storage; has to be in a filesystem that supports >4GB for individual files)<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>USB Flash Drive(s) (Fat 32)<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>and any others.<o:p></o:p></p></div></div></body></html>