Optical Storage in 2026: Dead or Dead Useful?

Описание: Optical storage can offer excellent long-term data retention. In this video we look at the state of the market for optical disc drives (ODDs) and media, and also unbox and test my new Verbatim external Blu-ray writer.

My recent video on “Long-Term Data Storage for Home Computer Users” is here:    • Long-Term Data Storage for Home Users  

And my M-Disc video from 2016 is here:    • Archiving with M-Disc  


RECOMMENDED MEDIA for long-term storage:

M-Disc Blue-ray BR-R (only work in M-Disc compatible burners):
Verbatim M-Disc BD-R - Blu-ray Disc 25 GB: Amazon US: https://amzn.to/480gBwz and Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/4855dQ9

Standard Blu-ray:
Verbatim BD-R 25GB 16X Blu-ray: Amazon US: https://amzn.to/4svdELH and Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/3ODHFLz (NB, UK link is to 6X media).

DVD-R:
Verbatim DVD-R 4.7GB 16X UltraLife Gold Archival: Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3O9OynL and Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/4dR1auo

Note that the above are affiliate links, and that as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.


REFERENCES (in order of appearance)

Sony kills recordable Blu-ray: https://spectrum.ieee.org/recordable-...

Pioneer ends Blu-ray drives: https://www.techpowerup.com/336803/pi...

LG ends Blu-ray players: https://overclock3d.net/news/misc/lg-...

Panasonic Blu-ray recorders: https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-compo...

Reasons for Shanxi Lightchain purchase (scroll down): https://forum.makemkv.com/forum/viewt...

Shanxi Lightchain optical drive manufacture registration: https://www.federalregister.gov/docum...

HL Data Storage: https://hitachi-lg.com

LG Burners: https://www.lg.com/us/burners-drives

Hitachi optical drives end-of-life: https://forum.makemkv.com/forum/viewt...

Buffalo stops Blu-ray drives: https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-compo...

Elecom stops Blu-ray drives from June 2026 https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-compo...

Verbatim Jan 2025 CES press release, inc USB BD-R writer: https://www.businesswire.com/news/hom...

Verbatim press release April 2025: https://www.businesswire.com/news/hom...

Verbatim press release January 2026: https://www.businesswire.com/news/hom...

Ritek Ridata optical media: https://www.ridata.com/english-cd-dvd...

Asus Turbodrive BW-16D1X-U: https://www.asus.com/uk/motherboards-...

Img Burn website: https://www.imgburn.com/

More videos on computing and related topics can be found at:
   / @explainingcomputers  

And more videos on film and other making, plus retro tech, can be found on my Christopher Barnatt channel:    / @christopherbarnatt  

Chapters:
00:00 Titles & Intro
01:04 The Optical Storage Market
09:01 Long-Term Optical Media
12:06 Verbatim Blu-ray Writer
14:51 Windows & Linux (drive test)
16:06 RISC-V & Linux
19:28 Wrap

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