What happened to Plastic CD Cases?

I fully praise the papersleeve / Mini-LP CD's. I don't understand the problems you are having -- maybe the American versions you are purchasing are some how different than the Japan.

I have well around 2500 Japan Mini-LP / papersleeve CDs and find them to be EXCELLENT. Let along the Japanese do a exemplar job at mastering old jazz albums, but the packaging is AWESOME. A miniaturized album cover, front, back, and inside (if gatefold). Exactly done just like my old records. Fabulously done!!!

When I first saw one -- I thought, why in the h__l have this not caught on in the USA. I mean, come-on, no wonder CD sales have dropped like a rock -- it is the absolute biggest pain in-the-__s to open those plastic clam-shells. All the extra taping around the corners for security strips (who cares) and those plastic handcuffs that some CD are placed in (cut my hand open once trying to open one of those -- should have sued, to make a point). And once you finally get to your CD, then you have to almost break it (by flexion) to get it out of the center hole lock... enough is enough.

The Mini-LP / papersleeve CD's I've bought are extremely well packaged, in a reseal-able plastic cover and the CD is housed in a plastic jacket within the cardboard sleeve. Easy to open, easy to get the CD out without damage, and a pleasure to look at the mini-album jacket. Excellent product!!! and their price reflects it.

I prefer the cardboard/paper cases. My only concern is longevity. But then again I have some lps that are nearing 40 years old and the covers are still intact. Worn? Yes, but still serviceable.

I'd not get too upset over it as things aren't likely to change anytime soon.

Pressing a finger into the center hub the disc mounts to usually enables easy removal, as the disc will pop free without being warpped or flexed dramatically.

I sure would like to see those CDs packaged in sleeves like LPs were/are, and decent cases too boot.

Be careful with the replacement slim line cases too. Some are even worse than the ones that come with the orig CD as their 'hubs' are miss formed or they break easily, or won't shut and stay shut very well.

of course, stacking them on edge won't allow you to read what disc is what, afterwards either.

It definitely is a drag. it is also why I use mega drives and hard disc drives to corelate, store and playback digital music.

One more point for hard drive based storage. I really like the cases that SACDs come in though--they seem a little more durable.

All of my plastic cases got tossed after I finally found a reasonable alternative:

http://www.slappa.com/technology/d2i-demo.html

(Be advised that this link plays a flash-style demo)

It's a pretty ingenious solution to plastic jewel case pollution.