----------------------------Original message---------------------------- Alex, CD ROMs from a good manufacturer have a 100 year plus life, according to 3M. Some on this list have suggested closer to five years, but they have yet to find any documentation for their conjectures. So I would say that from a life viewpoint, CD ROMs are fine. The down sides are that you need to stay abreast of having hardware and software to read them and that they are not terribly cheap. What medium are your photos in now? Do you have any reason to change from that medium? What drawbacks do you associate with your current medium? Dave Dave Gomberg, role model for those who don't ask much in their fantasy lives. GOMBERG@UCSFVM Internet node UCSFVM.UCSF.EDU fax-> (415)731-7797