Everything Old Is New Again

New 24-karat gold CD-Rs andDVDs that extend the storage life of data, music and images for many decades are being introduced by KMP Media, LLC of Rochester, NY. Operating under trademark license from Eastman Kodak Company, KMP Media is marketing them as the KODAK Preservation CD-R and the KODAK Preservation DVD(-R). "The gold Preservation CD-R can safely store digital data for up to 300 years," said Steve Mizelle, President of KMP Media. "The gold Preservation DVD (-R) protects videos and other very large digital files for 80 to 100years. This is especially important for consumers trying to save precious photos, critical data, music or movies." In a recent issue of Computerworld Magazine, John Blau reported,"Unlike pressed original CDs, burned CDs have a relatively short life span of between two to five years, depending on the quality of the CD." The silver reflective layer eventually tarnishes through exposure to light, heat, oxygen, humidity and rough handling. For some, this may mean the loss of key data or precious memories such as wedding and family photos. The 24-karat gold reflective layer on the KODAK Preservation CD-R and Preservation DVD (-R) will not tarnish or oxidize. Phthalocyanine dye, anextremely stable medium for long life, is the primary data storage layer inthe CD-R. In addition, triple layers of protection guard against heat,humidity, bright light and the effects of rough handling. The substrate of the CD-R is optical grade polycarbonate, better than many CDs on the market.

I'm not too sure about the 100 year claimed life, but who will be around to argue in 2106?

Kodak sold gold based CDR's back around 1999. I ended up with a spindle of them, and they were excellent. When I went to buy more, they were off the market, and well informed folks had hoarded them. Notably, I had a spindle of 50 of them, and they all are still readable.

The science make sense to use gold. The "noble metal" is well known for being unreactive. This is why you can swim with a necklace on of gold, and it doesn't tarnish.

It is great that Kodak is choosing to manufacture these high quality discs again. It is only logical that they extend the line to include DVDR's as well.

Just don't call this new. Now I can stock up again!

Some tips to maximizing the life span of our media.

--Jonas