This topic has been exhaustively discussed here in the past. I don't think there was any real agreement on the topic (to Sharpie or not to Sharpie).
I use the special pens that are marketed as safe for CD's; right now, on my desk, there's a Staedler Lumicolor CD-R pen (blue). For me, this is the best compromise, even though I can't absolutely guarantee that the Staedler pen (or others similarly marketed) is totally safe. You always have to weigh the dangers of marking a CD (with any kind of pen) versus the fact that you'll probably lose track of the CD (and its contents) if you leave the CD blank and just label the jewel box or the sleeve in which it resides. As for a CD lasting 20 years: I believe that the consensus is that, by 20 years from now, we will have migrated all our data to some new format that probably hasn't been invented yet. In any case, I'm sure that cautious archivists of all types are making periodic "re-backups" to guard against CD failure. --Constance Warner P.S.: and let me tell you about the hours of fun when a vendor (to the association where I work) pasted paper labels on data CD's, and a label came off while the CD was playing in a slot-loading iMac. I hope that the practice of using paper labels, at least, has gone beyond the sunset. -----Original Message----- From: Computer Guys Announcements and Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, July 16, 2007 10:52 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [CGUYS] marking on CDs with marker pens? I heard this only recently and wonder if anyone has any experience: "Most people mark on their CDs and DVDs with harsh solvent-based permanent markers that can cause damage by corroding the top layer of the media. Safe pens are solvent-free, non-toxic, and alcohol-free." And here is a link to a better explanation which states 20 years is about the longest time before degrading: http://www.mscience.com/faq508.html Anyone know more about this? /gayley -- -- Gayley Knight Mother Geek Productions <MotherGeek.com> By, For & About Women Radio <bfawomenRadio.com> Association of Women in Radio and Television, Board Business and Professional Women/MC, Board NAWBO, Board ************************************************************************ * ==> QUICK LIST-COMMAND REFERENCE - Put the following commands in <== * ==> the body of an email & send 'em to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <== * Join the list: SUBSCRIBE COMPUTERGUYS-L Your Name * Too much mail? Try Daily Digests command: SET COMPUTERGUYS-L DIGEST * Tired of the List? Unsubscribe command: SIGNOFF COMPUTERGUYS-L * New address? From OLD address send: CHANGE COMPUTERGUYS-L YourNewAddress * Need more help? Send mail to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ************************************************************************ * List archive at www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ * RSS at www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.xml * Messages bearing the header "X-No-Archive: yes" will not be archived ************************************************************************ ************************************************************************ * ==> QUICK LIST-COMMAND REFERENCE - Put the following commands in <== * ==> the body of an email & send 'em to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <== * Join the list: SUBSCRIBE COMPUTERGUYS-L Your Name * Too much mail? Try Daily Digests command: SET COMPUTERGUYS-L DIGEST * Tired of the List? Unsubscribe command: SIGNOFF COMPUTERGUYS-L * New address? From OLD address send: CHANGE COMPUTERGUYS-L YourNewAddress * Need more help? Send mail to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ************************************************************************ * List archive at www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ * RSS at www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.xml * Messages bearing the header "X-No-Archive: yes" will not be archived ************************************************************************
