The U.S. Navy DVD Study used relatively severe conditions, including light, heat, and humidity; consequently, the results may not reflect typical usage. I learned a number of things from the study:
- The quality of the DVD recorder is critical. Different drives of the same manufacturer and model may perform quite differently.
- The Taiyo Yuden discs seem achieved the best compromise between quality recording and longevity among readily available discs. These factors frequently work against each other, with discs that had the highest initial recording quality having the lowest longevity.
- The Millenniata discs performed significantly better than competition under severe conditions. I would expect these discs to have better longevity, even under more typical storage conditions.
Millenniata discs are currently available but relatively expensive, with the recorder available for about $800 and the discs costing $15/each. A standard DVD drive can be used to read the discs. I would expect the price for the recorder and media to come down as the market for these discs expands.
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