M-Disc Use Expereince & Equipment Survey Request (archival storage)

[dwswager]

So, I remember back when the M-Disc was originally announced, but lost track of it.  I currently store most of my images and other digital media on a 12TB server built on Windows Home Server 2011 running Stablebit DrivePool which allows pooling all drives and duplicating folders (real copies on 2 different drives).  However, I would love to have a more durable solution.

If you have or currently use the M-Disc, it would be helpful to me an other to know your experience.

How long have you used them?
What writer do you use?
What brand, format and size discs (ex Verbatim, BD, 50GB)?
Where do you buy your discs?
Do find them readable in most readers (BD Players/Computers)?

General experience and comments?

[dwswager]

fwiw http://forum.luminous-landscape.com/index.php?topic=104137.0

Yeah searched and read that thread.  Only a couple entries talking about any actual experience and one was just to indicate that they have been readable on normal DVD/BD readers by clients.

I'm trying to determine if this is a viable backup option before I spend the money on a writer and discs.  I still intend to keep my server going a (with duplication of images) for normal use.   Foolishly enough I have a cake box of 50 GOLD Kodak DVDs that never got used.  Storage requirements blew right past 4.4GB of a DVD.

Since I've been to tests at China Lake (not the most fun TDY), I was interested in their stress test comparison report on DVD media where the M-Disc showed no degradation while other discs were not even recognizable as a DVD by the disc analyzer setup.  This only solves one problem with optical media, but it is the big problem with environmental degradation of the disc.  Scratching (as long as not gouging) can be polished out.

[Ellis Vener]

I have used them for the past few years, the DVD-R version, for delivery to clients who wanted images on disc as a backup. Never had any problems with them  and no one has reported any problems either.

[Pictus]

M-Disc, LG BH16NS40 vs Pioneer BDR-209EBK
http://club.myce.com/f179/millenniata-m-disc-bd-r-ritek-336254/