CD, DVD, or flash drive

<p >Giving this some thought. Brides look for CD's but they are old school, really. DVD's hold more but not everyone has a DVD-R yet. Had a thought of using flash drives instead. They have great storage space and can be used on any PC, laptop, or other devices. <br /><br />Thoughts?</p>

<p>They can also be deleted just as easily. To me, that is the biggest weakness of using them as a primary archivable delivery medium. While I don't think there is any good reason to not<strong> <em>also</em></strong> supply a USB 'dorkstick' as a deliverable, but the bottom line is that, sooner or later, it<em> will</em> get deleted if used. Angry computers frequently try to 'correct' USB sticks, and sometimes delete them in the process. The likliehood is compounded if there is free space to tempt a user to use. -the 'dangling dongle' is also subject to damage at the most unexpected times... I'd say toss one in, but do NOT let that be the delivery method you <em>rely</em> upon...</p>

<p>I've been delivering on DVD/R media for the past 6yrs, and, even though I had trouble with media failures at first, when I started purchasing archival grade media, those problems ceased (in fact, with the MAMA gold archival grade media, I have had, to date, zero media failures). I've <em>never</em> had a client call back and complain because an archival DVD quit reading. And since every computer with an optical drive sold these days (and nearly for the last decade) can read those DVDs, I don't worry about the client having no ability to read the disc. In the future things may change, but for now, and for the foreseeable future, I will deliver the client's 'digital negatives' on an archival grade DVD. But you can always toss in the dorkstick!</p>

<p>Thanks Marcus, By what method are you labeling them?</p>

I only give out "Paper," 4X6 prints. After a year they can buy the DVD with their choice of music, or just the images on the DVD.

 

People still WANT paper. Images also look so much nicer on paper compared to seeing the images on a 60 inch or a 10 inch monitor. Paper still rules folks.

 

Well something to think about. Add music to a DVD with the images. I use Pro Show Gold. If you use their music you don't have to worry about that sticky situation regarding music royalty rights.

<p>I'm not a shoot to disk photog. I believe in a quality album for my clients. Back in my film days, I would offer my clients the negatives with reproduction rights as a first year anniversary gift. Now in digital, I do the same with the digimages. Typcially, it's either a CD or DVD depending upon file sizes and they are usually low res. <br>

I just had the idea of flash drive as a future alternative when I had trouble lighting on the right template for labeling my CD's today. I finally got it to my satisfaction. I used to get them from my lab but didn't want to wait.<br>

Still, there are some interesting custom drive outifts out there.</p>

<p>In past I used archival gold DVDs and never printed anything on them, and told the client to not mark on them either. In recent years, I <em>also</em> provided a USB Flash drive for everyday use, with the suggestion to put the DVDs in a safe place like an off-site locked fire-safe or bank box.</p>

<p>With the swiftly disappearing DVD drive in modern computers, I will eventually be providing two redundant USB drives ... and provide the same instructions ... one for use, the other to store away. Clients also have the option to store the images on their cloud based site, or back-up location.</p>

<p>-Marc</p>

<p> </p>

<p>James, I print a CD label for them with a full image, as well as details (name, date, location, etc.), and contact information. I feel putting the label on the DVD helps protect it (since the data is most vulnerable upon the top surface) from physical damage, and labeling it helps protect it from 'stupid' damage (such as: "here is an old unlabeled DVD which is half written, I'll toss it over here in this pile to figure out if it's important later"). IMO, A good looking disc is a value adder.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>Flash drives are the worst archival medium ever.</p>

<p>Flash memory consist of high number of memory cells. Every cell in the flash memory is like a very small charged battery. Just as a battery it will lose it's charge slowly but surely when you don't recharge it. After a couple of years when the cell has lost is charge it's impossible to know what was in it and the data is gone. Nobody will tell you an exact number how long this will take for consumer memory but we are talking about years and not decades.</p>

<p>As technology moves on everyone tries to pack as much information in as small area as possible on the flash drives and make them as cheap to manufacture as possible. Long term data retention is what you want for archival use but that is actually the opposite of what most manufacturers are trying to do.</p>

<p>Except for Sandisk that actually made something they called "memory vault" a couple of years ago. It was proprietary technology for long term storage on flash. They said the data would last for up to 100 years and it was physically larger than an USB stick. The price was also about five fold more than regular USB sticks with the same capacity.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>PS. As you might now todays SSD drives are actually flash memory. This is from Dell's FAQ on SSD drives. Regular consumer SSD drives are using MLC technology and so are USB sticks.</p>

 

<blockquote>

<p>6. I have unplugged my SSD drive and put it into storage. How long can I expect the drive<br /> to retain my data without needing to plug the drive back in?</p>

</blockquote>

<p><em>It depends on the how much the flash has been used (P/E cycle used), type of flash, and storage</em><br /><em>temperature. In MLC and SLC, this can be as low as 3 months and best case can be more than 10</em><br /><em>years. The retention is highly dependent on temperature and workload.</em><br>

<em>NAND Technology Data Retention @ rated P/E cycle</em><br /><em>SLC 6 Months</em><br /><em>eMLC 3 months</em><br /><em>MLC 3 Months</em><br /><br /></p>

<p>I usually give out dvds, however I have had a few instances where I've had to go memory stick or CD, because for whatever reason, the clients could not get the DVD to read. (And yes, I do test them in multiple computers before I send). I tell the clients to make a backup of the memory stick / dvd / cd right away in case it gets damaged or lost. </p>

<p>Dave</p>

 

<p>I have always delivered DVD's and have never had an issue, but the new MacBooks are being sold without a DVD drive, so this year I'm offering Flash drives. I also include instructions to my clients on how to properly back up their images. I also keep redundant copies of all weddings in case there is an issue.</p>

If you look hard you can still find video and dvd machine units as one.

 

I see the same thing happening, as already written. I don't trust SD cards at all. They can split. CF cards are pretty decent, however will they last? The problem with hard drives is of course not being able to read the drives form one computer to another. Mac's VS PC's is of course one problem. Even from 1 PC to another.

 

It's a pain for some, but DVD's still remain my favorite medium.

 

Try to avoid giving people SD cards. If you do give them an SD card also consider giving them a DVD.

<blockquote>

<p ><a href="/photodb/user?user_id=3835189">Marcus Ian</a> I feel putting the label on the DVD helps protect it (since the data is most vulnerable upon the top surface) from physical damage"</p>

</blockquote>

 

<p>Actually that is not quite true with DVDs. With CD's the reflective layer required to read the disk was the top layer and that layer was easy to damage. With DVDs there is another layer of plastic over the reflective layer that is much more resistant to damage. DVDs are more vulnerable to damage from the bottom as large scratches can obscure the media. Large scratches on the top of a DVD will generally not affect a DVD unless the scratches are very deep. Minor scratches on top would wax a CD.</p>

<p>For this reason I always provide a DVD. Much more durable than CD. Thumb drives while certainly a consideration, suffer from limitations such as storage length, small size resulting in physical loss and the ability to be overwritten.</p>

<p>There is no perfect choice for every client. DVD is my preferred choice but I can produce CDs, thumb drives and even prints.</p>

 

<p>@Bob Bernardo. I'm not sure putting a slideshow together using a customer's supplied music gets you off the hook for licensing... <br>

Just got in from WPPI and almost all the vendors who displayed packaging solutions and albums were showing a thumbdrive box. It does seem like the way of the future, especially if you are delivering more than one dvd/cd. Personally I think it is a better choice but it may be just a matter of preference. Perhaps you could address the issue of accidental erasure by offering a storage and replacement contract? I archieve all of my images anyway so if I need to burn a disc its no big deal.</p>

<p>So what's the problem, just buy some blank discs and print labels on them, I do get a very nice and stylish. It has long sought a program which can do it the most successful who are interested can be found <a href="http://www.ronyasoft.com/products/cd-dvd-label-maker/en/">here</a>.</p>