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Manufacturer: Millenniata
System requirements: M-DISC archival DVD requires the M-DISC READY Drive for burning data to disc; most DVD drives can read M-DISC
Biggest draws: data and photos stored on M-DISC are rated to last for decades
Drawbacks: more expensive than traditional DVDs; requires special DVD burner
Burning an archival M-DISC is easy and no different from working with a standard DVD, except you need to use an M-DISC Ready Drive. LG, Acer and Dell offer compatible, built-in drives, or you can use an external plug-and-play USB model. Just plug the USB cable of an external M-DISC Ready Drive into your computer and burn your data or photos to the M-DISC. The drives work on both PC and Mac computers and includes burning software; however, most new computers don’t require the extra software.
Durability and reliability
Makers of the M-Disc call it a “permanent storage solution.” The M-DISC DVD looks like a standard disc, except it’s slightly thicker and almost transparent. The M-DISC engraves data into the disc to record information and preserve files indefinitely. M-DISC DVDs have passed rigorous testing by the US Department of Defense for temperature, humidity and sunlight, and are rated to last 1,000 years. By comparison, standard discs, which use organic dye to burn data, are rated to last five to seven years. Millenniata, creators of the M-DISC, recommend storing discs upright in plastic or steel DVD cases.
Compatibility
Storage capacity
The verdict
From the May/June 2014 Family Tree Magazine
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