...from: http://www.ecodiscdvd.net/
"EcoDisc is the revolutionary, eco-friendly DVD with all the optical properties, playability and quality of traditional DVDs at a third less of the cost. They use 50% less polycarbonate and produce 52% less CO2 emissions. You can easily convert your existing CD line to a more profitable EcoDisc line. They’re thinner, lighter, more flexible, more durable and environmentally friendly. Go green, save green, make green. Go EcoDisc."
Sounds great, right? Thinner, lighter, use less material, creates less pollution, flexible.... what could be the problem? They are "too thin" for slot-loading drives..... They've already been used in magazine give-away's in the UK. They're coming to North America...
...from: http://www.digitaltoast.co.uk/ecodisc-cover-dvd-stuck-in-mac-slot-drive
ECODISC DVD STUCK IN MAC SLOT DRIVE
The problem of unwanted freebie coverdiscs has been growing for a while now. So, someone invented EcoDiscs, which are half the thickness of a normal DVD. Except they’ll bugger your Mac up and leave you with a bill for £65+VAT. The Independent and The Daily Mail amongst others gave away some ecodisc cover DVDs this weekend, and on Monday, a distressed relative called to say the mac was making strange noises. After a couple of hours, I began searching on the internet, and found the answer: http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/01/17/slot_load_pc_pro_drive_mayhem/commen... http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/155010/mail-on-sunday-angers-mac-users-with-dvd-... http://qompute.wordpress.com/2008/01/18/ecodisc-becoming-ecodisaster-for-mac... http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/01/17/slot_load_pc_pro_drive_mayhem/ http://digg.com/apple/Environmental_DVD_Wrecks_Apple_Drives http://www.kizo.com/2008/environmental-dvd-wrecks-apple-drives/ http://apple.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=08/01/17/1747254
I phoned The Independent who took no responsibility at all, but said they’d send out a standard form reply by email (which never came) disclaiming all responsibility. So, there’s a warning on the disc (click for full size: hint, you're looking for this symbol ) Yes, it’s 4mm high, in fuzzy print. As if anyone is going to see that! It needs to be the LARGEST thing on the disc. I then called the manufacturer, ODS, who sent me the document below - yes, the solution is to turn the Mac upside down while ejecting the disc. In fact, as this didn’t work at first, I followed further guidelines on the net suggesting I bang it while ejecting and upside down! This finally freed the disc, but does anyone have any idea how bad that can be for a hard drive?! It could cause a head-crash and data loss at the least. Another surprising thing is that according to one of the articles above, Ecodisc have had “less than 12 calls about it”. Makes you wonder why they need a standard document like this, doesn’t it... Everything below is quoted:
EcoDisc – argument guideline to get EcoDisc out of Apple computer If customers face the unlikely incident that the EcoDisc is not ejected out of a computer slot-in drive (even after several trials) our recommendation is: To try with 1. turn laptop/PC upside down, 2. press manual “eject” button To restart the computer once again and try with the eject button If accessible: to take the disc-drive out of the computer, open the disc-drive with a screw driver and then take the disc out. A technically versed person can accomplish this within ten minutes To take the computer to the next Apple shop for fixing; cost approx. 25-50€. Not to insert a second EcoDisc afterwards, because we cannot guarantee that this measure works with all slot-in drive constructions existing world wide Not to use tools like tweezers or other, because these tools might really damage the drive, but the EcoDisc itself does not damage the drive or destroy it, just might block the ejection mechanism
....sounds like the best thing is to just not insert them in the first place....
thanks, wayne
