Remember audio tape? Sound quality was poor, play time was limited, and cassettes wore out quickly if they weren’t first destroyed by the tape deck.
Once we caught on to MP3s, there was no turning back. MP3s offered clear advantages over the analog medium they replaced. Now we play music continuously for hours, create custom play lists, and take our music wherever we go.
Best of all, we don’t have to lug around all those tapes or discs, because MP3s can be stored on something as handy as a USB key. So while the music goes everywhere, the discs stay at home.
Parents of young children, however, still have their share of problems with those OTHER discs: the expensive CDs and DVDs that you need to run PC games and disc-based applications.
Once touted as “durable,” CDs are remarkably fragile: hairline scratches or even a few smudges can make them unplayable. Supposedly designed to be portable, they’re not all that easy to transport, but they are incredibly easy to lose.
Too often, shared discs are treated badly. Left out their jewel cases and exposed to kids and pets, game discs are quickly damaged beyond all use....