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<DIV>BTW... CD's have a life expectancy like fiche/microfiche as well. Here are some </DIV>
<DIV>comments:<FONT face=Verdana size=2> </FONT></DIV>
<H3><FONT color=#ff6600>Life expectancy of CDs</FONT></H3>
<P><I><FONT size=2>"The lifetime of CD ROMS may be as short as five years."</FONT></I></P>
<DIV><FONT size=2><B>Annectodal Statements about CD quality/longevity</B> </FONT></DIV>
<OL>
<LI><FONT size=2>There is still debate over whether the gold, green, or blue backing is best.</FONT>
<LI><FONT size=2>Some claim that green disks are better for performance use -- they play back better on a variety of CD players.</FONT>
<LI><FONT size=2>If the 'gold lasts longest' theory is correct, it would mean green/blue are best for preformance use and the gold best for archival purposes.</FONT>
<LI><FONT size=2>The shelf life of an unrecorded CD is estimated at between 5 and 10 years.</FONT>
<LI><FONT size=2>CD-Rs are far less tolerant of environmental conditions than presed CDs and should be treated with greater care.</FONT>
<LI><FONT size=2>Manufacturers claim 75 years (green dye) or 100 years (gold dye). There is no standard to test discs for lifetime viability.</FONT>
<LI><FONT size=2>Kodak and Mitsui are CD OEMs and have been recommended because they use gold backing.</FONT>
<LI><FONT size=2>Most companies don't make their own CDs, so you never know what quality/color (gold, green, blue) you will receive.</FONT>
<LI><FONT size=2>Locally, people buy gold-backed CD-Rs in large quantities from Protape NorthWest, distributors of Quantegy (formerly known as AMPEX).</FONT> </LI></OL>
<P>Just sent to this list as a reminder that if you are archiving photos and genealogies, you may want to spend a few bucks extra for the premium quality CDs.</P>
<P>Regards,</P>
<P>Jack Ciaccia</P>
<P>Researching NICKELL, MILAM, POSTON and REBENSDORF in the Portland area. </P>
<BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #1010ff 2px solid">-------------- Original message -------------- <BR><BR>> I guess for those who go to the research places for genealogy <BR>> it will be a good thing tho. <BR>> <BR>> I hate getting sea sick watching films go by> <BR>> Dan M <BR>> ----- Original Message ----- <BR>> From: <DSAM@SAMPUBCO.COM><BR>> To: <OR-ROOTS@SOSINET.SOS.STATE.OR.US><BR>> Sent: Saturday, April 02, 2005 6:53 PM <BR>> Subject: Re: [or-roots] film and fische <BR>> <BR>> <BR>> > Starting LAST year, there won't be any microfiches or microfilms made from <BR>> > microfilming operations by the Family History Department. They are <BR>> changing <BR>> > the operations to digital scanning operations, direct from records to <BR>> > computer laptops. <BR>> > <BR>> > This has been reported by Wayne Metcalfe of Acquisitions Division, not <BR>> once <BR>> > but three times. He spoke of it first time June 2004 - the Deaf were first <BR>> > to learn of the changeover, the International conference of Archivists in <BR>> > Sydney, Austria in Aug 2004, then last Jan at the Family History Library's <BR>> > 110th anniversary celebration - exact same speech he gave. <BR>> > <BR>> > David Samuelsen <BR>> <BR>> <BR>> _______________________________________________ <BR>> or-roots mailing list <BR>> or-roots@sosinet.sos.state.or.us <BR>> http://sosinet.sos.state.or.us/mailman/listinfo/or-roots </BLOCKQUOTE></body></html>