Delkin or Mam-A gold DVD's?

[paulie_smith]

<p>Am looking at having to get more Gold DVD's as the older gold Kodak stock I have is getting low. Is there any real difference in the Delkin or the Mam-A gold DVD in performance or expected life? I like the idea of the white printable surface on top so I can use the fine marking pen to label it. A lot easier for me to read.<br>

If there are any tests of these I would like to see them. A few searches have not turned up any independent tests, just the makers telling how good they are. I want the images and digital files to last and prefer giving files to clients on the Gold DVD or CD. Thanks in advance for any information.</p>

[AJG]

<p>I have been using the Delkin gold CDs and DVDs for about 4 years now and haven't had any failures yet. Delkin sells CDs and DVDs with a surface for inkjet printing, but I haven't used them so I can't say if they will last any differently than the regular ones. One thing I have read in various places is that the common permanent markers (fine point Sharpies, for example) can cause damage to the dye layer on CDs and DVDs, so I don't write anything except the file number on the clear center section of the CD/DVD with a special marker also sold by Delkin claimed to be safe for writing on CD/DVDs. I write information on the jewel case or Tyvek envelope along with the file number.</p>

[steven_clark]

<p>For all we know MAM makes Delkin's disks. It's very unlikely they make them themselves.</p>

[keith_b1]

<p>I too am surprised that no one appears to have done a simulated ageing test on the recordable optical media. The Delkin and Kodak ones appear to be made by MAM (in USA...I like that); Verbatim also offers an 'archival UltraLife Gold' DVD-R which looks slightly different than the MAM/Kodak/Delkin, and claims to be mfd in Taiwan.</p>