Elecom's USB CD/DVD Data Crusher, goth-girl magnet

If you're the type to dump your nefarious ways to disc then check it oh prince of netherworld, Elecom's here to cover your tracks. Jack the Data Crusher into your laptop's USB, slip in a disc of wickedness, push the button, and in 5 seconds your data will be etched into Hasbro H-E-double-toothpicks; ready to dangle from the rear-view mirror of your Cadillac Cathedral yet safe from the wife, boss, or favorite government entity of your paranoid fantasies. Yours at the end of the month for ¥3,150 or about $27.

[Via Impress]

[anon @ Nov 14th 2006 8:43AM]

finally i can make my own designer coaster

[Nate @ Nov 14th 2006 8:47AM]

and whats wrong with just breaking the CD in half?

[Jason @ Nov 14th 2006 8:53AM]

Wouldn't it be more effective to etch the top of the disc, actually destroying the data layer? You're not protecting that disc from anyone who really wants the data by scratching up the bottom. Any number of plastic refinishing techniques can restore that disc to readable status.

[James @ Nov 14th 2006 8:56AM]

Mail me any CDs you need destroyed and I'll break them in half for just $25!

[lukeinnj @ Nov 14th 2006 8:57AM]

Mmmm...SpiroGraph...

[Andrei @ Nov 14th 2006 9:00AM]

It would have been cool if only this device could actually read what it destroyed. then it would be useful. make a pattern of your own with a software and then only with the same pattern reader you can access the disk.

[William @ Nov 14th 2006 9:03AM]

I hear news about stuff who can create things but never to destroy things.

Lol, its pretty at least.

[Big Dave @ Nov 14th 2006 9:11AM]

uhhhh, Jason...
Just flipping it over probably works also, and Nate have you ever snapped a cd/dvd in half? Its a mess. For $27 it is cheap enough to be useful over snapping cd/dvd's in a plastic bag. Although I like the idea of using a microwave to destroy the discs, just buy one at a yard sale for this price or lower.
Link: http://www.peachpit.com/articles/article.asp?p=20780&rl=1

[Jim Snyder @ Nov 14th 2006 1:26PM]

Good article, thanks for the link!

[James Whited @ Nov 14th 2006 9:11AM]

@ Jason. Nobody said you couldn't put the disc in there label down ad etch that side to. But if I wanna destroy a disc I'll run it through a schredder that can handle discs. however this may be useful for people out on the road.

[jge @ Nov 14th 2006 9:23AM]

Just put the disc in an XBOX 360 and move it back and forth from horizontal to vertical. That should do the trick.

[Casey @ Nov 14th 2006 9:30AM]

...or just pop the cd in the microwave for 3 seconds. Plus you get a dazzling light show.

Wonderfully free!

[pete @ Nov 14th 2006 9:30AM]

I just put them in the microwave for 2 or 3 seconds.
Destroys the disc, and you get a cool light show.

[David @ Nov 14th 2006 9:46AM]

The office microwave works better!

[Andir3.0 @ Nov 14th 2006 9:56AM]

You could always burn a hole in it with a lighter...oh wait, those are getting rare with all the smoking bans.

[Grant @ Nov 14th 2006 9:58AM]

Was this article written by The Onion's Jackie Harvey? ITEM!

[Artr @ Nov 14th 2006 10:18AM]

hmm, now i'm intrigued to try the microwave.

you can easily get around the etching by polishing the disc. snapping the disc is one of the most effective ways, or heating, but that produces toxic fumes, which we DON'T like.

i think i'll stick with my snapping, quick and effective.

[icerabbit @ Nov 14th 2006 10:20AM]

Strong pair of scissors anyone?
One or two snips and nobody is going to do anything with that disc.

[Rynth @ Nov 14th 2006 10:26AM]

personally, i just use them as clay-pidgeons for my BB-shotgun.. makes for some shatteringly good times. and on the odd occasion, you get a smiley face on the CD. xD..vd...on your cd.. *ahem* ill stop now.

[Lewis @ Nov 14th 2006 10:27AM]

Couldn't you just put it in your Xbox 360 and turn it from upright to horizontal?

[kerunt @ Nov 14th 2006 10:32AM]

"ready to dangle from the rear-view mirror of your Cadillac Cathedral yet safe from the wife, boss, or favorite government entity of your paranoid fantasies"

Nicely written! :D

[Smeagol @ Nov 14th 2006 10:57AM]

I just punch a few staples through the CDs that i want destroyed (where the data sits).

[navamske @ Nov 14th 2006 11:08AM]

Data Crusher? I must have missed the episode in which Commander Data was adopted by Dr. Beverly.

[Joe @ Nov 14th 2006 11:27AM]

Go get a royal 150mx or 160mx. It makes small confetti out of cds, junk mail still in the envelope, children's fingers. Love mine I look forward to junk mail now. Destroyed about 500 DVDs in an hour.

[Rick Lyon @ Nov 14th 2006 11:31AM]

Hmm, I just use my shredder. Takes about 2 seconds to reduce it to, well, shreds.

[jeanthibca @ Nov 14th 2006 11:31AM]

What about using a regular toaster? It could litteraly burn to CDs at once, not to mention make toasts when there's nothing at the cafetaria.

[b00da @ Nov 14th 2006 12:17PM]

I just use my shredder. Makes confetti out of CDs, DVDs, credit cards, junk mail, you name it. If I'm feeling extra paranoid, I dump the bin of shredded shreds into the firepit out back and burn everything to ashes.

[liquid @ Nov 14th 2006 12:17PM]

whats the best way to destroy multiple (over 20) disk at the same time in under 3 minutes?
You know for those times when...well you know.

[chenry @ Nov 14th 2006 12:58PM]

No where near as fun as smashing them with a hammer.

[TheCaptain @ Nov 14th 2006 1:03PM]

Or you could get a $27 paper shredder that does CD's as well. But I guess that's not as pretty.

[Jay Kennard @ Nov 14th 2006 1:48PM]

5 seconds in a microwave is a lot cheaper than this STUPID gadget. Plus, it will do more than one at a time, and it looks REALLY REALLY kool!

[baz @ Nov 14th 2006 4:17PM]

Just microwave your CDs. One less device to carry around (you all carry around your microwaves ringt?) and its fun.

[Rob @ Nov 14th 2006 4:25PM]

I'm a fan of saving them for the pistol range myself.

[Juaquin @ Nov 14th 2006 6:52PM]

I just take my knife to it and etch my own patterns...

[whiskey @ Nov 15th 2006 4:27PM]

1. nail polish remover
2. simply pass a key over the upper side
3. let it stand under direct sunlight
4. go to your sidewalk, place on ground, start skating
5. take a needle... doodle a bit
6. place near a flame, wait and see
7. pierce it with hot soldering gun
8. place it under your car tires (or somebody elses)
9. if 8 left them unscratched, duct tape them to the wheel.
10. give them to your kids.
11. give them to your dog.
12. use the award winning demagnetizer but place sand paper below the disc...
13. set them on fire.
14. using your keys, skin them, leave just the plastic to make cool coasters
15. use a tesla coil
16. use a magnetron.
17. use acid
18. dip them in paint
19. store them in concrete (with separation)
20. play air hockey with them (they will scratch if you use it as paddles)
21. use hot glue
22. use crazy glue or similar compound to weld together two or more...
23. use as ashtrays.
24. use gardening scissors
25. drag them under your chair

There must be a whole lot more ways to destroy cd/dvds that can be fun and potentially dangerous!

[Raptor2569 @ Nov 15th 2006 9:48PM]

Oh GOD! Just use your damn foot on tarmac. Or better yet keep a PET rock on your desk and use that to scratch it up!
DAMN SOME PEOPLE WITH DUMB INVENTIONS!

[Alex @ Feb 13th 2007 1:09PM]

Wouldn't it be easier and cheaper to put your CD in the microwave for a few seconds?