> ...They also repay by being a lot cheaper than Zips - Ricoh
> Platinum CD Rom's with a guaranteed lifespan of 200 years

I agree that the CD is the best method we have at present for storing
digitized data, but I caution people not to take the 200-year lifespan
too seriously.  Most of these lifespan estimates are based on how long
(in theory) a CD could be played, and/or stored under ideal conditions.

I recommend reading the article by William R. Nugent,
"Compact discs and other digital optical discs" in Storage of Natural
History Collections: A Preventive Conservation Approach (1995).  CDs
are composed largely of polycarbonate plastic, and all polymers are
unstable over time.  CDs must be carefully stored to protect them from
relative humidity, heat, dust, fumigants, etc.  And should one last
200 years, we have absolutely no guarantee that the PLAYER needed to
access the information will still be around!  But you will be able
to read a piece of paper....

John Simmons
Natural History Museum
University of Kansas

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