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OK, so in another thread here someone said we should not use DVD-RW or DVD-R discs to backup data. The reason being was because the discs can lose data over time.
I have a problem with that statement. I have movies in DVD that i have had for 10+ years and they still play fine. So what's going on?
And for the record I use a external hard drive for backup, LOL.
It is all in the type of dye used in the manufacturing process and any past/current/future environmental influences (UV exposure, temp etc.).
Commercially produced optical discs have the data physically stamped into them (similar to a record, but read with a laser instead of a needle).
Consumer writers on the other hand use discs with dyes or phase-change materials which change in reflectivity when 'burned'. These dyes are more subject to breakdown due to light, temperature, etc.
Any media will degrade over time. I have albums, cassettes and VHS tapes older than a lot of members here. When played, I play copies and only use the originals as masters. That said,how they are handled, stored and the equipment they are played back on is a major factor in their lifespan. External drives go bad as well. Your best bet is multiple backups/copies.
Yeah, I know. Simply don't have the means to do that. 
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