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CDs, etc.



 

Let me say in my own deefense that I was not stating my own opinion, only my interpretation of Jim Lindner's posting on the subject.

Moreover, Jim (Lewin, this time :) ) I applaud your customer service approach, and I'm glad to know that at least one product seems to be up to snuff, but my issue revolves more around common practice rather than uncommon.  My concerns would be (in no particular order):

1) Most vendors will not offer your kind of guarantee
2) Many vendors will be out of business by the time 100 years rolls around - companies disappear quickly, particularly in the technology area
3) Many archives can't afford vendors and do work in-house; failed storage media created by an archivist in-house comes with no particular guarantee
4) Money back is terrific, but it can't replace the original materials that will be lost if digital is the only form of storage
5) Media is only half the question - as others have pointed out, what about the hardware to play it all?  Granted some institutions will keep copies of old computers, but that won't help the one-person historical society who may not have access.

(by the way, I just noticed I started every point above with the letter M - a Friday curiosity , I grant you, but still...)

Anyway, I think we've got two different perspectives here - one is on the viability of digital media as a storage media per se, and one of its value and usability in an archival setting.  I think there's a difference, and what will serve nicely for one may not do it for the other.

DS
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____________________________________________

Daniel Sokolow
Archives Coordinator
North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System
155 Community Drive
Great Neck, NY 11021
dsokolow@nshs.edu
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