Do gold CD-R discs have better longevity than green discs?
Claims have been made of CD-R lifetimes as high as 100 years. These claims are based upon results from accelerated aging under environmental extremes that are extrapolated to normal temperatures and humidities using various mathematical calculations and assumptions. For example, it may be assumed that longevity is affected only by chemical reactions in the dye layer, dominated by a single processes having a unique activation energy. Such an assumption may not be applicable. Also, since accelerated stability tests are normally conducted under stable conditions, these tests ignore stresses caused by fluctuations in temperature and humidity that are common in ordinary use. Are predicted archival stability values correct? We will know in 100 years! Longevity figures provide superb ammunition for marketing departments, but are not very helpful to the user. Longevity was an issue when the first CD-R discs were manufactured by Taiyo Yuden using a cyanine dye. Unexpected degradation in sunligh
• Rumors state that silver CD-R discs can damage the lasers in drives. Do blue CD-R discs with silver metallization have the same quality as gold? • I am told by some suppliers that all CD-R discs are the same. Others tell me that gold discs are the best, another states that blue discs are of the highest quality, and some say that silver is unacceptable. What discs are best? • How are Grade A, Grade B, and Grade C CD-R discs defined? Are they all usable? • What are “audio” rated CD-R discs? Are they of higher quality? • The manufacturer of my 48X CD-R writer states that media used in the writer must be 48X certified. Is this just an attempt to control my choices of media? • I always buy high capacity, 74 minute CD-R discs. Why would anyone use discs with only 63 minute capacities? • Where can I find the new 90 minute CD-R discs? Why were they previously unavailable? • Tests of blank floppy disks can assure quality. Why not do the same for blank CD-R discs? • Why does my recording softw
