* Posts by CorporateAssholes!

1 publicly visible post • joined 13 Apr 2017

Blood in the boardroom as Imation ejects from tape media business

CorporateAssholes!

If you've used any of the dark blue TDK DVD-Rs or DVD+Rs (the ones with swirly pattern) in the past 10 years, for goodness sake CHECK THEM IMMEDIATELY and back them up ASAP! Half of the 50 I have here (mostly written to in 2008/9) are no longer readable. They are branded TDK - but that's misleading. They are NOT TDK discs (I have a 2001-vintage TDK DVD-R - i.e. one that was actually made by TDK, rather than in an outsourced crap-factory in China...or wherever the bonus-motivated buyer could get the best deal - that still reads perfectly). In 2007, Imation took over the TDK media division - and, incredibly, was allowed to continue using the brand. Eight or so years later, Imation pulled out of 'consumer media', changed its name (to Glassbridge Enterprises) and shifted focus to global corporate d*ck-waving neoliberal hyperb*llocks (e.g, 'investment' and 'asset management'). I guess all this financialisation sh*t is more lucrative than actually, like, making...or at least selling...stuff! In the short-term, at any rate. I have contacted Glassbridge, in order to discover if they still have any responsibility (genuine TDK products came with a 'limited lifetime' guarantee). Thankfully, the contents of most of my discs are held elsewhere; my known losses so far amount to TV programmes captured with a Panasonic DVD recorder. The morals of the story? Neoliberalism is a cost-driven race to the bottom, and we (the majority) end up with crap products, insecure jobs and a dying planet. It must be destroyed, before it destroys us. Oh, and don't be brandwashed!

N.B. I have 10-20 year old CD-Rs and plenty of 'no name' DVD-Rs. All have a much lower long-term failure rate than this Imation/TDK cr*p. 'Life on record'? I wouldn't trust ANYTHING to TDK (never mind my life!) any more. Yes, I'm angry. But if you ain't angry nowadays, then you ain't paying attention!