Does anyone else loathe "digipacks" - those flimsy one-piece cardboard CD cases that seem to be increasing in popularity to cut production costs?

I especially cringe when they are labeled "limited edition digipack," as if there is value associated with a cheaper cardboard case that will have shorter shelf life.

Has anyone seen Bjork's package for "Greatest Hits," it is a thin digipack that looks more like a cardboard sleeve.

Also, it bugs me when bands start with a digipack, and then later switches to the superior jewel case (Blink 182 does this).

Worse than the DVD snappers, I tell you.

- Matt

I hate the packaging on Bjork's "Greatest Hits" album. Not only is it flimsy, but it practically ensures the disc will get scratched. I hadn't seen this type of packaging since UNKLE's "Psyence Fiction" album came out 3 or 4 years ago. I was hoping it was extinct. I prefer a standard jewel case any day.

ME!

I hate the cardboard packs, too. Twenty bucks MSRP for something, and it comes in fragile packaging that can't be replaced if it gets damaged (like a jewel case). Most of these things even get nicked, scratched, scuffed, dented and crushed in the damned store.

I'm mixed on them.

I have Back in Black in a digipack since thats what came in the Bonfire set. Still the cd sounded much better than my old remastered one,thus i prefer the new version from the box set. Only it sucks that theres nothing holding the disc inside,it just slides out which adds scratchs to it.


Then a couple days ago i bought ABAA:Arrival which was remasterd in a digipack. This one i liked since,rather than the cd being in a pouch with nothing holding it.It opens up like a regular cd,has a holder & everything.Basically it's cool to me,since it's something different.resembles a mini-record in away.


Of course they can get damaged easily.I just keep them in as good condition as possible..& have had no problems with them(besides some fading).I guess jewel cases are better,but once in awhile...these digipacks are not that bad..if the price is right of course.

I agree!!! I hate digipacks as well. I find NO VALUE on cardboard. I hate taking care of cardboard!!!!

-Anthony

hate em.. actually took out my STP No. 4 disc last night, and the case is pretty beat, just from going in and out of the rack..

[The Critic] It stinks! [/The Critic]

I wish Foo Fighters's TINLTL was in a jewel case as well as STP #4, Breeders Safari EP...and other stuff. I hate those paper cases.

I don't understand why so many people who scream and holler about how much they hate Warner's snapper cases seem to praise these stupid digipacks. It least snappers have SOME plastic on the top and bottom and aren't all cardboard. I don't think that I've ever received a digipack in the mail that didn't have at least one dented corner.

STP #4 is in a jewel case now... you have to look around for it.

Another excellent new album that has lousy packaging is Porcupine Tree's "In Absentia." Thin, paper case will surely be damaged. Fortunately, I was able to find a jewel case promo

Even as I am listening to the new Pearl Jam (cardboard, of course), I am wondering how long the case will last. Sigh....

Anyone remember these cases?

The kind of cardboard case that was supposed to replace a longbox? After you unwrapped it from the shrinkwrap, you had to take these two stiff plastic strips off of the sides, and then fold it down into a jewel-box sized case.

I have one for my copy of U2's "Achtung, Baby!" This is the only release I've seen that actually used one of these. It was still cardboard, but it still has a decent amount of "weight" to it.

My Achtung Baby! came like this as well. I bought it 11 years ago, and it's in pretty terrible condition these days. It's the only disc I've ever purchased that used this type of packaging (thank God).

I was very disappointed to see the Elton John Greatest Hits CD released today came in a cardboard case. Had to buy it anyway.

Deee-Lite's "Infinity Within" also had it. Those were called eco-packs, I believe.

Just wait until they start using slimlines for full-length CDs.

I am thinking that digipacks are only used on the initial print run. When you print 500K-1 million copies of a CD, they surely save on production costs. Smaller follow-up runs, however, are switched the jewel cases as the economies of scale change.

- Matt

I made a point to pay the extra $$$ to get the Japanese release of this STP disc that comes in a jewel case, I hate digi-packs so much - the bonus track it comes with took away some of the pain of the price.

-Gunshy

When I got Petty's "The Last DJ," I was kind of looking around the store to see if they had a version in the jewel case (I associated that packaging with being an LE of some sorts that contained the DVD as well. After searching for a few minutes and realizing that was the only case, I had to settle for it... don't like it too much. However, what I do like is the packaging for Springsteen's "The Rising LE" I think the harder stock of cardboard is quite nice, the pictures are great, and the access to the lyrics is really good

Not a big fan. I don't like the fact they wear so easily, especially with lots of handling.

The CD's in my Jam box set come in lame cardboard sleeves. And the Beach Boys "Pet Sounds Sessions" box has 3 discs housed in a double disc case (nice!), but for some reason the put the mono version of the "Pet Sounds" album itself in a flimsy cardboard sleeve where the CD keeps falling out (not nice!). A shame, 'cause that's the disc I listen to most in that set...

i'm surprised that my Medeski, Martin, & Wood: Combustication is still in as good condition as it is... cardboard digipack, and the front has the word 'Combustication' stenciled out! scary...