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I think audio CDs are likely to be readable for a very long time. You can still get a turntable today that’s capable of reading 78 RPM vinyl (and shellac) discs. There’s nothing in the creation of 33/45 RPM photographs that precludes them from reading 78 RPM discs. Similarly, discs that fit the correct form factor such as DVDs look to have a reasonably bright future, and there’s no reason those disc drives will stop reading CDs. There is such a large embedded base of “software” (i.e. music) on CD that it’s very unlikely that audio CDs will be difficult to read within our lifetimes.
Formats that run into problems tend to be sparsely used. I know of certain professional video tape formats that are pretty well forgotten, and information on them is pretty much lost. (Ever heard of 1-3/4 inch video tape? 2-inch video tape was in fairly wide use at TV stations not that long ago, but almost twenty years ago I was hearing stories about how someone with a 1-3/4 inch tape had to travel to a small TV station in rural central Pennsylvania because they were the only place they could find with a working 1-3/4 inch machine. I suspect they’re all gone by now.)
Very interesting article. My Costco uses “Gold Archival” CD’s and they are supposed to be longer lasting - as far as CDs go. I had them digitalize my father’s old 35mm slides of the family through the years (since 1945). They came out beautifully. I then transferred them from CD into my computer to work with and save further on CD and external hard drive. Yes, we need to keep aware of the integrity of the CDs through the years and the availability of equipment to read them. As new technology becomes available we should transfer the data to the newer technology (including online storage). And then there’s paper—good ol’ paper —- print out all your stuff, distribute it to other family members, donate to libraries—and hope the tornadoes, hurricanes, fires, floods and vandals stay away.
I’ve read lots of these types of articles bemoaning the shift toward digital storage, and they all gloss over or even ignore one huge benefit: unlimited, perfect copies. If I have a piece of paper, the best I can hope for is a close copy, and each generation gets progressively worse. With a digital document, I can create multiple, perfect copies that can be stored on many different kinds of media and in many different physical locations. As new storage formats come along, I can migrate that data onto that new media with no loss of quality. The chances of every copy of that data being corrupted or lost continues to shrink as I make more copies.
Ken, you make good points—perfect copies each and every time (well, except for those pesky checksum errors).
Though I’m puzzled at your statement, “these types of articles bemoaning” Because this article certainly wasn’t. Acknowledging limitations and caveats, yes, but not bemoaning.
The digitization “gotchas” lie in the backwaters of obscure formats and insufficient copies. On obscure formats, didja hear about the Domesday Book and how its digitized version had to be rescued because it was imprisoned in an obscure digital format? That example proves your point about migration.
Now, if I can just find a way to transfer some old text files from my Kaypro computer to my current one, assuming that the data on the disks still works….
I am facing the Kaypro to something later data transfer problem too - had any luck?
Aug 10 2007 .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
It’s been 4 years since you published this, and I must say, what a change! We have all these new technologies to copy and store data, most notably SSDs. I really think they’ll replace just about every other medium and stand the test of time (this time).
CDs are most certainly dead, in my opinion. Everything from SSDs, BluRay, and even some new phase-change tech in the labs.