Even on DVD players that have a tray, you put the label-side up. One would think, logically, that you’d put the label-side down so that the laser could play it from above.
Why is it logical to have the laser above the disk, other than that’s the way record players work?
Label side up means that when you eject the disc (particularly from a tray-type player), you can easily read the contents.
Label side up also matches the existing vinyl model, where the side that’s up is the one that’s played.
The up (label) side is not the side of a CD/DVD that is being played
I fail to see the logic. Especially when the laser isnt above.
Of course, but the model is the same; you’re playing what’s on the label you’re seeing.
One would think, logically, that you would want to see what DVD it is.
It seems like more than coincidence that every disc player plays label-side up. I wonder if it is part of the licensing agreement for CDs and DVDs.
What I’m saying is, if the label-side is up, then the playing-side is down, right? So is the laser beneath the tray and penetrating through the plastic of the tray?
On LPs there are two labels, one for each side. On CDs there is only one.
The third-party CD player retrofitted in our old Ford Exploder’s front-seat console took it’s cartridge-load of six discs sideways. Up? Down? Irrelevant. And if a horizontal-loading player’s laser-LED aims down, the disk’s readable surface will collect dust. Meanwhile, those old AOL giveaway discs make groovy Xmas ornaments and wildlife toys.
The tray has a slot for the laser to read through.
The tray has a big slot cut in it for the laser to read the disc. The disc spins. Open it up and have a look at the tray and if you envision a spinning disc it will be easy to see how it works.
Old AOL commercial with Jerry Stiller and Snoop:
[off-topic] When I was producing labeled CDs, I learned I had to wipe most of the glue off the label with a wet cloth before affixing it to the disk! Otherwise the glue’s strength warped the disk and led to read errors.
That Snoop Dogg cameo was totally worth it. Thanks for the link!
The human use of CDs or LPs means that the label is most useful facing up so that people playing the media can read it. The utility of being able to read the label is more important than any possible small design change related to the laser orientation.
There are double-sided DVDs; I own a few. The label (a narrow ring about an eighth of an inch wide) on each side actually describes what’s on the other side of the disc. I found this momentarily counter-intuitive the first time I played one.
Some double-sided DVDs have a label on only one side, and it will use the term “Reverse” or “Flipside” to describe what’s on the same side as the label.
I still have not figured out how to rewind a CD or DVD.
Actually, the part of the disc that stores the data is closer to the top or label part. So, if you scratch the label, it will do more damage than if you scratch the shiny part.