Anyone worried about newer disc technology coming along?

[maverick22]

As I'm building my collection more and more and have upgraded all my older DVDs to blu ray, I keep wondering is it worth it to build up a huge collection, only for a greater "disc" to come out soon. Do any of you worry about this?

Dumbo is a good example. I may not even watch it. I'm buying most of the Disney classics anyways though for the children in my extended family if/when they come over to the house and for my own future children. However, what if four years later, a new technology comes out?

I know there have been similar threads, but I haven't seen any in awhile. Has anyone heard of new discs that may be available in 4-5 years or so?

Thanks in advance.

[josephga]

IMO blu ray will be the final disc format. I think everything will eventually be digital downloads

[benricci]

Yeah, I don't see another disc format coming along. This is most likely it as far as physical media goes. What is another format gonna do? I mean, your TV can't display anything better than 1080p, anyway, so what would be the point? And you won't have a TV that can display anything better than blu-ray for MANY MANY MANY years, if ever in your lifetime.

By that time, everything will move to streaming...

[Shallow_]

Originally Posted by josephga

IMO blu ray will be the final disc format. I think everything will eventually be digital downloads

As long as they offer full quality downloads AND the option to purchase worldwide day 1.
When I see some of the files offered on ex torrents, people cheer when a 1 hr tv show is compressed down to a 150mb 720p file!! a file that was just watchable at about 1 gb..

I fear that if/when discs fade away, so will the highest quality.

[supersix4]

Thing is I'm sure we'll see a "better" disk, the question isn't that, but how much improvement can one see over blu-ray (which probably isn't anything ) except for people with massive screens sitting really close, it probably won't get any better for 90% of the population.

[Beta Man]

"Worried" ???

Why would someone be worried??? Wouldn't you WANT a better physical media format (if there is to be one) ?

Worrying about another disc-based format of higher technical capabilities replacing Blu-ray, is as silly as a person who opens a chain of Hospice locations worrying about a cure for cancer coming out...... it just doesn't add up.

If you're one of the people who thinks DVD is "Unwatchable" now that Blu-ray exists.... then I guess you can keep worrying.... I'll keep enjoying, and buying anything that meets my criteria for "Value"

[Cevolution]

Why? Blu-ray has been around for 5 years now and it will be around for another 5 at the very least (I personally think blu-ray will be the top format way beyond another 5 years). If we all always worried about what's coming next, then we would never buy anything. I'm certainly not going to waste 10+ years of my life missing out on what I enjoy out of fear that what I buy today will eventually be obsolete. You can't take money with you when you die so you should enjoy spending it on the things you want while you are here.

[Hatter]

The only thing I worry about is if certain films will finally get released on home video period. If you're so annoyed about upgrading your existing discs there's a simple solution: Don't.

[maverick22]

Originally Posted by Beta Man

"Worried" ???

Why would someone be worried??? Wouldn't you WANT a better physical media format (if there is to be one) ?

Worrying about another disc-based format of higher technical capabilities replacing Blu-ray, is as silly as a person who opens a chain of Hospice locations worrying about a cure for cancer coming out...... it just doesn't add up.

If you're one of the people who thinks DVD is "Unwatchable" now that Blu-ray exists.... then I guess you can keep worrying.... I'll keep enjoying, and buying anything that meets my criteria for "Value"

Ha ha ha. I knew I'd get a response like this. It's so funny one has to choose his words so carefully when creating a thread. I'm not exactly "worried." I know there are greater things to be concerned about in life. I just don't exactly enjoy spending money on something that only will be possibly outdated in four years or so.

I really don't WANT a better format. Blu is incredible to me, and judging by how many I have, I'd say I spent around $3,000. If something newer/better came along, that's somewhat of a waste of $3,000. That's how I look at it.

Thanks for everyone's contributions. I enjoy reading what you all have to say.

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by maverick22

I really don't WANT a better format. Blu is incredible to me, and judging by how many I have, I'd say I spent around $3,000. If something newer/better came along, that's somewhat of a waste of $3,000. That's how I look at it.

That's what I don't understand I guess..... In this case, Blu-ray would be "Good enough for you"

Which, if you think about it, is currently how a lot of DVD owners feel, who haven't upgraded to Blu-ray yet (or will at all)

Just because something new comes out, it won't make the Blu-rays you own obsolete unless you allow it to.

If something else comes out, just keep, and enjoy your Blu-rays. If you currently love them, as you claim to... I don't see how anything else coming out would make it a "loss of $3,000" for you. What if Blu-ray and all physical media ceased production immediately..... You still have the Blu-rays you have, and can still enjoy them..... You bought them at whatever price you bought them at because you thought you'd get at least that much enjoyment out of them..... if you thought they'd increase in value, then you need to find a better investment strategy

[maverick22]

Originally Posted by Beta Man

If something else comes out, just keep, and enjoy your Blu-rays. If you currently love them, as you claim to... I don't see how anything else coming out would make it a "loss of $3,000" for you. What if Blu-ray and all physical media ceased production immediately..... You still have the Blu-rays you have, and can still enjoy them..... You bought them at whatever price you bought them at because you thought you'd get at least that much enjoyment out of them..... if you thought they'd increase in value, then you need to find a better investment strategy

Good points, Beta Man. Good stuff to think about to keep me thinking positively while I spend!

[stobbart]

They are already currently researching and in the prototype stages for many many other disc formats.

But the only other disc technology that would have any kind of user base would be for archival purposes. Something used by universities and research centers for storing all their information.

[AgentOrange]

Originally Posted by stobbart

They are already currently researching and in the prototype stages for many many other disc formats.

But the only other disc technology that would have any kind of user base would be for archival purposes. Something used by universities and research centers for storing all their information.

Blu-ray will probably be the last "mainstream" format IMO. If we are worried about blu-ray getting all the old catalogue releases it deserves, the next generation of physical media will probably get an even smaller catalogue. That is assuming another format can even get off the ground at all vs digital download media. I think it's a given there will be another attempt to release a new format (i.e. some 1440P or better ultra HD format), it's just a matter of how niche it would be and what type of catalogue it could support against the mature blu-ray format and digital media.

[crystal_sun]

a better format WILL happen, just a question of when.....

if Las Vegas has a bet on this...I would put $100,000 bet to win $1,000,000....I'm all over it

[Al_The_Strange]

Heck no, I'm not worried.

Even if another format comes along in the near future, I'll stick with Blu-Ray as long as I can. I'm going to be especially resistant if digital media starts to overtake physical discs.

[AutomaticDriver]

Originally Posted by benricci

Yeah, I don't see another disc format coming along. This is most likely it as far as physical media goes. What is another format gonna do? I mean, your TV can't display anything better than 1080p, anyway, so what would be the point? And you won't have a TV that can display anything better than blu-ray for MANY MANY MANY years, if ever in your lifetime.

By that time, everything will move to streaming...

I dont think everything will go 100% to streaming. That will alienate a lot of people.

Not everybody that watches movies, has internet.
Not everybody that has internet, has super fast speed.

With a disc format. It is a one time purchase(the player). Then whatever you spend on movies.

Example on why streaming cost more in the long run.(prices are random numbers. But it still shows what I am talking about.)

Blu ray player $100. A person buys 10 blu rays a year (at $30 a piece).

When you have a a physical format. That only cost $400 the first year. $300 every year after that(if you continue to buy 10 for $30 each).

With streaming. You pay for the movies ($300 a year). Plus whatever your bill is for internet. Say a person has to pay $50 more a month to get faster internet. Enough to download a movie in less than 30 mins.

$50(extra per month) x 12(months) = $600 + $300 = $900

So it could cost $900 the first year instead of $400. But wait, instead of going down in the second year. It stays the same ($900).

My point is, you will end up paying more per year(streaming/downloading) + movies, then buying a player + movies.

[Alpha]

I've thought about this since the beginning of Blu-ray. I've since figured whatever comes along, comes along. Just like DVD's. Although back then, I wasn't thinking of any future formats, I just built a DVD collection normally. And now it's Blu-ray. I don't think anyone can truly say this is the absolute LAST disc-based media format. Many people back in the beginning of the DVD days never even imagined things like HD and higher resolution, especially not the average consumer. And even now, the average consumer probably doesn't know a whole lot about what HD actually is. That being said, I think it's safe to say Blu-ray will be around for awhile, maybe even a lot longer than DVD was.

I wouldn't put too much thought into how much you've spent, or are currently spending on BD either. As long as you can afford it, and enjoy it, it's just like anything else in life. You don't go back and dwell on how much millions you've spent in the past decade on things like food. Today, a hefty DVD collection may easily be seen as a "WTF was I thinking" decision, but back then, that was it. Same with VHS. The ridiculous thing to do would be to "wait" for some future format.

[U4K61]

Originally Posted by maverick22

I keep wondering is it worth it to build up a huge collection, only for a greater "disc" to come out soon...

Why worry? I was happy with DVD when it arrived on the scene no so long ago and still am today. If in the future, someting better comes along, I don't think it will break what already works.

[nolfoc]

I think BD will be the last physical format, Digital will come along but it wont take BD away..

[beefytwinkie]

Topics like this keep me up at night. The thought of a disc format after blu-ray... the horror.