Re: DVD Disk quality
I'm probably quite paranoid about backups etc... but here's my 2 cents:
1. Unless you are just dumping data for transfer, always use the best (branded) media that you can afford. Yes, there will be the odd bad disk but not as many coasters as you may otherwise end up with.
2. Buy a second (third, forth etc.) HDD as already suggested. The prices keep dropping. I've opted for a USB removable device so that I can take it and dump data elsewhere.
3. If you video is on DV then it *should* retain image quality over time, however be warned that your tapes may decay so always make a backup of these.
4. Once you have your most precious photos / films / other data on CD or DVD then burn a second copy and post it to someone else (e.g. the parents). Get them to test it on their PC. Use this as your off-site backup.
5. Make use of the on-line photo galleries. The well known brand begining and ending in K will provide free hosting and they retain the original image for photo printing although you only get a small image to view on-line. Great to send links to albums to friends, but you also get to keep the originals to hand. I enquired about getting access to the originals on-line and was told that this could be a chargable service in future...
6. For storage of other data files e.g. Spreadsheets, Money files etc., password protect them (remember the password) then mail them to yourself at one of the free mail hosts such as Gmail so they are always available on line.
7. I expect that in the next 5-10 years that 'personal' storage such as DVD etc. will reduce and we will begin to store data on-line meaning that is is available any time any place. At least then we won't have to keep re-ripping and burning every time a new capacity / technology is released.
As an aside, I ripped my 300+ CDs for use on my iPod a couple of years ago. I was alarmed to see that some of the CDs which are now 10 to 15 years old have simply 'rotted' away and were no longer readable. This is something I recall reading about in the early days of CDs in the early 80's but to see it happening was quite sobering.