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CDs May be Less Immortal than We Thought

Posted by CowboyNeal on from the trusting-the-media dept.

Zordak writes "The near-immortality of CDs, sometimes used as an excuse by record companies as an argument for their high cost, may not be as eternal as touted. An article at CNN describes the problem of CD Rot rearing its head to deny you access to your music and data. The article also describes related problems with CD-Rs, CD-RWs and DVDs."

4 of 504 comments (clear)

  1. iTunes doesn't rot by ObviousGuy · · Score: 5, Insightful

    While it might suck having to pay a nickel for music off of iTunes, at least I know that my data can be backed up in a manner of my own choosing.

    --
    I have been pwned because my /. password was too easy to guess.
  2. Re:funny you say that by Smidge204 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    But it's not iTunes' problem. Basically, all Apple cares about is making iTunes legit. By not facilitating mass production, they can claim they thier product doesn't contribute to piracy.

    Once the CD is made, it's the same problem they've always had with CD copying. ie: not Apple's problem.
    =Smidge=

  3. Re:The CDs are not the problem by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I think we caught the RIAA/MPAA in a gaffe. If we are buying a single license for a movie or an album (as according to the RIAA and the MPAA), we should be able to go exchange our DVDs for whatever comes out next at no cost. After all, we paid for a license for that movie, notwithstanding the format. But, this will not happen in a million years. It seems they like to play both sides of the coin, as that is the most profitable. When we claim in a a physical product, they claim it is a license and when we claim it is a license, they say it is a physical product.

  4. The real problem. by MacFury · · Score: 5, Insightful
    I have no issue with CD longevity. CDs are extremely cheap now. Here's the big problem...data that comes on "anti-piracy" CDs; those pesky PC games that refuse to copy or the CD that can't be ripped.

    Sure, there are hacks and work arounds...but they aren't always readily available.

    For instance...I bought Battlefield 1942 and couldn't make a backup. My little sister destroyed the 2nd disc. Now I can't reinstall it. I couldn't make a backup because the original disc contained bit errors. When I contacted EA, they told me to go screw myself.