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What happened to Plastic CD Cases?

I bought three new CD's yesterday. All three came in folding cardboard cases. The problem with these cardboard cases to me is threefold- first, I have to pinch the CD by the edge touching both the label side and the music side. Second, by dragging the CD out of the cardboard pocket, it just feels like I'm cutting the surface of the music side with cardboard fibers. And thirdly, stacking the cardboard cases on a shelf hides the Disc Title.

I cringe everytime I pull a CD out of one of these cardboard cases. It goes against all of my years of caring for records- and CD's. Worst, I have torn a couple of these cases when I tried squeezing on them to open the mouth wider and make it easier to pull out the disc.

Maybe plastic cases are not so environmentally friendly, but the music industry needs to drastically improve on the paper case.

Am I the only one who feels this way?
tonywinsc
blindjim
3,092 posts
 
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.
blackstonejd
153 posts
 
One more point for hard drive based storage. I really like the cases that SACDs come in though--they seem a little more durable.
fpeel
455 posts
 
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.
shadorne's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
shadorne
7,477 posts
 
Less plastic and recycled paper = Green CD

Green CD's also sound better ;-)
rbautista
97 posts
 
There seems to be a difference in the Japan packaging that Grateful describes and US packaging. I do like the new mini-LP style but the US version is lacking in the paper sleeve that the CD goes in which the Japan version seem to have. I have a few Jack Johnson CD's that I wish came with the paper sleeve. If they would put that, I think that would be solves the OP problem of the CD getting scratched. Then it would be up to the non-audiophile to recycle the sleeve or not.
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