Customer Reviews

Alera Technologies DVD/CD Shredder (240114)

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I requested this as a Christmas gift and was happy to receive it. The growing threat of identity theft makes something like this almost mandatory for the CD burning PC enthusiast.

The device does not actually "shred" the CD, as I expected, nor does it remove the data layer (more on this a little further on) but it impresses the CD with a waffle-like set of ridges that render it unreadable by any normal means. The device is a little noisy, but not objectionable, and it is very fast. A dozen CD's were completed in a little over twenty seconds.

I would give this device a 5 except for two points; one, it really doesn't shred the Cd in the way I am accustomed to in a secure environment. The data layer on the CD or DVD is left intact, but the strata over the top is ridged so reading through it is impossible by any normal means. Is this a worry? Not really. What it does is render the media unreadable by any average dumpster diver. A Government agency with all the resources at their disposal could, conceivably, extract the data in spite of the waffling this device creates on the media. However, a Government Agency that interested in your media would not think twice about getting a warrant or otherwise getting your data, so the average Joe (or Jane) is safe.

My other gripe is the extremely sparse manual, which makes no mention of this pitfall. Alera should, at the least, point out that it's not a perfect solution.

That said, this is an excellent device, and well worth the price. I'll be using it a lot, and no longer will have to Dremel or burn any media. If you need to make sure no one, not even Govt. agencies, get your data, use some other method, but for me, this is perfect.

As a test I used a CD filled with freeware. I inserted a CD into the insert slot on the machine and it pulled the CD inside. After the CD was ejected I could see ridges throughout the CD (top and bottom layers) making it unreadable and safe from prying eyes. In order to test the manufacturer's promise I inserted the CD into a computer drive and tried to read the data. The computer gave me a hour glass and was unable to load the CD.

Success! I now use it on all my test CDs before going in the trash.

First off, I bought this from JR.com through Amazon and they were just first class. I got an immediate e-mail and when it was shipped, I got another e-mail with UPS tracking information. Moreover, I got the machine in four days! I was very impressed.

Now to the shredder. It is small, compact, solid and powerful. It took me a few minutes to understand just how it worked but once I figured it out, it worked flawlessly and quick. I went through a large handful of CDs in a minute or two.

I am sure I will get lots of use from this shredder. I sort of wish I had one that also shredded floppies. But once I get rid of those, I won't have any more so it's not a major thing.

The price on this unit is amazing. I was frankly surprised to get such a powerful little unit for this price.

Of course, this is not industrial strength. But for a private person or a small office, it's just perfect. You can clear out a pile of CDs fast.

Highly recommended.

Susanna K. Hutcheson
Owner/Executive Copy Director
Powerwriting.com LLC

I bought one of these to use at work to shred not only sensitive data but outdated software CDs before discarding them. I was dubious that the waffle-like pattern this shredder impresses into the surface could render the CD unreadable but I tried reading several CDs that I had run through the device and could not read any of them. I examined one of them with a microscope and found that the indents (yes they are indents, not ridges) actually go deep enough to make small tears in the reflective layer of the CD. Could someone with very sophisticated equipment still read the CD? Perhaps, but they would probably not be able to get all of it and, as another reviewer said, if someone wanted your data that badly, they would probably use more direct methods. I like the fact that there is a shredder that doesn't actually physically shred the CD into small shards, which seem dangerous and messy to dispose of. However, if you really feel the need to physically shred CDs, you can buy the Alera 240120, available through amazon.com for $89.88.

When I bought this product I was initially expecting a real CD shredder. Before actually receiving it, I read the item description again and then I understood my CD/DVDs wouldn't be destroyed, but impossible to read instead... I did some tests after receiving the unit and couldn't read any of the "destroyed" CDs, so in other words, it actually works !!! I really liked it and would definately recommend it, although I still break the CDs in half before getting rid of them (as a double precaution). I would give it a 5 stars rating if besides making it unreadable it also destroys it.. :)

Does what it's supposed to. It doesn't quite shred the CD/DVD. It scratches it so that it cannot be read. If you want to shred you can pay hundreds for a shredder capable of DVD shredding or use this.

I always run it on both sides of the CD/DVD. Little known fact is that the layer in the CD that keeps the data is closest to the top. If you scratch the bottom, a buffer or cleaner can fix it. If you scratch the top, it's dead.

OK, nobody will believe you bought a DVD/CD shredder. They'll think you've lost it. But who cares. You can now make your throw out DVDs and CDs completely unreadable. It's true and I've tested it. You stick the DVD/CD in the slot on the front and the machines hammers closely spaced dots on the recordable side while pulling the disk through the machine and out the back. It's fast and efficient and best of all it works.

I thought it shredded, but it still distroys the cd or dvd so it can not be read or used.

Works great. Run it through the shredder & toss. No need to worry- can't retrieve any data off the disk

I had a small box of CD's containing sensitive data - about 200 cd/dvd's. I went to the local records destruction place and got the run around for half an hour before finding out it would cost me close to $40 to get them shredded.

That's when I came home and ordered this handy little shredder for about what it would have cost to shred my CD's. Of course, the machine doesn't actually "shred" the disks, it just punches little holes on both sides of the surface of the disk.

Once I got the machine plugged in, it only took me about 20 minutes to run all my disks through the machine -- twice, to be on the safe side. You don't have to worry about which side is face up as it does both sides at once - a nice feature.

This little gizmo is well worth the money, and now I'm no longer having to store up boxes of CD's before I shred them -- I take care of them as I go.