A BETTER WAY TO FIND A CD
Most of us have experienced the frustration of trying to find a CD
or DVD. But I've discovered a better way to locate and organize them.
When it comes to organizing our optical disk collection, we all have
the best of intentions when it comes to putting them away. When we get
a new disk, we know we're going to need to find it sooner or later.
Yet it's amazing to me how at that very moment, many of us still stuff
it in a drawer that's already crammed with disks, convincing ourselves
that we will remember the clever mental note we're making about it.
That's the clever mental note that will somehow serve as a pointer to
where exactly we are placing it. "Let's see. This is a game disk so
I'll put it in the pile that's in the middle of the third drawer. And
since it's a SPACE game, I'm putting it in the front SPACE of that
pile." Of course, a few weeks or months pass by and when we need the
disk, no way do we remember how we determined its location. And that
clever little memory association we made way back then? Of course,
we've forgotten that too. I'd say that disk is lost in space. No,
there must be a better way, and there is.
 The
CD Library from BesTrade USA is a clever little device that not only
stores optical disks in a convenient manner, but it lets you find the
exact disk you want as well. The CD Library looks like a round 14 inch
bowl that stands around 7 inches tall. The base of the bowl unit is
matched together to an inverted clear bowl top. Inside is a motorized
carousel with numbered slots. Each slot can hold a single CD or DVD.
An opening on the side lets you insert and remove the disks.
Along with the CD Library is software that lets you generate a
database to keep track and locate any disk stored in the device. To
create a database, just insert a disk to be cataloged into your
computer's optical drive. The included CD Library software will
automatically extract the disk's title, relevant contents and file
names. You can even add additional remarks for further identification
and searching. And if you lend out your precious disk, you can type in
the name and contact info of said borrower so you can get it back! If
the CD has cover art, you can use a scanner to scan the images in and
use the image to create an icon for quick search by iconic view. After
scanning and entering the disk into the database, you assign a vacant
slot to it within the carousel. That's basically it. When you see the
disk or title you want to locate, click it and the PC-controlled CD
Library Manager software will spin the server tray inside and line up
the corresponding disk to the exit position on the side of the unit.
The disk is then ejected just far enough so it can easily be removed.
The CD Library can hold up to 150 disks in one unit. And you can
stack them vertically, nested on top of each other if you like. One
little chuckle when it comes to reading BesTrade's promotional
material on the CD Library. According to the manufacturer, the CD
Library connects via a USB port. The manufacturer says you can hook up
enough of them to store up to 19,050 titles. That would take 127 of
them. And while it is true that you can connect up to 127 devices on a
USB chain, doing so would not be practical back in the real world.
After all, how would you hook up your printer?
The CD Library comes in grey plus a variety of colors including
blue, green, red and orange. If you let BesTrade choose the color,
each unit is $119. If you want a specific color, it's $139.
If you're looking for a practical way to keep track of your
ever-growing collection of CD and DVD disks, then you might want to
consider picking up one or more CD Library units. After all, you paid
good money for your disks, so why run the risk of scratching them in a
box somewhere. The CD Library will keep them safe and let you find the
disk you need.
The CD Library works with Windows XP and they have just released
software for Mac OS X. After all, Mac users forget where they put
their CD and DVDs too, right?
www.bestradeusa.com/cdlibrary |
