[LINK] Archival Qualities of Memory Sticks?

[Kim Holburn]

I remembered seeing something about archival CDs/DVDs recently and it  
was here:
http://hardware.slashdot.org/story/09/11/13/019202/Synthetic-Stone-DVD-Claimed-To-Last-1000-Years

> "A start-up launched a new DVD archive product this week: a disc  
> that it says will hold its data for 1,000 years.


If course I doubt that anything in 1000 years would be able to read it  
even if it was readable.

> The company, Cranberry, says its DiamonDisc product, which can be  
> used in any standard DVD player, is not subject to deterioration  
> from heat, UV rays or material rot due to humidity or other elements  
> because it has no dyes, adhesives or reflective materials like  
> standard DVD discs, and its discs are made from a vastly more  
> durable synthetic stone. Data is laid down on the platter much in  
> the same way as a standard DVD disc, but with DiamonDisc the burner  
> etches much deeper pits. Cranberry said it is also working on  
> producing a Blu-ray version of its 1,000-year disc."

Here's an article on using CDs and DVDs for keeping stuff:
http://adterrasperaspera.com/blog/2006/10/30/how-to-choose-cddvd-archival-media

The main issue with memory sticks seems to be that they wear out by  
being used so if you want to store something for a long time you would  
want to start with a new stick.

I'm not sure but relying on something that uses an electrical charge  
to store data doesn't seem like a great idea to me:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flash_memory
> Because the FG is electrically isolated by its insulating layer, any  
> electrons placed on it are trapped there and, under normal  
> conditions, will not discharge for many years.


On 2009/Dec/13, at 10:59 PM, Roger Clarke wrote:

> I'm trying to find out current wisdom on the likely survival time of
> memory sticks / USB sticks / 'solid-state disk' storage.
>
> CD and related technologies are well-known to have very short
> life-expectancies, but what guidance exists in relation to storage of
> back-ups on this alternative, now-ubiquitous storage-form (which now
> seems to be down to about $5 per GB)?
>
> Thanks for any leads!
>
> -- 
> Roger Clarke                                 http://www.rogerclarke.com/
>
> Xamax Consultancy Pty Ltd      78 Sidaway St, Chapman ACT 2611  
> AUSTRALIA
>                    Tel: +61 2 6288 1472, and 6288 6916
> mailto:Roger.Clarke at xamax.com.au                http://www.xamax.com.au/
>
> Visiting Professor in the Cyberspace Law & Policy Centre      Uni of  
> NSW
> Visiting Professor in Computer Science    Australian National  
> University
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-- 
Kim Holburn
IT Network & Security Consultant
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