Blu-ray Shortcoming: Limited Titles

[Leeon0]

Last year I vowed never to buy a DVD again. But I've broken the vow--again and again. That's because many of the titles on my laundry list are available on DVD only. Others are available on non-Region A BDs. Sometimes I wait patiently for a title to be released on Blu-ray, but eventually I succumb and get the DVD. Unfortunately I like indie films, foreign films, and non-Hollywood films. Is anyone else in my boat? How are you coping? I don't like DVDs, and I don't like region codes.

I wish I were a bottle-cap collector.

[The Great Owl]

Patience, young Jedi.

More and more titles are being upgraded to the Blu-ray format every month. I see news about more upcoming titles almost every day just by browsing this forum.

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by Leeon0

Last year I vowed never to buy a DVD again. But I've broken the vow--again and again. That's because many of the titles on my laundry list are available on DVD only. Others are available on non-Region A BDs. Sometimes I wait patiently for a title to be released on Blu-ray, but eventually I succumb and get the DVD. Unfortunately I like indie films, foreign films, and non-Hollywood films. Is anyone else in my boat? How are you coping? I don't like DVDs, and I don't like region codes.

I wish I were a bottle-cap collector.

Sounds like you need a region free BD player.

[Kevin Holly]

I buy DVDs all the time.

I own more DVDs than Blus.

This doesn't bother me.

[jws]

Originally Posted by hd goofnut

sounds like you need a region free bd player.

+1

[bigshot]

I like classic films which are the hardest of all to find on blu. But lately, I'm having trouble keeping up with Kino and Olive and all the great silents and noir films coming out.

[Leeon0]

Originally Posted by HD Goofnut

Sounds like you need a region free BD player.

Any recommendations?

[Leeon0]

Originally Posted by Kevin Holly

I buy DVDs all the time.

I own more DVDs than Blus.

This doesn't bother me.

I wish I could say the same. But DVDs have issues. For example, when you get a floater in the mail, you know the disc will be scratched to death. And when it comes from overseas, that double-sucks. I've never seen a loose BD that was scratched.

[blu-ray_girl_fan]

Originally Posted by Leeon0

I've never seen a loose BD that was scratched.

It can and does happen, perhaps with more frequency than people realize.

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by Leeon0

Any recommendations?

I think the Oppo players are region free.

[Blu Titan]

Originally Posted by Leeon0

Last year I vowed never to buy a DVD again. But I've broken the vow--again and again. That's because many of the titles on my laundry list are available on DVD only. Others are available on non-Region A BDs. Sometimes I wait patiently for a title to be released on Blu-ray, but eventually I succumb and get the DVD. Unfortunately I like indie films, foreign films, and non-Hollywood films. Is anyone else in my boat? How are you coping? I don't like DVDs, and I don't like region codes.

I wish I were a bottle-cap collector.

For one, I would recommend you get yourself a region free player. Region free players are affordable and will give you the ability to import titles from all over the world...specially since you enjoy foreign films. I have 1,300+ moves and 700+ on my price tracker.

[ZoetMB]

Originally Posted by HD Goofnut

I think the Oppo players are region free.

No player is region free as that violates the Blu-ray license. You can buy 3rd party kits that make players region free, including the OPPOs. There are some companies that will sell you an OPPO with their kit added.

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by ZoetMB

No player is region free as that violates the Blu-ray license. You can buy 3rd party kits that make players region free, including the OPPOs. There are some companies that will sell you an OPPO with their kit added.

My dad has one of the Sherwood players from a few years ago. It was region free out of the box.

[jws]

Originally Posted by HD Goofnut

I think the Oppo players are region free.

Previous gen Oppo players could be made region free with the installation of a microchip that could be purchased from third party vendors. IDK if this is still the case with current gen players. By gen I mean production year. I had to research companies selling mod chips or modded players to purchase my region free player.

[Blades1370]

Originally Posted by HD Goofnut

My dad has one of the Sherwood players from a few years ago. It was region free out of the box.

The original Oppo (83 model) and a few other manufacturers models made a couple years ago were region free, by the next year/model update, none of those same companies players were region free out of the box anymore (93/103 models have to be modded). I'm guessing the major studios threatened legal action, either way someone somewhere had their panties in a twist about it, and companies like Oppo were forced to change the way they offered their product to consumers.

Personally at this point the region coding thing should be done away with, the only thing it does it keep movies the major studios release in other countries out of the hands of those that wish to have them in their collections. That is unless you want to spend the extra $$ to mod your player or buy a pre-modded one.

But back to the point of the thread, there are far less titles released on DVD then there were on VHS, when you compare what was released on each separate format until the demise of VHS. And yes it is true there have been less title released on Blu-Ray versus DVD, many of the masters used for DVD releases offer sub-par Blu-Ray presentations. Meaning if you expect a true HD presentation, the studios have to pony up for newer/better masters to be produced, which is I am sure not cheap by any means. And studios are not going to pay a small fortune on titles that they don't believe will make the money back creating new masters, which is why I believe recently we have seen a large wave of re-used/re-purposed DVD masters used for Blu-Ray.

[Hypnosifl]

Originally Posted by HD Goofnut

I think the Oppo players are region free.

Oppo players are pretty expensive, right? If the OP wants something cheaper, this site is good:

http://www.220-electronics.com/

[HyperRealist]

Oppo 83 were not region free out of the box. All of their BD players need a mod.

Here is a region free player for $67
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Insignia-NS-...item27cf81d30d

Here is what you need to know to change regions on the Insignia.
https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=190357

[Lemmy Lugosi]

Originally Posted by sc1957

I think you should stick to your vow, young grasshopper, and deprive yourself of all those films which have not yet been (and may never be) released on Blu-ray. It will make you strong.

It'll certainly make him wealthier.

[ycbbh]

Originally Posted by Lemmy Lugosi

It'll certainly make him wealthier.

Not after the next global banking collapse when BDs become the new medium of exchange

[BobbyMcGee]

Originally Posted by Leeon0

Any recommendations?

I have the Seiki SR212S. It is $39.00 at Kmart's website.

Here is the thread for this player: https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=216607

Here is the link to Kmart: http://www.kmart.com/seiki-blu-ray-8...2&blockType=G2

Here are the instructions for getting it to do region free:

[Show spoiler]With the player on, press "set up" on the remote.

Then punch in 8520 on the remote and a menu will pop up.

They'll be a box at the bottom right for the region coding of dvds and another for blu-rays.

With the remote, punch in 0 for dvd. This will make it region free.

For blu-rays, punch in 1 for region A, 2 for region B and 4 for region C (Haven't tried these yet).

Once you're done, press set up. That simple. As already mentioned, you'll have to change the region coding for blu-rays everytime you change over.

Pretty basic player. The controller sucks. For thirty nine bucks I don't complain.