Do you really need to use those 'special' markers to write on CD/DVDs?

I have always used sharpies. Never had a problem.

Sharpies are fine as long as you don’t stack the CDs before the ink dries.

Normal Sharpies are great but if you are concerned, they make an ‘industrial’ marker, which i suppose is ultra permanent.

i worked in staples. the normal sharpies take longer to dry and smear. this problem could easily be fixed, but they’d rather take your money.

I think special markers are clearer to see which CD you have.

I use Sharpies in all colors!

Excellent. I will let our children worry about the mythical corrosive effects of marker on the CD’s plastic surface. Much like we ignored the global warming issue – that just took care of itself!

Sharpies are perfectly fine…

Yeah, ‘Sharpies’ (We don’t call them that in Australia) are more or less fine, I have CDs which are years old and I used a Sharpy equivalent to right on them.

byrd: what do you call them in Austrailia?

i use sharpies too. just write on the cd or dvd before you burn something to it, that way it’s dry by the time you’re finished burning then you can stack em or store em without any worries! cheers!

I use Sharpies here too but sometimes I occasionally use the marks-a-lot markers. I’ve never had a problem with any type of permanent marker. Just don’t try to use a pen (even felt tip) because it doesn’t show up well and ball points will damage the delicate disk surface.

@stephen: I’m Australian and I’ve always called them all just “markers” lol
I don’t even know what you guys mean by “sharpies”, do you mean the thinline ones?

Nothing really damages the media, it’s just a question of the ink drying fast and not smearing, like MtlZack said.

Sharpie is such a popular brand of markers in North America that it’s sometimes used as a proprietary eponym for any felt-tip (usually thick & permanent) marker. Like how one might say Kleenex instead of tissue.