Before we get started, lets take a closer look at the DataPlay's recordable media. Surprisingly, the physical parameters are very similar to that of a DVD-ROM. Both use a red laser with a wavelength of 650 nm and a lens with a numerical aperture (NA) of 0.6. The track pitch is also the same at 0.74μm.
The discs themselves are 32mm in size and are double sided. Each side can hold up to 250MB of data giving it a total capacity of 500MB. For maximum compatibility, DataPlay media also comes preformatted with the FAT file system.
For added protection, DataPlay media is enclosed in a 42mm x 34mm x 3mm cartridge made out of impact resistant polycarbonate. Even with the cartridge, its still considerably smaller than 12cm and even 8cm DVD/CD media. Also, DataPlay claims that when placed in a protective case, the discs can be preserved for up to 100 years.
