Plextor announces Plexeraser destruct-o-drive

Plextor has announced a new CD/DVD drive that you'll want to keep safely out of reach of unsuspecting friends and family members, 'cause its sole purpose is to destroy whatever optical media you feed it. The Plexeraser appears to use the same technology that's been available in some previous Plextor drives, but this looks to be the first standalone model, and also the only one to come in a stylish orange color scheme -- no doubt intended to further emphasize the danger. Unfortunately, the Plexeraser takes a full six minutes to permanently wipe out all the data on a disc, making it about five minutes and fifty seconds slower than some other data destruction methods we can think of, and a lot less fun.

[Thanks, Benjamin]

[Russ Matthews @ Aug 2nd 2006 7:34PM]

Interesting idea... and probably less toxic than the tried and true method of scraping off a good portion of the data layer. ;)

[Owen @ Aug 2nd 2006 7:40PM]

who would pay for this?

[james @ Aug 2nd 2006 7:41PM]

i find putting my undesirable discs in the microwave does the trick, and gives a great disco light show

[Johnnyv @ Aug 2nd 2006 7:43PM]

Umm this takes less than 10 seconds in a microwave, plus you get a cool light show out of it.

[Erik Cohen @ Aug 2nd 2006 7:44PM]

If it wasn't for the labels and orange this would make a great prank for IT admins.

[Octavus @ Aug 2nd 2006 7:44PM]

Microwave?

[shirizaki @ Aug 2nd 2006 7:55PM]

I can't wait for the hack that increses th laser a thousandfold so this turns into a computer/ annoying dog next door/ vehicle eraser.

[silverfire @ Aug 2nd 2006 7:56PM]

Personally, I'm quite partial to shooting optical media that outlives its useful lifespan with an airsoft gun or a pellet gun.

@Eric Cohen: You could always swap the tray with the tray from another model. My bet is that structurally it'd be the same.

[Shadyman @ Aug 2nd 2006 8:03PM]

To Erik:
You could always just replace the tray, and scrape off the top sticker.

[Rick @ Aug 2nd 2006 8:15PM]

wtf?! why not just take all your old porn cd's and snap in half ??

[x23 @ Aug 2nd 2006 8:21PM]

only recorded media i assume. or does it work on prerecorded media as well? since they use massively different techonologies between the two types.

[LukeA @ Aug 2nd 2006 8:24PM]

What's wrong with using the Microwave? Or holding the label side out and squeezing the two opposite edges together until it shatters? (do that towards a trash can.)

[John @ Aug 2nd 2006 8:31PM]

Is there an issue with using an old steak knife to create decorative gouges in the surface than using a sharpie to fill in the newly formed canyons.

I do like the airsoft idea though...

[wako @ Aug 2nd 2006 8:35PM]

Problem with just shattering a disc is that the data is still on there. Given if someone had the will and technology (ie: government) they can easily put the things back together and know what was on the disc and maybe even read off fragments


As for the microwave idea... neat.. but i wonder if it is safe?


I guess my method of a bon fire though is a bit toxic... but hey atleast I get smores out of it! :D

[Scott @ Aug 2nd 2006 8:51PM]

Ahh, the Good days of discussing ways of destroying data. There's thermite if you need a real conspicous way. Or the Microwave or a Hammer or a Large Needle.

[tiuk @ Aug 2nd 2006 8:53PM]

What I'd like to see is something that can reliably take data off HDDs that doesn't cost a fortune. I've heard zero-filling, drilling holes, etc can still be countered by the really-determined.

[rod sanchez @ Aug 2nd 2006 8:54PM]

one could just get a drill with a quarter inch bit and makes some holes in various parts of the cd. that will usually do the trick. or the sanding bit on a dremel.

[chr0n1c @ Aug 2nd 2006 9:00PM]

i vote for the microwave idea, it's where all my aol free trial cd's go... i get one at least once a week. how on earth can aol be making any money? haha

[Al Gore @ Aug 2nd 2006 9:17PM]

Now this would really make manbearpig look silly wouldn't it. Take it from the inventor of the internet. It was my idea.

[CharlieX @ Aug 2nd 2006 9:23PM]

... not nearly as fun as putting unwated discs in a flaming Dell laptop

[Silver R. Wolfe @ Aug 2nd 2006 9:28PM]

Or one of those flaming powerbooks...

[Sam @ Aug 2nd 2006 9:39PM]

I wonder why Plextor didn't use a powerfull laser inside to clear the whole disc in a few seconds...

[Rick @ Aug 2nd 2006 9:41PM]

wako - this is no way possible to recover anything except maybe a glass splinter from cd fragments. You shatter a cd, is has gone to data heaven - ask these guys:
http://www.californiadatacorp.com/services.aspx

[GanSan @ Aug 2nd 2006 9:59PM]

Microwave!!!

[Peter @ Aug 2nd 2006 10:06PM]

wako - I defy you to extract data from a broken CD. I usually take 10-20 discs at a time and shatter them over a trash can. You would have to be pretty determined to gather up all those pieces and do something useful with them.
Do not burn or melt CDs, they do give off toxic fumes.

[KazO @ Aug 2nd 2006 10:31PM]

My paper shredder is made to do CDs, and spits out nice confetti CD bits in about 5 secs.

[dmill89 @ Aug 2nd 2006 10:56PM]

Personally I prefer to melt/burn media containing personal information with a MAPP gas torch.With this method no one will ever get even a scrap of data and this method works for all types of media not just optical discs.

[Dave @ Aug 2nd 2006 11:00PM]

My paper shredder does the job .... chipped CDs/DVDs in seconds...

[infinity306 @ Aug 2nd 2006 11:08PM]

Well the big problem with the Microwave idea is that it tends to cause an awful smell..

[AndrewNeo @ Aug 2nd 2006 11:46PM]

I'd like an internal one, mostly because I have four 5.25" bays and only two in use. Then I can go to my friends, "Check this out."

[Poita @ Nov 13th 2007 8:18AM]

yup, i can imagine how that would go.
"hey guys, check this out!"
...
"Wait for it!"
...
"No seriously, you gotta wait for 6 more minutes"
...
"Guys? Where are you going?"

[ME @ Aug 3rd 2006 1:46AM]

really, i hate losing data but big corporations need nice safe legal ways to dispose of incriminating, i uh mean sensitive information, so this looks like it would sell, atleast by the same logic that makes big corporations buy Dells

[capagotks @ Aug 3rd 2006 2:16AM]

i like to fire nails and staples from a staple/nail gun (air compressor, of course) and that works great!

[Gadget Extremist @ Aug 3rd 2006 2:23AM]

The only use I can see for this is a dedicated RW eraser/recycler. Or it could provide an addional layer of security before droping the disc in to the paper shreader.

[Claudiu Spulber @ Aug 3rd 2006 3:01AM]

Another way to destroy a cd/dvd:
- get that annoying cat from your neighbour
- get a cd, pull the tail through the hole
- use some duck tape and your imagination to make the cd really stick to the cat's tail
- get some pop-corn and watch

[Jack @ Aug 3rd 2006 3:10AM]

hahahahaha.....thats such a sweet idea

[Terry @ Aug 3rd 2006 3:12AM]

I would think that a nice CO² or Neodium LASER would make quick work of any optical disc or hard drive platter.

Of course for the latter you could also expose them to an operating Magnatron tube or high-power electromagnet... Just be sure to wear a LEAD VEST if ya do that though. (LOL!!)

[romo @ Aug 3rd 2006 3:58AM]

well, at the software publisher I work for, we just use scissors.

[Tim Johns @ Aug 3rd 2006 4:29AM]

I agree with those who say it's in the way it shatters, that matters...

I defy anyone to retrieve anything usefull from the splinters and flakes of data foil of the CD/DVD's I shatter into my waster paper bin beside my desk.
Those guys on CSI are good, but really .... :-/

[Magus @ Aug 3rd 2006 9:35AM]

anyone have a video link to the microwave thing?
sounds interesting but i dout i can get away with doing it at work...

[yuppicide @ Aug 3rd 2006 10:35AM]

Stupid product. Why would I waste a drive bay in my computer. I'd rather just get a paper shredder that will take media as well. It's a better value for the price since it can also do paper.

[Gnu @ Nov 13th 2007 1:23PM]

Reading comprehension. It's standalone. Even by looking at it, most bay drives don't have feet.

The microwave method is only a good idea if you like filling your house with toxic fumes and slowly damaging the magnetron.

[mcshnobe @ Aug 3rd 2006 11:43AM]

For those curious:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3587466534692702285

[tekdroid @ Aug 3rd 2006 1:10PM]

Plextor Wreckstor?

You know the CD/DVD writer market has imploded when you see products like this come out. But I agree with ME's comments:

"...this looks like it would sell, atleast by the same logic that makes big corporations buy Dells"

[Gadgeteer @ Feb 28th 2007 5:21PM]

COMPACT DISC ERASER
Hey, here's a simple gadget that does the same thing in a few seconds. And it costs much less than the Plex Eraser drive!

http://www.disceraser.com