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Destroying
personal data is now a common need with the concerns of identity theft.
While paper shredders are readily available, disc shredders are not. In
addition, destroying credit cards is also difficult with many of the shredders
on the market today. Aleratec has introduced the DVD/CD Shredder Plus
XC,a powerful compact shredder that is designed to shred credit
cards, CDs, DVDs, and up to five folded sheets of 20 lb. bond paper with
ease. This shredder performs a crosscut on the items inserted into the
unit, resulting in small pieces that make data identification very difficult.
The overall dimensions of the unit are smaller than most shredders we
have seen on the market measuring a mere 9.6" wide, 8" deep,
and 10.75" tall. The shredders plugs straight into a 115V outlet
without the need of an AC adapter. The unit is rated up to 3.5 amps which
is quite a lot of power if needed when shredding heavier items.
Operation
Operating the DVD/CD Shredder Plus XC is simple with the
three position (Auto/Off/Rev) power switch with power indicator. When
the switch is placed in the Auto mode, the shredder only operates
when an item is placed into the slot of the unit. Once the item is detected,
the shredder activates and the high torque motor grinds the item as it
passes through. Once the shredding is complete, the unit stops running.
In the event a jam occurs (this never occurred with us), the Rev
(reverse) mode can be used to back an item out of the cutting blades.
Given the power this unit has, it is unlikely that this will happen. However,
it is possible with age that the shredder may require more effort.
Shredding
Teeth
The DVD/CD Shredder Plus XC has impressive build quality
and looking inside of the unit shows the design of the steel shredding
teeth. These metal cutting teeth are responsible for the crosscutting
action and easily handle thick plastic cards and discs. To prevent curious
hands from being injured, the DVD/CD Shredder Plus XC has
a safety switch that prevents the shredder from operating when the drawer
is removed. This adds additional cost to the unit, but is an important
feature when dealing with potentially dangerous cutting blades. In addition,
the feeding slot on the top of the shredder is thin, so fingers cannot
easily find their way into the unit.
Conclusion
The Aleratec DVD/CD Shredder Plus XC (MSRP $129) is a perfect
solution for those looking to prevent unauthorized use of sensitive data
recorded on discarded discs or expired credit cards. The growing problem
of identity theft is a good reason alone to make sure all your valuable
data is properly destroyed from prying eyes. The small
footprint of the DVD/CD Shredder Plus XC is ideal for small
office/home office users and the heavy build quality works wonders on
heavy plastic items.
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Kevin Nakano |
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