CD cases

[Glossopswift]

This could be in Music, I suppose, but I reckon I'll get a better answer here. Why are CD cases made from plastic that shatters easily? Why don't they use the same plastic that dvd cases are made from?

[Tabby]

Music CD cases are usually transparent and DVD cases are not, so the material is different.

May be you can�t get a high level of surface finish with a softer, more pliable material as used in DVDs. And the smooth surface finish is required to minimise light distortion when viewing the CD insert via the clear case.

Tabby. 

[ugly_bob]

How about this:

DVDs are more recently available, and thus the packaging has been improved - look at difference between PS1 and PS2 game cases for another example.

Why haven't CDs now been released in newer packaging? Can only suggest that existing sorage devices (CD racks etc.) are the reason.