How did you get into physical media?

[Cynary]

I used to stream everything, and while I could appreciate people who owned physical media, I didn't really feel the appeal - I enjoy collecting it now, but that's not what drew me in.

What got me started was, after building myself a nice entertainment room (this was a fun project, I learned how to build an outside structure!), learning that physical media just had higher quality than what you get on streaming (it was just something I had never researched before - makes sense because of compression, but still surprised me). Now that I've watched the difference, I can't go back.

And now, I'm almost at 100 movies, and have a new hobby. And also, I have more excuses to do woodworking, since I'll contantly need new shelves.

[kosvines]

I grew up before streaming and downloading, so I've always been into physical media, ever since I used my paper route money on music cassettes and Commodore 64 games.

[unberechenbar]

I bought a few DVDs of horror movies when I was in middle school but what really got me into it was getting a 4K TV and wanting to take full advantage of the improved picture quality.

[russweiss1]

When I first moved out my roommate had a laserdisc collection. This was in 1985. I was never into collection VHS but I rented every week for years. During that time I purchased nearly 800 laserdiscs.

[vintager]

I wanted to start collecting laserdiscs, too, but then I thought 4K made more sense...

[jonna_nett]

I've never really stopped. While 2008-2020 were slow, i still bought physical when I could. Then I found some new sources of physical media, first the local variant of Ebay, then 2nd hand shops, and lastly (and the best overall): The local recycling station.

Their selection varies from hundreds to maybe 40 movies (depending on what other people want to get rid of). Opening hours are limited, two days a week for 5 hours. But I pay 2 NOK, about 20 US cents per "package". Deadpool 4K UHD? 20 Cents. A full season of the simpsons? 20 Cents. Collectors box of "Sex and the City"? 20 Cents. I love it!

I do buy new stuff too. I bought MacGyver for the sake of Nostalgia, and because afaik it's not on any streaming service. Blu-rays of James Bond (all the movies) etc.

[ronboster]

When we were in college, Eddie Murphy's "Delirious" was first released on HBO, we'd set our alarms, so we could watch it again...even if it was middle of the night.

The idea of owning a movie and the ability "to watch it anytime we wanted" was the appeal to buying home videos. At that time, it was a huge investment to buy a VCR or Beta player to watch movies. Owning them was even more expensive. $100 for a movie on VHS tape. It wasn't until Raiders of the Lost Ark was released in 83 that you saw the cost of owning a movie around $40.

So for me in college, I went with RCA's release of CED players. They were cheaper and the movies were definitely cheaper as well. You could find used copies at some video rental stores that carried them. The cost of a new movie on CED disc was about $15-$40.

To have ppl over to the house we were renting and watch Risky Business at home was a draw I used many times to take the party back to our house.

I've not looked back. I've collected movies (and sold out collections) since than...CED, Laser disc, VHS, HDDVD, DVD, Blu ray and UHD.

[ronboster]

I forgot that I also had a D-theater player too.

[Deadend45]

It started with 8-track tape and then I went on to the hard stuff. Classic gateway story.

Currently I am a chain-UHDer and cant stop. I need help.....

[Anthony P]

Just ended up talking about it a week ago in a different thread.

Back in the 80's I used to rent like most people but my friends and I went to the rental place to pick up a film, but it was not there. Am I ok watching what is available or should I buy to make sure I cna watch my favourite films when I want. Decided to start buying films that were important to me. then a few months later there was a snow storm and I decided to go to rent something different, the place was closed so I went back home and watched what I had on hand, thought about it and decided I should just buy what i feal like watching. The difference in price is just not worth renting IMHO.

As for none-physical media, never got into it. Yes I had to try the subscription streaming options, but did not find the quality was there and you are stuck watching what is available.

[donaldromo]

Initially streaming everything, I later discovered the superior quality of physical media after constructing an entertainment room and realizing the impact of compression on streaming. This led me to appreciate collecting physical media, sparking a new hobby and providing opportunities for woodworking projects like building shelves.

[DeanJames]

Started with a Beta player. Of course VHS came out the winner and I got into the habit of buying used VHS tapes fron Blockbuster. The Matrix was the movie that caused me to switch to dvd. Had a large collection of VHS but ahead of the curve I was able to sell them off. Around 2006 (?) I purchased a 65inch rear projection tv and an HDVD player. And once again I picked the wrong format. Got in on the red to blue deal and never looked back. Messed up big time and started dumping my blus when streaming came out and converting the Vudu Disc to Digital deal. I let go a lot of OOP movies and could kick my backside for making that move. Into 4K now but attempting to be more selective.

[creepycrab]

I started collecting VHS tapes back in the 90s, shifting to DVD and Blu-Ray as the newer technologies were released.

[chongjasmine]

I wanted something that I can own, and physical seems appealing.

[DeanJames]

Crazy how I just posted about my preference to physcial over streaming and this happens. Decided to play some of my older HD Dvds and sure as heck several of the Warner Brother titles would not play. Some were bronzed and some looked perfect. Good ole disc rot and I keep my collection in a cool and dehumidified room. I guess we really don't own anything no matter what we choose.

[cteddiesgirl]

I was in college when I bought my first VCR and my fist VHS which was Disney Fantasia when it finally got a physical release.

[Bside]

Originally Posted by Cynary

How did you get into physical media?

I went to a shop - they used to be real buildings

[mpac]

Have several dvds for years but not blurays. Bought a bluray burner for computer backups and because it bought few movies and started enjoy movies like I was younger and with sucriptions show problems and limitations I decided to collect, speciously movie from my chilhood but trying see several movies and series that I wanted to watch for a long time but never got around to do it.

[r3dg3cko Rob]

Started asking for Arnold Schwarzenegger films ( I loved running man and total recall - still do) on VHS for birthdays and Christmas back in the 90's and have been collecting ever since. I had to make the painful decision ton"donate" my VHS collection when I moved to the US in 2013. it just didn't make sense to to pay hundreds of £ to ship 500+ VHS tapes that ID struggle to (and probably wouldn't want to) watch in the US.

Still have my DVDs and blurays but spend more time collecting 4k and Steelbooks lately.

[Canada]

At the time when I started collecting to physical media tape was the only game in town, DVD was good, Blu-ray was a revelation, and 4K took it up a notch. Kaleidescape is a good solution for 4K movies also but it's expensive as hell.