Description
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: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulh9z-JluBs
And my M-Disc video from 2016 is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pekgrP-v5O0
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-physical-media
Pioneer ends Blu-ray drives: https://www.techpowerup.com/336803/pioneer-has-ended-production-of-computer-blu-ray-drives-transfers-pddm-business-to-shanxi-group
LG ends Blu-ray players: https://overclock3d.net/news/misc/lg-discontinues-all-of-its-uhd-blu-ray-and-blu-ray-players/
Panasonic Blu-ray recorders: https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/storage/cancelled-blu-ray-recorder-production-leads-to-flood-of-orders-for-panasonic-after-rivals-exit-market-last-supplier-standing-apologizes-for-delays-as-firm-inundated-with-orders
Reasons for Shanxi Lightchain purchase (scroll down): https://forum.makemkv.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=191100#p191100
Shanxi Lightchain optical drive manufacture registration: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/01/02/2025-24183/notice-pursuant-to-the-national-cooperative-research-and-production-act-of-1993-dvd-copy-control
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/viewtopic.php?t=40208
Buffalo stops Blu-ray drives: https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/storage/japanese-firm-stops-production-of-blu-ray-disc-drives-buffalo-says-there-will-be-no-successors-to-its-current-trio-of-portable-usb-attached-drives
Elecom stops Blu-ray drives from June 2026 https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/storage/another-major-japanese-electronics-firm-exits-the-blu-ray-market-elecom-publishes-notice-of-termination-of-nine-external-drives
Verbatim Jan 2025 CES press release, inc USB BD-R writer: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250107358223/en/Verbatim-at-CES-2025-New-Brand-New-Products-New-Year-in-Tech
Verbatim press release April 2025: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250401157716/en/Verbatim-Americas-Blu-ray-DVD-and-CD-Media-Solutions-Available
Verbatim press release January 2026: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260106085707/en/Verbatim-Frames-the-Future-of-Everyday-Tech-at-CES-2026
Ritek Ridata optical media: https://www.ridata.com/english-cd-dvd-bd.html
Asus Turbodrive BW-16D1X-U: https://www.asus.com/uk/motherboards-components/optical-drives/external-blu-ray-drive/bw-16d1x-u/
Img Burn website: https://www.imgburn.com/
More videos on computing and related topics can be found at:
http://www.youtube.com/@ExplainingComputers
And more videos on film and other making, plus retro tech, can be found on my Christopher Barnatt channel: http://www.youtube.com/@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
#optical #storage #blu-ray #dvd #dead #verbatim #sony #pioneer #lg #hitachi #ExplainingComputers