[deutschmann59]

Is it me or does anyone else think this is really stupid? Yesterday all the big movie labels announced that now there are services you can use to "download-to-own" movies. But they're priced roughly at the same price of a DVD.

Does this make sense to anyone? Why would anyone pay $12.00 for a lesser-quality movie download only avaliable to watch on your computer when it costs around $3.00 more for the actual portable DVD disc?



I'm really trying to figure this one out, but I keep drawing a blank. Why would anyone do this again? I mean, at the cost of going to the movies, roughly $10.00 per person, and rentals at the same price, I think buying the DVD outright is the best option.

What's even more funny is that I've read that movie downloads may cost as much as $26.99 per movie for some titles.

[findtom]

Many people are running all their entertainment (movies, tv, music, pictures, etc..) off their computer... myself included. I prefer downloaded files to DVDs, as they're much more manageable. The quality is the equal or close to DVD quality even on illegal downloads that currently own the market. Just like you could only download music illegally not long ago.

How much does it cost to download an album on itunes vs. buy it in the store? Apple has a billion dollars that says people don't mind paying for downloads. The convenience of dealing with digital files outweighs the perceived value of silver discs.

[Squawks]

DVD is slowly and surely coming to its death. Perhaps that's why they're attempting to milk as much money as possible out of the dwindling DVD industry.

Later, Blu-Ray and HD-DVD will arrive (which can even be supported on computers), drastically out-competing typical DVDs in video and sound quality. Also with Blu-Ray and HD-DVD, users will no longer be able to download them as they are 15-20+ GB in size.

My two cents why DVDs are available for download online (in MPEG2 format).

Another interesting note to ponder - they do indeed look crappy on your high-resolution computer screen but if you pop that same video in a DVD player on a typical TV, it'll actually look better. Your computer monitor is just too good in elucidating all of the video flaws. In fact, high quality DVD videos today are just 720 x 576 in resolution, with many older DVDs existing as 352 x 576.

That's nothing compared to the next gen's Blu-Ray/HD-DVD resolution of 1920×1080. That's over 5 times greater video resolution than today's best DVDs.

[timzerofive]

Don't forget Holographic Versatile Disc

[e90rocks]

Why download?
1. Because if there's high speed access, that beats waiting for the CD to come in the mail, and one's too lazy to go to Blockbuster
2. Because downloaders mightl then bootleg movies for $5 a pop.
3. Increases portability, though I really don't want to watch movies on my iPOD.

[findtom]

Originally Posted by Squawks

DVD is slowly and surely coming to its death. Perhaps that's why they're attempting to milk as much money as possible out of the dwindling DVD industry.

Later, Blu-Ray and HD-DVD will arrive (which can even be supported on computers), drastically out-competing typical DVDs in video and sound quality. Also with Blu-Ray and HD-DVD, users will no longer be able to download them as they are 15-20+ GB in size.

My two cents why DVDs are available for download online (in MPEG2 format).

Another interesting note to ponder - they do indeed look crappy on your high-resolution computer screen but if you pop that same video in a DVD player on a typical TV, it'll actually look better. Your computer monitor is just too good in elucidating all of the video flaws. In fact, high quality DVD videos today are just 720 x 576 in resolution, with many older DVDs existing as 352 x 576.

That's nothing compared to the next gen's Blu-Ray/HD-DVD resolution of 1920×1080. That's over 5 times greater video resolution than today's best DVDs.

DVD was one of the fastest adopted technologies ever. I don't think that these new technologies are going to get a repeat of that. It's a different ball game, but you could compare it to mini discs when they came out and all the reasons they should have taken over for CDs and didn't.

I share the opinion that DVDs are slowly on the way out, but IMO not for another stupid round disc to get scratched and take up room. Bill Gates said years ago that carrying around silver discs with files on them wasn't the way of the future.

[Ghunger]

While I agree that the next gen disks will be better the idea posed in the thread, DVD vs. Download seems like the dumbest idea the industry has had in a long time. With programs that can easily rip DVD's why not buy a hard copy and if you don't want to carry the disk just rip a copy to your computer. It would probably take about the same amount of time download a movie at DVD quality as it would to stop by a video store on the way home from work and pick up a hard copy.

[Squawks]

findtom, I gotta agree with you. DVD came about to replace VHS, huge LaserDiscs, and even film rolls to some extent. So the media format alone was a huge advent and improvement, at least in the sake of portability. They grew so fast BlockBusters phased out VHS in no time. The quality of DVD over VHS is great.

Not many folks today utilize HDTV (or even view HD content on computers) so HD-DVD and blu-ray will probably take hold much slower compared to DVDs back in the days.

But, in my opinion, HD-DVD/Blu-Ray have a huge advantage over typical DVDs due to the simple fact that the quality jump is absolutely insane. In fact, it makes the quality difference between DVDs and VHS appear to be negligible. The biggest drawback is apparently the fact that most households have no form of HDTV (via TVs or computers) so they will never realize the difference and hence never realize the quality improvement. If they don't see a difference, they won't upgrade! I could tell quality improvements of a DVD over VHS even on old '80s Trinitron tube TVs.

If everybody had a form of HD entertainment, HD-DVD/Blu-Ray would wipe out DVDs as fast as you can say "damn".

[06E90Rostik]

Blue-Ray really rocks!!! :rocks:
Sony did great job.
The players are now available starting at $999.99
And about 20 titles are already released

[Squawks]

That's stupid. Don't buy the players for $1k. Just buy a freaking PS3 for $400 and there ya go - Blu-Ray player right there!

[06E90Rostik]

Yes but when f*cking PS3 will come out?

BTW I saw a ad for next week is more 360s come out? Finally

[findtom]

Originally Posted by 06E90Rostik

Blue-Ray really rocks!!! :rocks:
Sony did great job.
The players are now available starting at $999.99
And about 20 titles are already released

http://www.engadget.com/2006/04/04/s...lu-ray-player/

[Squawks]

Originally Posted by 06E90Rostik

Yes but when f*cking PS3 will come out?

Hahah! I understand your pain - the Sony bastards keep delaying it. What the hell! They're probably working their asses off to put the best anti-hack, anti-mod, anti-copyright, and anti-fun programs onto it!

[findtom]

Originally Posted by Squawks

Not many folks today utilize HDTV (or even view HD content on computers) so HD-DVD and blu-ray will probably take hold much slower compared to DVDs back in the days.

This will be one of many challenges. DVD was a cheap technology to adopt... all you needed was the player. Quality is one advantage of many with DVD vs. VHS. I don't know if quality alone will be enough of a selling point for these to take off, even for people that have the equipment already.

It could make way as a luxury item though initially. Look for these in P.Diddy's next video.

Cute dog in your av btw...

[06E90Rostik]

I think it will take some time to make Blu-Ray PC readers/burners

Good thing for movie studios, their movies won't be copied

[deutschmann59]

Ok with all these new formats coming out, what am I supposed to do with my $1000+ DVD collection that I've got already?

[06E90Rostik]

Take care of your existing DVD player and you are set for another 10 years.

[Squawks]

Originally Posted by sharp1183

Ok with all these new formats coming out, what am I supposed to do with my $1000+ DVD collection that I've got already?

Doesn't matter. Blu-Ray and HD-DVD players will be made backwards compatible to play DVDs and CDs. So you're still set.