Verbatim DVD-R 4.7GB 8X UltraLife Gold Archival Grade - Branded Surface & Hard Coat - 5pk Jewel Case - 96320

Long lasting medium.

Excellent archival quality DVDs, capable of storing data without decay for decades if not centuries. I admit they are more expensive than the traditional ones but the construction is visibly better and the materials are completely nondegradable and inert if you need something to last and I mean truly last, these are the discs that you want to get.

Awesome quality media! But given the fact that this is a DVD-R disc, it is best used to back up downloaded purchased software to install directly from the disc at a later date. But for archiving data only, such as audio, images and videos, it's always best to go with a DVD+R disc.

I ordered these DVD's and unfortunately on receipt I noticed that they were damaged. However, after informing Happyspring of this they issued a full refund. I cannot fault the seller for their excellent customer service.

I don't burn a lot of DVD's, so when I do it's something special like a DVD-Audio image, BD-Audio image, or perhaps a rare VHS tape not commercially available on DVD. In any case, the quality needs to be high and the durability long. An internet search will reveal Verbatim, Taiyo Yuden, and some Sony discs to be the best. Less expensive blanks are reported to have a higher failure rate on burning as well as issues with longevity of the dye. Note that these are also DVD-R as opposed to DVD+R. DVD-R is more compatible and the only format carrying the familiar DVD-Video logo. I also like that these come with a full size jewel case so that the spine is legible on a rack in the movie/music library. On the topic of burning, I've noticed a trend of love/hate amongst blank media reviews. I think failure rates can be reduced dramatically if steps are taken before burning to ensure correct operation. -Update the drivers for your media drive via the drive manufacturer website or the computer manufacturer website -Don't run a lot of other programs while burning, or ideally don't use the computer at all...really it's only a few minutes. -Burn at the proper speed. For these discs it's 8x. Many burning programs default to maximum speed or adjust automatically. Instead choose the speed recommended by the disc and/or check forums for user experiences.