BD vs Microsoft downloads

[Marcusarilius]

Microsoft wants digital HDM downloads. OK, Fine. That's what THEY want. BUT! As consumers do we still control what WE the public ultimately decide for HD Movie viewing? i.e. continue with hard disk movie purchases be it BD and/or what ever evolves beyond what we know as BD today?

Or are there any possible factors beyond our control which would eliminate such a choice?

[mykevermin]

Originally Posted by Marcusarilius

Or are there any possible factors beyond our control which would eliminate such a choice?[/COLOR]

If you go look at Paramount's future release schedule on Blu-Ray, you may well discover just how much consumer patterns matter. To some, at least.

[Thundercrash07]

As soon as studios stop distributing hard copies of their movies and offer them for download exclusively, I will stop watching movies overall. I have no interest in dowloading whatsoever.

I want the case, I want the disc, I want the cover artwork. Period.

[eli1277]

i don't think it would be one or the other with downloads, i think it would be like the way it is with itunes, you can download if you want but if you want to buy the disc that is also an option.

[Blu-Generation]

Here's how it's gonna go.

HD media download - Win

Blu-ray - Win

HD-DVD - Lose

To me, that's all it matter.

People who wants download gets download, people who want physical disc gets physical disc.

[181]

I remember reading somewhere that studios are thinking of packaging portable versions of the movies onto the Optical Media or somehow tying Optical Media with portable media files. I think their options are either allowing the user to download the media from the internet or distribute it with the movie itself. This would save users from ripping the movie and converting it themselves.

[sardaukar1977]

I don't think that Digital Downloads will ever completely replace physical media. I mean there are just too many people against it for it to ever fully succeed. And believe it or not there are still people who don't own computers out there, and likely never will. I believe the studios stand to lose too much money and their fan base if they do something so stupid, but I have been wrong before.

I myself like to have the movie in my hand as opposed to on my hard drive.

[crackinhedz]

Digital Downloads + possible file corruption/virus = not for me.


Id rather chance Blu-ray + possible scratching (after it gets through the hard coating of course)

[monkyman]

Seeing as it may take a few years to get this system up and running, who's to say that the Satallite and Cable systems won't beat them to the punch? It would be easier to download directly into the Sat/cable box than through your computer, than have to transfer it to your TV/reciever.

It will be foolish for the Studios to sign exclusive contracts with Microsoft and not make their movies available on all formats. If you were the only company to sign, imagine the losses you would take if it doesn't pan out.

[doctorD]

It is pretty obvious to me that M$ is trying in every way to compete with Apple and iTunes and that is why they are trying so hard to push for (what seems to be exclusive studio deals) movie downloads. They have seen what Apple has been able to do and want a piece of that pie. Why else do you think they are pushing their VC-1 codec...they know it is not compatible with Mac OS X. Don't get me wrong, I like some M$ products but I also love my Apple products as well. I just wish M$ would stop trying to monopolize every area with the "if you can't beat them, buy the market" attitude!

Anyways, that is my opinion.

[JadedRaverLA]

Originally Posted by 181

I remember reading somewhere that studios are thinking of packaging portable versions of the movies onto the Optical Media or somehow tying Optical Media with portable media files. I think their options are either allowing the user to download the media from the internet or distribute it with the movie itself. This would save users from ripping the movie and converting it themselves.

Fox and Apple just announced that Fox DVDs are going to start including iPod-compatible video files on disc. That kind of "added-value" proposition I'm all for... giving up the DVD and just paying for the iPod file, no thanks.

Awhile ago, Apple was attempting to get the same thing standardized on Blu-ray, though I don't they were successful. It could still be done if any studio wanted to, though you would need a PC Blu-ray drive to use it. (Although Sony could to put in some kind of recognition for such files into the PS3, and let you use the PS3 to "rip" those files from the BD and then transfer them. I don't see that as very likely, though.)

Originally Posted by sardaukar1977

I don't think that Digital Downloads will ever completely replace physical media. I mean there are just too many people against it for it to ever fully succeed. And believe it or not there are still people who don't own computers out there, and likely never will. I believe the studios stand to lose too much money and their fan base if they do something so stupid, but I have been wrong before.

I myself like to have the movie in my hand as opposed to on my hard drive.

Personally, I'm the same way. At the moment, I'm definitely far more interested in Blu-ray than any digital download option. That said, 15 years from now... who knows? I doubt we'll see another MAJOR optical disc data solution after BD. The days of the little round disc are numbered, one way or another.

The problems with digital downloads are numerous... at the moment. That doesn't mean they always will be. Eventually, the idea would be for consumers to have a service (which they pay for, of course) that has every movie ever made available on it, in formats compatible with an extensive range of playback devices. Then, you would simply have a device connected to your TV (or built-in) that can stream in the hgihest resolution your TV can accept. Your PC would have a web-player that does the same. And portable devices using WiMax, WiFi, or high-speed cellular service could access the content as well. You would be able to pay for a movie (if you wanted to "own" it, and it would always be accessible fromn any device... without you having to ever "store" the film on any medium. And, rentals would be handled the same way... you could rent movies for a specified period of time, or (much like OnDemad now), you could buy packages or "channels" of films that would rotate monthly. Again, you'd be able to watch those movies on ANY device for the period of the "rental." A "borrow" feature would also be easy to implement... so that if you "own" a movie and want to watch it at a friend's house, you could log in to your friend's player as a guest and let them "borrow" the movie from you temporarily.

In 15 or 20 years... when that scenario is actually possible... I will be all for digital downloads. That really is the ultimate goal for consumers... playability of what they own across every device they own. I don't really anticipate owning another disc format after BD. But until then, I want the format that offers the BEST quality possible... and that's DEFINITELY Blu-ray.

[mystiksuicide]

I don't want my movies on a hard drive that might go bad. What happens then every penny I invested down the drain?

I want a disc (Blu-Ray disc). ENOUGH SAID!!!!!

[Marcusarilius]

Originally Posted by mystiksuicide

I don't want my movies on a hard drive that might go bad. What happens then every penny I invested down the drain?

I want a disc (Blu-Ray disc). ENOUGH SAID!!!!!

Maybe the movies will be stored on a mainframe somewhere else that you the consumer pay for storage on, but I don't want corps to know what and when I am watching HDM so they can sell that info to other corps who inturn start sending you junk mail via post, internet or whatever vehicle. Maybe we will have to even start watching someone's damned commercials before loading movies like we have to sit thru in theaters now.

[dialog_gvf]

Originally Posted by doctorD

It is pretty obvious to me that M$ is trying in every way to compete with Apple and iTunes and that is why they are trying so hard to push for (what seems to be exclusive studio deals) movie downloads.

Yet another split of exclusives, like HDM, means that downloads will go nowhere. I'm pretty sure neither Apple or Microsoft would be allowed to monopolize movie downloads.

Gary

[ps3andlovinit]

Originally Posted by crackinhedz

Digital Downloads + possible file corruption/virus = not for me.


Id rather chance Blu-ray + possible scratching (after it gets through the hard coating of course)

1+ year later, a gaggle of kids and nothing on games or movies so far.

DVD's, a gaggle of kids and DVD's have been damaged in less than a month with severe scratches.

[Drewza89]

Originally Posted by Thundercrash07

As soon as studios stop distributing hard copies of their movies and offer them for download exclusively, I will stop watching movies overall. I have no interest in dowloading whatsoever.

I want the case, I want the disc, I want the cover artwork. Period.

That's exactly how I feel.

[doctorD]

Originally Posted by dialog_gvf

Yet another split of exclusives, like HDM, means that downloads will go nowhere. I'm pretty sure neither Apple or Microsoft would be allowed to monopolize movie downloads.

Gary

While I agree with you, that doesn't mean they won't try before the hammer comes down!

[Spankey]

Originally Posted by Blu-Generation

Here's how it's gonna go.

HD media download - Win

Blu-ray - Win

HD-DVD - Lose

To me, that's all it matter.

People who wants download gets download, people who want physical disc gets physical disc.

Exactly. Give MS their downloads. They will just be seen as another kind of pay per view/rental service.

The music industry went to a download model and look at the state of that biz.

[reiella]

Originally Posted by dialog_gvf

Yet another split of exclusives, like HDM, means that downloads will go nowhere. I'm pretty sure neither Apple or Microsoft would be allowed to monopolize movie downloads.

Gary

It's alot cheaper to have two free pieces of software installed than it is to have two pieces of hardware installed...

[zed0118]

Originally Posted by mystiksuicide

I don't want my movies on a hard drive that might go bad. What happens then every penny I invested down the drain?

I want a disc (Blu-Ray disc). ENOUGH SAID!!!!!

I agree with you Mystik. Hard drives are prone to crashing ... and when that happens, well ... bye bye down loads.

I'll take a physical disc as well, anytime.