DVD Storage In CD Boxs

[phantomengineer]

I've been keeping my DVDs in CD jewel boxs but I was just advised that due to the way DVDs are made it is unsafe and you should use the proper DVD cases.
Anyone know if there is anything to this?

[lumis]

i think whoever told you that is full of shit.

the only thing you should make sure of when purchasing a container for CD's or DVD's is that the center-hole holder isnt pushing extremely tight on the hole.

[lordsmurf]

What lumis said.

[whitejremiah]

yea, the only real differance between the case is because "big buisnesses" wanted it easier for the end consumer to tell the differance at a fast glance between the music cd's and the dvd's so they decided to go with a differant shaped case....if it can hold the disc safely (which ANY decent case should be able to...wether it was made for music cd's, dvd's, computer games, or even video games) then by all means feel free to use the cases....

[ROF]

Is this a joke? I know I'm laughing. There is no difference between a CD jewel case and a DVD jewel case. Most packaging on jewel case bundles are now DVD/CD anyway. Thanks for the early AM laugh.

[AngusMacGyver]

I think DVD cases are just more shock-tolerant and hold DVDs better.

[tomwil]

I've been keeping my DVDs in CD jewel boxs but I was just advised that due to the way DVDs are made it is unsafe and you should use the proper DVD cases.
Anyone know if there is anything to this?

From http://www.osta.org/technology/dvdqa/dvdqa10.htm

CD jewel cases can stress DVDs by gripping them too tightly resulting in discs being difficult to remove from CD cases without excessive flexing. As a result, use only containers specifically designed for DVDs and discs should always be removed carefully.

[Cornucopia]

CD's, DVD's, SACD's, BluRay & HDDVD's ALL have the same physical dimensions (not counting the odd "DualDisc" and such), both for pre-recorded and recordable/rewriteable. Same diameter spindle size (hole), same outer diameter, same thickness (not counting the small presence of the "stacking ring" of DVD's).
They all are--when manufactured within their expected tolerances--identical, and any case that works with one should work with any other. If it doesn't work well with one, that implies it should be good for any.
Still, there's always some badly manufactured stuff out there...

Scott

[dphirschler]

I've had DVD cases hold on too tightly to my discs. For instance my Looney Tunes set grips them so hard you practically have to break the disc to get it out! I've NEVER had that problem with CDs.


Darryl

[ROF]

I've had DVD cases hold on too tightly to my discs. For instance my Looney Tunes set grips them so hard you practically have to break the disc to get it out! I've NEVER had that problem with CDs.


Darryl

This experience is common amongst people who grab the disc and pull. There is a reason why the center spindle isn't solid or can be pressed down upon. It's a secure way to lock a disc in place and also a secure way to remove a disc. Press down on this center spindle to release the disc. I've seen too many broken discs from people failing to use cases properly.

[dphirschler]

This experience is common amongst people who grab the disc and pull.

Perhaps it is, but that is not what I do. It's a poorly designed case. The same type of case was used for some of my other sets too. I think the Simpsons season 1 was one of them. It holds the disc too tightly. You need three hands to get the damn disc out. One to press on the center button, another one to pinch with your finger nails the center tabs inward, and another to lift the edge of the disc up.


Darryl

[trossin]

From what I remember, the DVD cases are sized to fit next to a VHS tape on your local retailer's shelf so they would not have to buy new hardware. The same goes for the end user.

[ROF]

@dphirschler

I'm not doubting your experience and I can definitely relate to those discs that require a third hand to remove from their casings. It's just some people don't even realize the ease with which most discs can be extracted from their casing by simply pressing down in the center. There are only a few people I see actually doing this. I'm quite surprised some of those discs still play or are in one piece after I see how much bending they incur while being removed from their case.

[Cornucopia]

I am in perfect agreement with you there, ROF!


Scott

[doppletwo]

I've been keeping my DVDs in CD jewel boxs but I was just advised that due to the way DVDs are made it is unsafe and you should use the proper DVD cases.
Anyone know if there is anything to this?

From http://www.osta.org/technology/dvdqa/dvdqa10.htm

CD jewel cases can stress DVDs by gripping them too tightly resulting in discs being difficult to remove from CD cases without excessive flexing. As a result, use only containers specifically designed for DVDs and discs should always be removed carefully.

This is a strange statement to make since, as it has already been mentioned, DVDs and CDs have the exact same physical dimensions.


Also I find this problem is much more common with DVD cases, especially DVD rental case. Damn you Hollywood Video. I have probably rented at least 10 DVDs from Hollywood that had a crack in the center hub of the disc.


Old school standard CD jewel cases have a really good center hub that collapses probably an 1/8th of an inch more than is even needed.


The thread starter should laugh and poke fun at who ever told them that CD jewel cases aren't good for DVDs.


Tomwil I know you are just passing on that quote, but don't you process information before you regurgitate it?

[non-linear]

I've had DVD cases hold on too tightly to my discs. For instance my Looney Tunes set grips them so hard you practically have to break the disc to get it out! I've NEVER had that problem with CDs.


Darryl

That's been my experience too. I think I've only had a couple CD jewel cases that have been fairly tight, but I find DVD cases can hold the discs really tight. Funny you mention Looney Tunes because my copy of Looney Tunes Golden Collection is bad for that.

[lordsmurf]

A lot of DVD cases suck these days. Get out a Adventures of Superman or Dukes of Hazzard series case. The son of bitchin' plastic won't let go of the disc. The more recent The Simpsons releases are pretty bad too.The center is NOT able to be pressed in. It is firm to the back, with the spindle holder almost too large for the hole, and the little plastic tabs uncooperative. I've had to snap off a number of tabs to get a disc out, then make my own case. It's always those stupid clear "slimline" cases that unfold. I would rather they use multi-disc plastic cases like the ones effectuality sells.

[Dasun]

I second Lord Smurf here; I got the "Band Of Brothers" DVD set in China and I iterally had to prise the DVD's out of each container. That centre spindle would not depress at all and I had to get a a knife to prise each DVD out and each DVD flexed an alarming amount during the removal process - those suckers were in for good. Now that I have been reminded I think I will back these DVD's up before they stop working due to the ill treatment they suffered due to my desire to see the contents!

[non-linear]

I wish that vendors would use normal plastic cases instead of these clumbsy, cardboard, odd sized excuses they call cases. Not only do they tend to suck, but they stick out when stored with other discs, as they all seem to have different sizes.

I don't see why they can't put these multi-disc sets in standard cases (like the 24mm sextuple cases); it would make things much easier.

[dphirschler]

Spongebob Season 3 had it right. For the three disc set, they put each disc in its own slimline DVD case.


Darryl

[Cornucopia]

Maybe this is a new form of copy protection? You open the case so you bought it, then YOU break it so you can't take it back--AND you can't copy it when it's broken! :P

Scott

[bevills1]

Accroding to CallForHelp tests shows CD and DVD data lasts longer if it's stored vertically and not exposed to bright light or humidity, but case type should have no effect IMO.

[lordsmurf]

Storing a disc vertically or horizontally really makes no different. Another one of those myths. Make sure the case is sturdy, and will not exert force on the disc, and direction won't matter.

[phantomengineer]

I know that DVDs and CDRs have the same dimensions but the way it was explained to me was something to do with the way DVDs are glued together (the center hub?) CD cases might hold on too tight. This was news to me. That's why I posted here. I thought it sounded kind of suspicious.

[Cornucopia]

Actually, storing horizontally OR vertically both have problems associated with them. Both are really only long-term.

Ever see a pane of glass that's been sitting there for 40 years? It's warped, because (to a much less degree) it's acting like a liquid--it flows. Polymers (including the polycarbonates of CD's and DVD's) will do the same. They will warp over time. But we're talking on the scale of the lifetime of the media (~50 years). The vinyl of LP's also does this, but because they're much softer material, they take only a couple of months/years to warp. Seriously, though, I wouldn't worry about it either way.

That glue thing could be a problem, though.

Scott

[lumis]

Ever see a pane of glass that's been sitting there for 40 years? It's warped, because (to a much less degree) it's acting like a liquid--it flows.

no, it does not.. spread the news..

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=glass+liquid+myth

[bevills1]

Does lordsmurf have a reliable reference showing tests results proving vertical versus horizontal storage makes no difference? CallForHelp reported tests show it does matter, and I believe them until proven otherwise and would not just accept individual opinions.

[tomwil]

Tomwil I know you are just passing on that quote, but don't you process information before you regurgitate it?

I try to only pass on information that an official corporation might give (such as the OSTA), which under a certain assumption is more knowledgable than most of us here.

With that said, there is a major difference between how a CD-R and DVD-R are manufactured. Basically, a CD-R has ONE polycarbonate plastic substrate disc with an outer protective lacquer coating. A DVD-R has TWO polycarbonate plastic substrate discs that are GLUED together. That is why flexing a DVD disk is much worse than flexing a CD ... Flexing a DVD can separate the discs and expose the recording elements to the environment.

Now lets talk about storage. Since a CD has one disc, a constant pressure on its hub from a CD case will not affect it. However, using a CD case on a DVD puts constant pressure on the hub and could possibly separate the two discs over time with disasterous results.

Take note on a CD case ... when you press a CD onto the hub, you feel resistance if you try to spin the CD on the hub. Now take a DVD case ... when you place a DVD on the hub, it spins rather freely on the hub, because there is no pressure on the hub of the DVD. The reason is because of the different way a DVD is constructed, as opposed to a CD.

References:

CD construction: http://www.osta.org/technology/cdqa15.htm

DVD construction: http://www.osta.org/technology/dvdqa/dvdqa13.htm

The thread starter should laugh and poke fun at who ever told them that CD jewel cases are good for DVDs.

I fully agree with your statement here ... the thread starter should be concerned about using CD jewel cases on DVDs.

[SCDVD]

@dphirschler

It's just some people don't even realize the ease with which most discs can be extracted from their casing by simply pressing down in the center. There are only a few people I see actually doing this.

Just curious, since you see so many people doing this, are you a clerk in Blockbuster? You are one of the few people on this forum who "sees so many people open DVD boxes" Oh yeah, I forgot; you also have "seen so many people" destroy drives by sticking a paper clip in the manual tray open hole in optical drives. Since you "see so many people" do so many things, I hope you aren't a peeping tom!

[Cornucopia]

Ever see a pane of glass that's been sitting there for 40 years? It's warped, because (to a much less degree) it's acting like a liquid--it flows.

no, it does not.. spread the news..

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=glass+liquid+myth

Thanks! Sorry about the gaff/misquote. Man, I keep learning great stuff on this site!

Note: that may not still mean that CD's/DVD's don't warp, as they are polycarbonate (a polymer), and while I don't think they'll "flow" I do believe they'll warp, given time and pressure.

Scott