Mitsui Gold CD-R

From: Robert Leopold (Leopold@NMNH.SI.EDU)
Date: Fri Feb 22 2002 - 08:58:51 CST

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    Message-Id: <200202221459.g1MExo002399@sitelicense.arizona.edu>
Date:         Fri, 22 Feb 2002 09:58:51 -0500
From: Robert Leopold <mailto:Leopold@NMNH.SI.EDU>
Subject:      Mitsui Gold CD-R
To: mailto:IMAGELIB@listserv.arizona.edu

    <pre> I thought the Kodak Gold Ultima disks were virtually indestructible and was disappointed when Kodak stopped distributing them. After looking around for a replacement, I switched to Mitsui, the only other manufacturer I could find that offere
     a disk with Phthalocyanine dye and a gold reflective layer. They're supposed to be coated for durability. Mitsui will s nd you samples on request and they've been very fast with shipments. <http://www.mitsuicdr.com/>

    At one point, Mitsui offered an "archival" gold disk, but their representative tells me that those were discontinued and now all Mitsui gold disks are manufactured to the same standard.

    I think Mitsui claims 100 years for their disks, but I think people also need to know how a disk stands up under every d y use and abuse. So for the past few years, I've handed out Kodak disks (with digital images on them) on the first day o
     my digital imaging class. I would ask students to "stress test" them, and then a few weeks later, when we discussed the longevity of digital media, we'd pull them out and compare notes.

    The Kodak disks survived 25 days under water (which I thought would open their laminated surfaced). They've been buried in a garden, placed on the rear package shelf under a car window (which is hot!), tied to car bumpers, played with all d y in a kindergarten class .. you name it. The only things that never failed to destroy the disks were deep scratches nd nail polish remover (no surprise there).

    I'll let you know how the Mitsui disks fare later this year.

    Robert Leopold Archives & Collections Information Manager Department of Anthropology, National Museum of Natural History Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. 20560-0152

    Visit us online: www.nmnh.si.edu/naa

    </pre>

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