CD-Rs deliver degrading experience

[amigamad]

Keeping data CDs in the dark for two years isn't a good idea. According to the Dutch magazine PC Active some CD-Rs degrade in months, even at room temperature without sunlight.

Check it out at The Register ...

[downix]

You know, I told people this years ago, and nobody believed me.  I still run a tape backup system due to the lack of lifetime in a CD-R.

[mikeymike]

Note that the research done by the magazine only detailed unbranded CD-Rs.

[amigamad]

Some of the cheap make or no brand cdr.s i have had the aluminium layer which holds the data hve just flaked off.And when i trod on my amigaone debian linux cd by accident  it cracked  the whole label and cd layer came off together. :-)  :-)

[Opi-Poi]

MO (Magneto Optical) / DVD-Ram is the best option if you
are after secure backups, IMHO.

[DamienMcKenna]

Another vote for DVD-RAM here.  It is just about the only data storage format (beyond its predecessors) that has a hardware-level verification stage and a guaranteed long shelf life - all others (CDR, CDRW, DVD-/+R/RW, etc) are toys in comparison.  So if you have something important that you absolutely must have reliable backups of, get a DVD-RAM drive.

Damien