| Summary | | | | sense are fundamental to the lifespan of discs, and |
| For most businesses, the ability to collect, store and | | | | surface scratches can pose the threat of permanent |
| distribute content is not a benefit, but a requirement. | | | | damage. However, when appropriately stored and |
| In today's information-driven society, it is important | | | | cared for, optical discs are the sturdiest and most |
| for every professional to have the capability to | | | | resilient digital media storage solution available today. |
| gather information (whether it is records, data, | | | | Seek and you will find. |
| multimedia, etc.) in one central, secure form-one that | | | | Do you remember trying to fast forward to your |
| will not only stand the test of time, but that can be | | | | favorite song on a cassette tape? Now, think about |
| quickly and easily accessed when you need it, | | | | how fast and easy it is to search for music on a CD |
| wherever you are. | | | | with a touch of a button. Long gone are the days of |
| Before the development of optical media, magnetic | | | | having to listen to an entire tape from beginning to |
| tape, LP records and other types of vinyl records | | | | end or hunting and pecking to find the one thing that |
| were the primary resources for the storage and | | | | you are looking for. Optical access media provides |
| distribution of content and media. In their time, these | | | | direct access, rather than linear access to data so |
| were logical and useful options. However, optical | | | | you do not have to spend valuable time trying to find |
| media, such as CDs, DVDs and Blu-ray discs, gave | | | | the track, document or video that you require. |
| the world an unparalleled solution for the storage and | | | | Today's world is fast-paced, and time is critical to the |
| distribution of music, video and data - a solution that | | | | success of your business. When you store your data, |
| keeps growing and expanding. From physicians and | | | | music and video on a disc, you can always find what |
| university professors to retail clerks and independent | | | | you need, when you want it. |
| business owners, people from all walks of life have | | | | Have optical media, will travel. |
| discovered the benefits of using optical media to | | | | Worldwide, a 120mm optical disc is the most universal |
| store and distribute their professional information in a | | | | method of storage and transportation of information. |
| dynamic and secure manner. | | | | Because disc technology is the industry standard, you |
| Even as more industries realize the value of optical | | | | can take a CD, DVD or Blu-ray disc anywhere in the |
| media, this solution continues to offer bigger, better | | | | world and find a place to read it. In addition, optical |
| and more robust benefits. This white paper highlights | | | | media is the only technology that scales from laptops |
| the reasons why optical media is the number one | | | | to enterprise solutions-discs can easily travel from the |
| choice for the storage and distribution of digital | | | | smallest laptop to the largest server room. When you |
| content. | | | | walk in to a meeting, conference or office with an |
| Introduction | | | | optical disc you'll be able to use it. Wherever you are, |
| Optical media is the leading storage and distribution | | | | so is your media. As one technical trainer says, "I |
| solution. It combines all the benefits professionals look | | | | have done training sessions all over the world and the |
| for in one convenient package. Optical media is: | | | | one thing I never worry about is getting my content |
| - Inexpensive | | | | to appear or play - it's always on a CD or DVD." |
| - Archival | | | | Safe and sound. |
| - Durable | | | | Technology is available to password protect optical |
| - Searchable | | | | media, further securing and protecting important and |
| - Reliable | | | | private records, data and media. Rimage embeds this |
| - Secure | | | | technology into its systems to make password |
| - Versatile | | | | protection of disc content as easy as checking a box |
| - Printable | | | | and typing in a robust password. Do you want to |
| More space for your buck. | | | | prevent unauthorized duplication of video content? A |
| CDs, DVDs and Blu-ray discs are extremely cost | | | | different check box enables video protection that |
| effective. A full-color permanently printed disc costs | | | | does not interfere with playability. Both can be used |
| $.70 for a CD, $.80 for a DVD and $5.00 for a Blu-ray | | | | on-demand-for one disc or hundreds of discs. Optical |
| disc. Affordability is especially helpful if you are | | | | media proves a storage solution that is safe and |
| sending stored information to multiple parties. When it | | | | secure-protecting your information from those who |
| comes to storage space, size does matter. Optical | | | | shouldn't have it so you can easily provide it to those |
| disc capacities vary from 700 MB to 25 GB. With that | | | | who should. |
| kind of range, you have the added advantage of | | | | What does optical media have that printed media |
| selecting the exact storage size that fits your needs. | | | | doesn't? |
| Now you can store your data efficiently and dole it | | | | Granted, we do not yet live in a paperless world. |
| out cost effectively-and still have room left over to | | | | Paper is still prevalent at home, school and in the |
| grow. In terms of value, nothing beats an optical disc. | | | | workplace, and it is still an effective means of |
| Live long and prosper. | | | | amassing and communicating information. A printed |
| Optical media offers an unparallelled archiving solution, | | | | product brochure can have great photos, diagrams, |
| allowing you to minimize bulky libraries and files of | | | | copy, color and, ultimately, a great impact. But it can't |
| information into a less complicated, handheld solution. | | | | have moving demos, flash videos or recorded |
| Not only is optical media both small and portable, but | | | | end-user testimonials. With optical media, you can |
| it outlasts any conventional form of record keeping. | | | | provide everything printed media can and much more. |
| ISO tests confirm that a properly maintained CD will | | | | You can, for example, record a complete product |
| last more than 100 years. DVDs and Blu-ray discs can | | | | catalog, embed an interactive system selector and |
| survive for more than 50 years. When you use | | | | have music play while the user reads the disc. And |
| optical media, you not only have a small, efficient | | | | that's just the beginning. With advantages like these, |
| method of gathering and transporting your data, but | | | | you can reach your established customer or fan base |
| you can be assured that your media will last through | | | | and go the extra mile. |
| the generations. | | | | A label is worth a thousand words. |
| A match for Mother Nature. | | | | Optical media has it all. Effective and affordable |
| Of all portable media storage solutions, optical discs | | | | storage capabilities? Check. Ease of distribution? |
| are the toughest in the industry. Dust and fingerprints | | | | Check. Longevity, protection and versatility? Check, |
| generally do not disturb the functionality and | | | | check and check. Add printing ability to this |
| readability of a disc and, in general, optical media can | | | | combination and you've got a world-class solution. A |
| withstand a reasonable amount of water, heat, | | | | 120 mm optical disc is the only form of data storage |
| humidity and even harsh chemicals. One user of | | | | and transportation that has enough real estate on |
| optical media states: "Last summer I had some music | | | | the surface to tell a user what's on the disc before it |
| CDs and a bottle of weed killer in my car. One | | | | is inserted into a computer. If a disc contains music, |
| afternoon, my trunk got pretty hot and the weed | | | | you can print a label that lists all the songs, times and |
| killer leaked all over my stack of CDs. When I got | | | | artists right on the surface. If it's software, you can |
| home, I washed them off with some warm soapy | | | | print the version, revision level, platform, language |
| water, carefully rinsed them and stacked them in the | | | | and even the fine print in your legal disclaimer-and still |
| dish rack to dry. The next day, they were ready to | | | | have plenty of room for your corporate logo. |
| use. Had this happened to an iPod or USB drive, I | | | | Furthermore, since the data on a disc lasts up to 100 |
| would have lost my entire music library." | | | | years, it makes sense to have label printing that lasts |
| Of course, proper storage, general care and common | | | | just as long. |