Bristol Apprenticeship Records: CD or Download?

[Geordie daughter]

Hi
I would like to order myself a copy of the Bristol apprenticeship records from the BAFHS website, but am not sure whether the CD or the download would be a better bet. I use an older model PC with a disk reader for my research. Advice on the pros and cons of each version would be welcome as technology is not really my thing.
Thanks

[Spelk]

If I get any data on a cd I copy it to my computer hard drive and or cloud storage and thereafter access it from there.

The cd I might keep until I clear useless stuff.

The cd will cost you more and take longer to arrive. Why would you want it.
The only reasons I can think of are in case of your computer dies or you do not have enough memory. In these cases you need to get more memory and have a better backup routine.

Long term most cds will cease to be readable due to degradation or being obsolete technology.

[Geordie daughter]

Thanks for your thoughts, Spelk. As you say the download would be far the quicker option, but I am wondering how easy it would be to search through it for particular individuals in the long term. The CD version does at least come with a fairly comprehensive index which allows one to search using either the apprentice's or master's name, or by a particular trade. I am not a fan of cloud storage, I'm afraid, though my PC does have extra memory installed, so storage is not a problem.

[Spelk]

I'd be surprised if the download verson was anything other than an exact copy of what is on the CD.

[ikas]

but I am wondering how easy it would be to search through it for particular individuals in the long term.

It would be strange to offer a download without a way of searching it quickly. What is the file type of the download? Many files are searchable eg .xls or .doc. It would make sense to include an index for the CD but not for a download if the filetype of the download was inherently searchable.

[Spelk]

Looking at the BA FHS site I see nothing to indicate that the download and CD versions are different. The CD version seems cheaper at £3 vs £7 but then you get hit with big delivery charge.
As these are digitised copies of 26 actual books I expect they have been scanned as pdf files but then it reads like they have also done an OCR to prove [edit - provide] a text file.
Quite likely that the index will be just for each volume so no overall index.

[Geordie daughter]

Thank you Spelk, that's really helpful, as I will be using these records quite a bit in the future.

[Old Bristolian]

The download, which I have, is identical to the CD; in fact the introduction refers to itself as 'this CD'. There are two parts, one prior to 1724 and one post. The contents are arranged as lists in five groups: by Apprentice surname, Father's surname, Father's abode, Master's surname and Master's trade. There are also columns for Master's wife if noted and other unique features. In effect the whole data base is an index itself and to see the original documents you have to visit the Bristol Record Office.

[Geordie daughter]

Thank you so much for your reply. The level of detail included is crucial as, amongst other things, a fellow researcher and I are trying to identify whether a particular individual is "one of hers" or not - he has a very common name - so if in this particular instance his record contains the father's name and place of origin that would make our day! If my partner-in-crime then decides she wants to view the original documents she can go ahead and contact the BRO.