Saving photos - CD or DVD?

**The Gentleman Scamp** · 05-09-2008, 10:17 AM

I have far too many photos on my Mac... 6,964 to be exact, so I need to sort them out into categories and put them onto discs. I am aware that I can burn onto both cd and dvd but which is better, or is there no difference?

**Bobcock** · 05-09-2008, 10:31 AM

I use DVD...volume.

Not aware of any other difference.

**kingwilly** · 05-09-2008, 10:55 AM

I think DVD's may last longer also.

**wandering** · 05-09-2008, 11:31 AM

Use CD's if you want to send it to your friends. This assures that everyone can read it. Not every computer has DVD.
Use DVD's for personal storage. They hold more data and last longer.
CD's can last 4-8 years depending on the cd quality and how they were stored.
DVD's can usually last over 10 years.
The safest storage method is Tape. It is old and slow but quite reliable.
Someday (10 years?) I will back up all my DVD's onto my tiny watch/computer/cellphone/hologram projector/ ... (hmmmm terabytes.....)

**Property** · 05-09-2008, 11:36 AM

Originally Posted by The Gentleman Scamp

I am aware that I can burn onto both cd and dvd but which is better, or is there no difference?

the capacity of a cd is about 700mb whereas the capacity of a dvd is about 4.7gb. that's the main difference

**spiff** · 05-09-2008, 11:38 AM

What about memory cards and usb-sticks? Smaller than cds, but cost more.

**Property** · 05-09-2008, 11:45 AM

Originally Posted by spiff

What about memory cards and usb-sticks? Smaller than cds, but cost more.

i have a couple of kingstom 8gb usb-sticks. greater capacity than either cd or dvd.

**Bobcock** · 05-09-2008, 01:06 PM

but with the ability to be erased.....

**Thetyim** · 05-09-2008, 02:36 PM

I have lost thousands of images due to fucked up CD's so take CD off the list immediately.

**The Gentleman Scamp** · 06-09-2008, 01:35 PM

Thanks everyone, DVD it is then.

**Joe66** · 06-09-2008, 02:17 PM

only the verbatim archive type had a good test result, for lasting 8 years,
other products, like kodak archive type with a 100 year promsie, where finished after 2 years.

a reliable storage for personal photos, take an external hd, and upload them on a fileserver account as well.

**Wayne Kerr** · 06-09-2008, 02:23 PM

^ I was gunna suggest a decent fileserver account too, sure the chaps around here can help you out with that, very handy for moving things around online.

**flash** · 06-09-2008, 04:12 PM

Cd's and DVD's get scratched and damaged, I got an 80 gig portable hard drive and moved everything to it

**TizMe** · 07-09-2008, 09:06 PM

I use an online backup solution, itis a simple and safe way to back up all the important stuff on your computer. A copy of your data is stored in a secure, remote location for safekeeping, so that in the event of disaster your data is still retrievable.

If there's a hard drive failure, fire in my unit, or I get robbed then I know that I have a backup that I can download when I replace my computer.

There is quite a few providers out there. Most will store upto 2 Gigabytes for free. I subscribe to mozy unlimited storage for $4.95 per month.

Offsite backup taken every day.

**Frankenstein** · 14-09-2008, 10:48 AM

CDs and DVDs get scratched, hard disks get demagnetized or their motors fail, and apparently flash memory won't last forever either.

As for what will last longer, it's not just type of medium that matters, it is also the quality. The cheapest CDs and DVDs typically don't last as long as more expensive ones, so it usually is a good idea to buy something a little more expensive.

To check DVDs there is a nifty little application called DVD identifier, this will tell you where your DVD was manufactured and give you an indication of the general quality.

As with other things, the same factories will produce DVDs for several different clients, this means if you shop around, you may be able to find reasonably cheap no name DVDs that are of the same quality as better brands.

Here in Thailand I stick to Mitsubishi CDs and DVDs and have had very little data loss in 6 years.

**kingwilly** · 14-09-2008, 10:58 AM

Originally Posted by wandering

Use CD's if you want to send it to your friends. This assures that everyone can read it. Not every computer has DVD.

?

In which century ?

Originally Posted by flash

Cd's and DVD's get scratched and damaged, I got an 80 gig portable hard drive and moved everything to it

hard drives can still fail.

I think the best solution is not to rely on one solution.....

**EmperorTud** · 15-09-2008, 01:51 AM

Verbatim DVDs.

**neophoenix** · 16-09-2008, 09:44 AM

I have to put my vote in for the DVD Just more storage. The USB flash drives are geat for quick copies and moving to other locations but not for long term storage. They can fail quite easily.

But how you store it is just as important of what you use. Just keep that in mind.

Smiles!

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