It has always been a big question in our industry... "How long will the DVD last?" Is it 5 years, 10 years, 25 years? Honestly, no one really knows from experience... just what the manufacturer tells them.
From the beginning, we have been using the best brand in the industry, "Taiyo Yuden" discs, which are rated for 75 to 100 years, but honestly, I have a hard time believing their claim. This is why I tell customers to always have a backup of their DVDs on another medium like a hard drive.
Now... I tell my customers, "Just get it placed on a M-Disc." If you take care of it, the disc will last many generations to come. It doesn't get any more permanent than this.
M-Discs use patented technology where the data is actually etched onto the disc by a laser versus regular DVDs that use a dye (which can fade in sunlight or extreme temperatures). With M-Disc DVDs, it is like carving the data into stone, so it can withstand a lot of abuse. Expect your discs to last 100's of years! That's right - 100's of years. You can even dip these discs into liquid nitrogen and they still work. M-Discs are compatible with all modern DVD players, so it is a win-win product!
As of January 20, 2012, we are the only major archival company to offer M-Disc technology. So if you are interested in having your data remain permanent, ask us for M-Discs. The cost is an additional $10.00 per service (a small price to pay for piece of mind).
