TDK rolls out a tougher DVD-R disc

DAYTON, Ohio -- TDK says it has a way to make your precious data archives more secure.

TDK has introduced its Armor Plated DVD, which the company claims is 100 times tougher than normal DVD-R discs.

DVD-R discs are used in DVD burners to store up to about 4.7 gigabytes of data, about seven times the capacity of recordable CDs. That's enough space to store two hours of digital video material with sound, making the discs ideal for permanently storing home videos shot in digital format.

CD burners and DVD burners use lasers to write information in the data storage layers of recordable CDs and DVDs. A protective barrier of clear plastic protects the data.

TDK says it uses "next-generation, hard-coating technologies" that make the discs 100 times more resistant to the exposures that cause damage to regular discs.

The company said it wiped its discs with steel-wool pads and wrote on them with permanent markers during testing. The discs didn't scratch, and the ink wiped right off, TDK claims. The Armor Plated DVD is also dirt-resistant, making it easier to wipe off fingerprints and even food and beverage spills without damaging the disc's surface, the company said.

In other ways, Armor Plated DVDs perform like other DVD-R discs. They are designed for single use and can't be erased and re- recorded. They can record at up to 4X speed.

TDK Armor Plated DVDs are available at Radio Shack stores and will be available at Circuit City stores soon. They can also be ordered online direct from TDK at www.tdk.com for $5.95 per disc. Other online retailers offer the discs for less than $5.95, but they generally cost about $1 more per disc than regular DVD-Rs.

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