What are UniKeep Storage Solutions for CDs and DVDs?

UniKeep makes a complete line of three ring binders and accessory products for storing CDs and DVDs. I received three of their products, the UniKeep™ Media Disc Binder 80, a Media Disc 10 Wallet, and a box of 20 UniKeep CD Safety-sleeves ®, for review in April 2004.

UniKeep ™ media storage products are 100% polypropylene, safe for your discs, and allow you to store more discs in less space. Media Disc Binders and Media Disc 10 Wallets are stackable, recyclable, fully enclosed, archival, and easily customized, compact disc storage units with snap-locking polypropylene rings. They each have a full wrap cover overlay to hold a customized cover.

All sleeves have a lining that cushions “CDs or DVDs on a soft, non-woven 100% polypropylene material which will not shed or form lint, avoiding scratches that damage data.”

These are the first UniKeep products I’ve used. However, I’ve used storage solutions for CDs and DVDs from Case Logic, CD3 Storage Systems, Inc., Fellowes, Targus, and other companies.

I’ve used Case Logic’s CD-ROM Pro Sleeves and CD-ROM Storage Box since 1996. I’m also using the following storage solutions: Discgear Discus 40 and Discus Disk Holder, zipper wallets ranging from 12 to 202 CD capacity, and several different Jewel Case Holders. I have some Fellowes’ CD/DVD 4x4 Binder sheets that I haven’t filled.

What Does the Media Disc Binder 80 Case Hold?

The case holds a full-color product information flyer, an information sheet about theUniKeep Web site, and 10 black Media Disc Pages.

Description of the Media Disc Binder 80 Case

I would describe the case I received as semi-transparent white. UniKeep’s web site describes it as clear. It also comes in smoke and transparent blue. It’s 11 inches wide by 11.75 inches high by 1.63 inches thick. It has two plastic latches to hold it closed.

Each of the 10 double-sided black pages (also available in white) holds eight discs. Each page has four tabs at the top to insert a label for each disc. To insert a disc, you open a large semi-circle flap and slip the disc in. “The three ring binder format allows you to add catalog sheets and other loose-leaf printed material.”

Using the Media Disc Binder 80 Case

I found it a little awkward to place and remove my CDs and DVDs in the page pockets so I decided to store the discs that come with British computer magazines in the case. I interspersed document protectors with the Media Disc Pages to hold the wrap around pages that came with the magazine CDs and DVDs. I also used several of the CD Safety-sleeves to hold those CDs whose booklets fit in the pockets.

I tested Fellowes’ CD/DVD 4x4 Binder sheets to see if they fit in the case. They do. In fact, a UniKeep case will be the best place to keep them since their disc pockets open to the side.

I still have plenty of room in the case for more pages. However, I’ve only inserted 10 discs in the case’s included pages. I don’t know how much room there will be when I have filled all those pages.

What Does the Media Disc 10 Wallet Hold?

The wallet holds 10 Safety-sleeve ® pages. The flip side of the over-lay insert has lines for notes, disc titles, and dates.

Description of the Media Disc 10 Wallet

I received a Strawberry wallet for review that measures 6.44 inches wide by 5.5 inches high by 1.13 inches deep. According to the web site, the strawberry wallet is part of a 5-wallet set of assorted colors that also includes blueberry, grape, lemon, and lime. You can also get sets or single wallets in black and clear.

The front of each sleeve has a large semi-circle flap that you open to insert a disc. The back has a straight opening at the top into which you can slide a booklet or information sheet (see image above). The lining on the back is very smooth so it doesn’t appear suitable for storing discs.

UniKeep claims that you can “safely store up to 10 discs in less space than 3 jewel cases.” Three stacked jewel cases are deeper than the Media Disc 10 Wallet.

Using the Media Disc 10 Wallet

So far, I’ve stored five discs with their instruction books in the wallet. I’ve also stored a disc and its cardboard sleeve in one of the sleeves. The cardboard sleeve barely fits which makes it difficult to remove the disc. Since the cardboard sleeve contains the installation instructions for the program on the disc, they need to be stored together.

In addition I took a CD Safety-sleeve from the box of 20 and added it to the wallet since I had a disc that came in a paper sleeve with no instruction book. The remaining five empty sleeves fill up the wallet. I’m not sure if three more discs and instruction books will really fit in the wallet. If I do put them in, I wonder if the case will remain closed. You just snap it together; it doesn’t have any catches.

I’m also concerned about sturdiness. The rings look like they might break off easily.

What Does the box of UniKeep CD Safety-sleeves ® Hold?

The box holds 20 double-sided clear pockets that fit into UniKeep CD Wallets and standard 3-ring or A-4 binders.

Description of the UniKeep CD Safety-sleeves ®

Each of the polypropylene sleeves has two clear pockets separated by non-woven material. Each sleeve measures 5.625 inches by 5 inches and holds two discs. There are two sets of two holes along one side of the sleeve. The sleeves I received have white inside material. However, you can get sleeves with red, green & blue material.

You insert discs through two straight openings at the top of the sleeve. There are no cut-aways to make it easy to grab the edge of the inside hole.

UniKeep claims, “The unique inner non-woven fabric pulls dirt and debris away from the disc, trapping it away from the valuable data to avoid scratches. Each time the disc is inserted and removed, the fabric helps remove fingerprints.” (They use material and fabric interchangeably.)

Using the UniKeep CD Safety-sleeves ®

The sleeves are very roomy so it’s relatively easy to reach in and pull a disc out even when both sides are filled. However, the discs tend to slide out easily as well. This is no problem if you keep them in a UniKeep wallet or case binder or some other container that closes. It does pose a problem when you’re working in a graphics program or game with several CDs you switch between. You don’t want the CDs slipping out, getting dirty, or, even worse, falling on the floor and getting crunched by a chair leg.

I have a 2-ring small binder that uses a different type of sleeve but has room for several more. I tested the UniKeep CD Safety-sleeve ® and found that they fit. They may also fit in other small binders or calendar planning books as well.

Making Covers

Once you’ve put some discs in a binder or wallet, you can download cover templates at the web site. Most templates are for legal or tabloid size paper, not letter-size. You can download them as either a PDF or an MS Word DOC file.

Unfortunately, I don’t have any legal-size paper and there was no letter-size template for the Media Disc 10 Wallet. So, I attempted to create my own. First, I tried making a cover in MS Word 97. I was able to make a rather plain cover but I couldn’t get the elements placed just right on the page so that it would wrap properly.

Then, I made some covers in American Greetings CreataCard Platinum 5. Using the program’s clip art and my photographs, I was able to make some dramatic covers. While I still have to fine-tune the placement of some elements, the covers are almost right. I designed the covers with much less effort than I did in MS Word.

The web site offers many suggestions for making creative covers. They say you can “customize UniKeep Case Binders with paint pens, vinyl lettering, or stickers from art supply and scrap booking stores. It’s easy to really show your creativity with hand drawn illustrations and lettering.” They also remind you that you can create a large size cover, save it as a printer file and take it to a copy center for printing. This is more complicated than it sounds since you must take all image and font files you used with you (on a disc).

You can tape letter paper together to make the correct size to fit in the case or wallet. Then design and print the various components – front, back, and spine label. Next, cut the elements out. Finally, tape or glue them to the large sheet you made. Full-page labels would work really well in this method.

Other Comments

You can get UniKeep Divider Tabs, Single and Double Binder Pockets, and Adhesive Card Pockets to use in their binder cases. You can download templates for customizing these items at the web site.

UniKeep presents their products as environmentally friendly. They claim their products are “curbside recyclable in virtually every country in the world.” Furthermore, the products “unique construction requires up to 41 percent fewer raw materials to produce.”

UniKeep claims their “products can safely store important documents and photos without producing harmful chemical reactions that can damage the documents. Vinyl and acidic paper products are not archival-safe.” While they say, “Photographic Activity Tests (PAT) were conducted by an independent laboratory.” they don’t name the lab.

Bottom Line

Overall, these are good storage solutions for CD’s and DVD’s.

I find it useful to have the ability to take out the pages in the Media Disc 10 Wallet and the Media Disc Binder 80 to change them around or move them from unit to unit. Since you can buy a variety of empty Case Binders in different widths and colors, it’s easy to combine discs, file listings, printed photos, souvenir items, and even storage pages for 3 ½ inch floppies all in one case. You can move the media disc pages from binder to binder.

It’s easy to stack or shelve the cases. They won’t topple over or leave empty space on the shelf. And they fit right in with your books.

When removing discs from the pages you don’t have to worry about scratching the data surface with a zipper.

However, for discs I use frequently, I still prefer Case Logic’s sleeves to UniKeep’s CD Safety-sleeves ®. Case Logic’s sleeves are tight enough that discs don’t slide out on their own, yet it’s easy to pull the discs out. I store them in top-opening storage boxes, originally used to store 5 ¼ inch floppy discs. I can flip through all the sleeves quickly to find the one(s) I need.

Web Resources

Visit UniKeep to see their complete line of products.

Find cover and tab Templates to use with the cases and wallets on Unikeep’s Templates page.

You can find organizational tips on UniKeep’s Products/Tips Web page. They have many good ideas and projects. When I visited on April 14, 2004, I found the following Featured Projects in Organizing with UniKeep products:

• Business - Equipment manuals
Office - Employee Handbook
• School - Class schedule
• Home & personal - Tax related files
• Designers - Project management
Extreme storage - First aid

Vital Statistics

You can buy these products online from UniKeep.

• Media Disc 80 Binder – $21.49
• Media Disc 10 Wallet – $3.79
• 5 Wallet Sets, clear, black or 5 color assorted – $17.99
• UniKeep Safety-sleeves, white – 20 count box $5.99, 50 count box $9.99, 100 count box $17.99
• UniKeep Safety-sleeves, red, green & blue – 20 count box $7.99, 50 count box $12.99
• Media Disc Pages, black – 4 pack $5.99

Mailing address: UniKeep LLC 4777 Roberts Road Columbus, Ohio 43228 Phone: 800/ 829.8117

The following retailers carry UniKeep products although “all stores may not carry all products”: H-E-B, Office Depot, OfficeMax, Mico Center, Staples, FredMeyer, and Cost-U-Less.