tlug: CD-R reliability

[Marcus Metzler <mocm@example.com>]

Hi,
I was just wondering if anybody knows about CD-R reliability and how
robust they are concerning damage from usage and transport.
The reason I am saking is because I have gotten a large amount of
CD-Rs from my brother in Germany. He sent me Mpeg files containing
some of my favorite TV-series, which are not broadcast here in Japan. 
Now I found that some of the Mpeg files on those CDs seem to
deteriorate with time. I don`t know if this is caused by usage ( I
don`t think so because I only watched them 2 or 3 times each) or the
way are store them. Since my brother sends them by mail he doesn`t use 
the jewel cases they came with, but uses thin plastic sheets (Is that
the right word). They are sold by CaseLogik maybe you know them. 
On some of the CDs there were already errors when reading the Mpegs
when they arrived here, but some seem to develope more and more errors 
the older they get. Is that something you have to expect from all
CD-Rs. Has anybody else experienced such effects. I think the fact
that Mpegs or the software that plays them are sensitive to such
errors makes it possible to recognize them better than on data CDs.
I is disappointing though. Not because I want to see the Mpegs again,
thats ok, for most of the stuff once is enough, but because I also
made backups of my research data on CD-R.
Maybe you have to keep the stuff in the jewel cases.

By the way is anybody interested in some Mpeg CDs. I have see all the
stuff and I would through them away eventually. Most of them are ok. I 
have about 40 now and only 3 or 4 have serious problems when you play
them. I have Mpegs of the last 10 or so episode of Babylon 5 Seasson
4. The entire season 5 of X-files. The first 6 episodes of Voyager
season 4 and DS9 season 6, respectively. And various Seinfeld,
Frasier, Friends and Mad about You epsiodes that fill up whats left on 
the CDs. They are all in English. If there are any takers I`ll bring
them to the next meeting. If there is more than one we can auction
them of :) and make some money for TLUG, although I am not sure about
legal implications.

Marcus

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dr. Marcus Metzler
Department of Physics    | $B")(B $B#2#7#4!<#8#5#1#0(B
Toho University          | $B@example.com)A%66;T;0;3#2!<#2!<#1(B
Miyama 2-2-1, Funabashi, | $BElK.Bg3X(B  $BM}3XIt(B  $BJ*M}(B
Chiba 274-8510           | 
Japan			 |
e-mail : mocm@example.com
----------------------------------------------------------------------------


--------------------------------------------------------------
Next Meeting: 8 August, Tokyo Station Yaesu central gate 12:30
featuring Linux on multiple platforms:
i386, Sparc, PA-Risc, Amiga, SGI, Alpha, PalmPilot, ...
Next Nomikai: 18 September, 19:30 Tengu TokyoEkiMae 03-3275-3691
--------------------------------------------------------------
Sponsor: PHT, makers of TurboLinux http://www.pht.co.jp