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This Saturday night, I got home around 10:30 pm (I know, am I a party animal or what?) and turned on the television. I stumbled upon the movie Gladiator playing on TNT or TBS. I just turned it on when one of my favorite scenes came on. Just like TV always does, they cut right in the middle of a great scene for a commercial break. I was a little peeved that they went to a commercial right then when I remembered that I actually owned Gladiator on DVD! Who needs sticking commercials, I will go right to the DVD.
I immediately jumped out of bed and sprung towards my DVD case where an never opened DVD of Gladiator sat on my shelf. I got it as a Christmas present and just had never opened it till now. I had the lights turned off in my room so the only light was coming from the TV. I began taking the shrink rap off the DVD and then proceeded to take that tape they put on the top and sides off the DVD off as well. I was getting pumped to watch the movie when I ran into a problem. I could not get the DVD case open. I pulled and pulled on the thing, but it would not open for me.
So eventually in the dark, I got frustrated and just pulled the DVD case with all my might and I busted the thing wide open and the DVD came flying out of its case. At the time I did not care about the case and just grabbed the DVD from the floor and enjoyed an unedited commercial free viewing of Gladiator.
“My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius, commander of the Armies of the North, General of the Felix Legions, loyal servant to the true emperor, Marcus Aurelius. Father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife. And I will have my vengeance, in this life or the next.”
The next morning I found my busted DVD case on the floor and now that it was light out I was able to examine the case and saw what the whole issue was. The DVD case came with these two little latches that had to be opened to actually open up the DVD case. Now I do not know if this is standard these days, I have to be honest I download everything so I have not purchased a DVD in a while. But I need to ask why? Why would anyone add these latches to a DVD case?
Did people have issues with opening and closing DVD cases before? Were there actually people out there who just could not get the “snap” technique down? I just have never heard of any protests or rallies shouting, “Give me latches or give me death!” Who decided to add these latches to the DVD case and what was the reasoning behind it? It seems to be absolutely counter productive. By adding those latches, it must cost more to create these cases than it did before and how did it help?
My point on all this is that did someone add latches just so they can say they did something? They added something? Something new to sell? Or is there a legitimate reason behind this? If you have some answers or thoughts, please share because to me this looks like an absolute waste of time and money.
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Technorati Tags: Gladiator, DVD
Sorry man, but that sounded a whole lot like Andy Rooney.
You know, I have wondered the same thing since I’ve actually purchased a movie here and there as of late.
I’ve never had a problem of a DVD case without latches randomly popping open and the DVD flying out. I’ve never even had an issue of tossing the DVD case to the ground or some other location and having the case sporadically burst open only to send my DVD launching into never never land.
Those latches are such a pain in the ass that I cut them off because I always forget they’re there.
Geoff - LOL! Really?!?!? Oh No… I am getting old, real old and real fast. Though I don’t think Andy would watch Gladiator, do you?
Nathan - Yea!! I just can’t figure out why they are there. I actually want to hear one person say they could not snap the DVD cases like they were before.
Thanks for the comments.
Sounds like an extra layer of security protection for shoplifters or bootleggers to me.
Krista - Interesting, but you think? There is the plastic wrap on the DVD and then there is that security tape on the top and sides. You really think those two little latches are security? It’s an interesting thought, but I don’t think so.
My guess is that there are multiple DVD case manufacturers out there and one of them came up with this just to be different. Maybe it was a patent issue, maybe it was a marketing differentiator, maybe it was some random C-level person’s whim.
This happens all over the place in all kinds of products.
The two tabs don’t bother me, it is the tape that gets me fired up. It always seems like after a night of drinking we stop at Walmart then go home to watch a movie. Try to be slick and open one in low light while keep your cool on a date.