response 26 of 82:

Aug 9 03:06 UTC 1997

Two more issues in the CD/vinyl debate.
Cover art:      I am a fanatic of good cover art.  Ever noticed how much better
an LP of Axis: Bold as Love or Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band looks
than the equivalent CD?  Bigger art, and none of them damn jewel boxes.
"Feel": Somehow, listening to The Beatles or other 'oldies' on CD just
seems like blasphemy.  I was introduced to them on vinyl, and for me taking
good care of the records, dropping the stylus in the right place, etcetera,
are just as much a part of the 'experience' as the music is.

response 28 of 82:

Aug 9 15:59 UTC 1997

True, true.  My complaint is not really with CD packaging in general, but with
the jewel boxes that have become almost universal.

response 30 of 82:

Aug 10 13:22 UTC 1997

Seems kind of dumb that the protective case is so delicate.

response 32 of 82:

Aug 12 07:05 UTC 1997

I think Jim and Ken made strong cases and presentations.  Ken made a point
that I'd like to add to.  If it is true that LPs have a preferred sound over
CDs on their outer grooves, then one must also consider that LPs have a
shorter shelf life.  A CD may have minor scratches and still sound fine. 
However, you'll hear this in an LP.

I realize that there are high-tech phonograph arms, stylus heads, and better
stylii; but in general, it is cheaper and easier to get good sound quality
from a CD.  The entire idea behind CDs was that if a laser replaced the
stylii, it could read the recorded sound more precisely (and on tighter
grooves-- thus making the disc smaller), there would be no parts to wear out
(well, you don't have to replace a laser, but you do eventually have to
replace a stylus), and you would have a disc that would be easier to take care
of.

Concerning the LP cover art, I realize that the art is much smaller on a CD.
But you generally get more photos, artwork, and sometimes lyrics in CD liner
notes than you do LPs.  I bought the CD release of Depeche Mode's 1982 album
_A Broken Frame_ and got far more than I would have if I ever managed to get
the LP (I found it at a student radio station).

tpyran also made a good point that LPs have short playing time on each side.
I would also add that they have a short playing time overall (33 1/3 compared
to CD).  If the Super CD is ever introduced to audio recording, the gap will
be even bigger.

You also can't play an LP in a car stereo-- it's just not feasible (of
course).  The advantages of CD in car audio apply to home stereo as well. 
CDs have a higher output than LPs or tapes, so the sound is generally
supported better, especially at low volume levels.  So CDs have great sound
potential even on an amp with a low wattage rating.  Of course, a high-powered
amp will bring out the sound quality even better of any medium.

So, in short, while LPs may have higher sonic ranges, and are big enough to
have more visible cover art, they are not consistent in sound quality
thoughout its length, the output is low, and they are more subject to wear.
CDs generally produce cleaner sound, especially at sub-bass frequencies,
feature more extensive liner notes with more content than a fold-out LP
jacket, their output is high, their recording length is longer, and they are
usually easier to take care of.

Speaking of jewel boxes, there are a couple of alternatives.  There is the
Digipak CD package, invented by AGI Inc., which is generally used with CD
singles (or was, for a time, anyway).  The UK and Europe use a much slimmer
jewel box than our standard for CD singles.  It's really nice and I find it's
not so easy to drop it.

response 34 of 82:

Aug 12 15:49 UTC 1997

I've seen those thin jewel boxes, both for singles and occasionally for full
length albums.  But they still don't solve the main problem, which is that
they break, crack, etcetera, very easily.  Just recently a favorite CD of mine
had two tracks rendered unplayable when I dropped it in the closed jewel box,
which broke and scratched the disk.  Not fun.

response 36 of 82:

Aug 13 02:54 UTC 1997

Well, this was a domestic jewel box.  I've never bashed any of the skinny ones
too hard.

response 38 of 82:

Aug 15 01:34 UTC 1997

The box for No Code is the same style as Vitalogy's, or different?

response 40 of 82:

Aug 17 17:12 UTC 1997

Oh...arr...

response 42 of 82:

Sep 17 05:44 UTC 1997

Yep-- a lot of companies are using those funky slide-out cases, you know what
I mean?

response 44 of 82:

Sep 28 20:13 UTC 1997

I just ran across a really funny 2-cd case.  It has the middle piece that
holds a cd on it's front and it's back, just like the normal one.  But unlike
the normal one, that piece is attatched to the right edge of the back, instead
of the middle hinge.  So, it folds out to the right, rather than just being
like a page in a book

response 46 of 82:

Sep 29 21:48 UTC 1997

Wow...I didn't think that was going to make sense to anyone :)

response 48 of 82:

Sep 30 21:47 UTC 1997

Right, but there are two kinds of slimline cases.  The one I've seen usually
opens like a book - front cover, CD holder, and back cover are all attatched
to one hinge on the left.  This new one folds out instead, with the CD holder
attatched to the _right_ of the back cover.