The
Panasonic DVD-RAM units can read all your old PD disks.
The
new 5.2 GB DVD-RAM disks cost the same as the old PD disks but hold
over 8 times more data.
The
legacy PD format held 650 MB, since it also was basically a CD disk
inside a protective shell.
PD
players could read and write PD disks as well as CD.
PD
technology was not very popular. PD players could interfere with
your regular CD player if you already had a CD unit.
Macintosh
OS 7.6 could still read and write PD disks, but we are unsure whether
Mac OS 8.5 or 8.6 can handle this legacy format.
A
rule of thumb is to be prepared to move all your images every 5
years to the newest technology. Your disks may last 30 years, but
there will be no drivers for your players in 30 years. Just remember
what happened to those 5 inch and 8 inch floppy drives? The floppies
may last forever, but where can you find a computer that can play
them?
This
is why today is a good time to move up to DVD-RAM. Because DVD-RAM
is now well tested, and because units have now dropped in price,
you can look forward to several years of availability of players
and media.
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