So when DiscHub sent me out one of their CD caddies for review, I didn’t have the least bit of interest, because I’m pretty sold on those CD booklet sleeves. Besides, the DiscHub only holds like 10 CDs.
But I figured I’d give it a whirl, and I’m glad I did. It’s such a simple little thing – once you figure out that it sits on its side, not upright, spilling your CDs everywhere (not that that happened twice, mind you) – that it sort of sneaks up on you, becoming way more useful than it has any right to be. It’s great, though! Now I can just slip DVDs and CDs into it instead of queuing them up in a pile on my desk, meaning there’s much less of a chance to scuff or scratch them.
I chatted with one of the designers, Jonathan Bruck, on IM about some of their plans for the future, and ways you can get a DiscHub for even cheaper than the normal $16 web price.
Gizmodo: so i have to say first
Gizmodo: i thought it was stupid
Gizmodo: i mean, okay, but not that great
Gizmodo: but i have it full of discs right now on my desk, some of the slots are doubled up
Jonathan: and now you want another one?
Gizmodo: well, it is incentive now to put my discs up like a good user
Gizmodo: you are supposed to use it lengthwise, not standing up, right?
Jonathan: I agree with you totally – you see it and your think why?
Jonathan: but then everyone who uses it really seems to love it. So we are doing our best to make that happen.
Jonathan: lengthwise yes
Gizmodo: you should put that in the instruction manual
Gizmodo: that’s why i hated it at first – “thing thing won’t stand up at all!”
Jonathan: as it is much more stable that way and would be easier to view what discs are in the slots but it could go up if that is your preference
Jonathan: well if we get this version off the ground we have lots of ideas on how to improve and standing is one of them
Gizmodo: are you in stores yet?
Jonathan: doesn’t the instruction manual have pictures with it lengthwise
haha, you have an instruction manual?
Jonathan: you must be the first person in the world to skip the pictures and go for the text
Gizmodo: well, i am a professional
Jonathan: no stores yet — that is our next step but they are slow and like to deal with bigger businesses – since we are bootstrapping this we are hoping to generate some online buzz and sales so we can get into the stores. Although we are talking to Apple
Jonathan: the way we see it is
Jonathan: everyone has made accessories for the iPod
Jonathan: we made the first real acesserory for their SuperDrive
Gizmodo: that’s one way to look at it, yes
Gizmodo: although you’re certainly encouraging bad discs habits
Gizmodo: but it’s a lot better than throwing them on a table
Jonathan: why baD?
Gizmodo: you’re always supposed to put discs in hard plastic cases
Gizmodo: it’s the law!
Jonathan: not in California.
Jonathan: we are much more liberal here I guess
Gizmodo: wily-nily, for sure. how much are they in the stores?
Gizmodo: er
Gizmodo: website?
Jonathan: how much are we selling on the website?
Jonathan: well with shipping and handling you can get one for $16 but we have a nifty form that if you tell 4 friends about it – we give you the chance to buy it for $8 with s/h
Jonathan: as many as you want at that deal
Gizmodo: oh, that’s a good idea
Jonathan: plus for those interested in Netflix if they sign up for Netflix coming through our site
Jonathan: we give them a free one
Gizmodo: !
Gizmodo: that’s a great idea, too!
Gizmodo: oh, is there a proper way to clean the rubber?
Jonathan: Well you have cats rights? I hear they do a good job cleaning things with their tongues
Jonathan: but I think just a damp cloth will do the trick
Gizmodo: heh, you’re supposed to say like ‘alcohol’ or something!
Gizmodo: okay, cool
Jonathan: it is neoprene
Read – Product Page [TheDiscHub]
