The future of Blu-ray; are there more challenges ahead?

[superdynamite]

HD Movie Downloads vs. Blu-Ray Movies
written by: Gregory Leone (Superdynamite)
See Here: original article

OK, lets' look at the "Movie Download vs. Movie Disc" subject a little closer. We will dissect it in a way that will allow us to try and determine the future of the digital HD Movie Download.

These are some of the Freedoms that I am able to enjoy because I own a Blu-ray player (Playstation 3) and Blu-ray Disc collection:

I watched my Blackhawk Down Blu-ray about 8X during this past year. I watched my Pan's Labyrinth Blu-ray 4X since it's release. I watched the Simpson's Movie on Christmas Night and then again last night, almost 4 weeks later, with my little cousin. I also let my brother borrow my 300 and 28 Weeks Later Blu-ray discs. My friend Mike let me borrow his Ghost Rider Blu-ray and I lent him my Casino Royale Blu-ray. I brought my TMNT Blu-ray to my friend Jay's house to see how it looked on his new Samsung DLP flat screen and PS3. It looked and sounded amazing. I bought Pathfinder on Blu-ray for $29.99, watched it, then sold it on eBay for $26.00 + $2.00 shipping.

Ok, that's what I've done with a few of my Blu-ray movies.



Now let's look at the advantages and disadvantages of the Digital HD Movie Download:
1. Does the HD Movie Download allow me the same freedoms in portability that the Blu-Ray Disc does? No. You can only view a Downloaded movie on the device that it was downloaded to.

2. Can I borrow and Lend downloaded movies with friends and family? No. You would have to lend or borrow the whole device or console that holds the download.

3. Can I watch a Downloaded Movie numerous times over the course of a Year or the course of a month for that matter? No. Digital Download Movies are only good for a predetermined term or limited length of time. Usually 24 hours.
For example, Microsoft offers Digital Movie Downloads on their XBoxLIVE (XBL) service. The Downloadable movies vary in price on the XBL service. Movie Downloads from XBoxLIVE can be viewed an unlimited amount of times for the first 24 hours. Plays after that period will cost the same as the initial download. The downloaded Movie files are in Windows Media VideoHD (aka;VC-1,WMVHD) format at 720p resolution, 6.8Mbps video with 5.1 surround sound. The average Movie download is 4 - 5gb.

4. Are Digital downloadable Movies available in Full HD, 1080p with lossless Audio? No. Not yet. There is no date for the availability of full resolution Downloads.

The only advantage or benefit, that I can see, in Downloading Movies would be, it saves you a trip to the store. If you are home sick, the weather is bad, it's after 10pm and all the Electronics stores are closed or you're just feeling a little bit lazy, downloading a movie is fine.
To me, downloading a Movie is no different than purchasing a movie from your Pay-Per-View service. In some cases Pay-Per-View might even have more of an advantage because you don't have to wait the download time and if you have TiVo you can watch it until you delete it. Pay-Per-View is also available in 1080i.




The DVD vs. VHS Comparison in relation to The Blu-ray vs. DVD Comparison:
Standard DVD replaced VHS, Blu-ray replaced DVD and Digital Downloads will replace Blu-ray, right? Wrong. Here is why:

While compiling information about a subject or subjects, in order to complete a proper hypothecation, you will need to make sure that the variables that you are using are in accordance with one another and can be related to one another.
So the question is, "Can we compare DVD's replacement of VHS with Blu-ray's replacement of Standard (STD) DVD?" The answer is No. DVD ultimately rendered the VHS Tape useless. Blu-ray is not replacing DVD or rendering the DVD format useless. Blu-ray is simply an expansion of DVD.

If you own a Full HD Home Theater with Blu-ray player, the Standard DVD format can and will be integrated into your Movie, Concert or VideoGame collection in some way. The standard DVD can not only be viewed using a Blu-ray player, but the STD DVD can be viewed at a higher resolution using a process that most Blu-ray players feature. This process is called upscaling.

VHS and DVD are in no way interchangeable, which was the reason for the subsequent discontinuation and elimination of VHS.
Not only are the STD DVD & VHS forms of media non-interchangeable with one another, but the gap in technology between DVD and VHS is far greater then the gap between Blu-ray and DVD. The reason there is such a large gap between DVD and VHS is that DVD is a completely different technology than VHS, where as Blu-ray evolved from DVD and is of the same technology.
Here's another way to look at the DVD vs. VHS Comparison in relation to The Blu-ray vs. DVD Comparison:
1.What came first, the chicken (Blu-ray) or the egg (DVD)?
2.What came first, the chicken (Blu-ray) or the Elephant (VHS)? You can't ask that question because it's not relative to what we need the answer for.

This is why "The DVD vs. VHS Comparison in relation to The Blu-ray vs. DVD Comparison" cannot be used to determine an answer to our question, which is, Will Digital Downloadable Movies replace Disc media?



The Downloadable Movie vs. Downloadable Music comparison:
I think this is where analysts and columnists make their biggest mistake when trying to evaluate the future of digital media.
You can not compare downloading movies with downloading music. A full catalog of Music does not require a large amount of Hard Drive space. One single HD Movie with 1080p resolution, 7.1 lossless Audio and Bonus Features could, in some cases, require 20gb to over 50gb of space depending on the movie. Just think of how much space you would need to retain a downloaded version of the Godfather Box set in Full HD.
Music Downloads are portable via an MP3 device such as the IPod. Downloadable Movie content is not portable. HiDef Home Theaters are not portable either. Music Downloads are permanent and do not incur future costs on the owner. Movie downloads have a limited viewing time.

As a consumer, I do not want to spend money on a movie that I am only able to view for a limited time. In that case, I might as well go to the movie theater and get my money's worth. I'd much rather order something from Pay-Per-View which I can TiVo. I want to watch my movies when & where I feel like watching them. I want to lend movies to my friends and family. I also want to borrow movies from my friends and family. To me, that is a small part of what makes owning a movie collection fun.

In my opinion, Movie Downloads is an option that is loaded with restrictions and costs to the consumer. Digital Movie Downloads, Pay-Per-View and Divx are more comparable to each other than Movie Downloads and Disc Media are to each other. For now, the Movie Download is a very long way from replacing Blu-disc/DVD media.

Movie Downloads have their place in the industry, but they will never take over as the industry standard. For now it's just another option to Pay-Per-View.

[Blu-Beard]

Only the challenge of coming up with enough money for all these Blu's

[superdynamite]

Originally Posted by Blu-Beard

Only the challenge of coming up with enough money for all these Blu's

I'll drink to that!

Only Water of course

[Blufury]

Blu-ray all the way.

[Knoxer]

A very very good article here! And I agree with it 100%!

[cawgijoe]

I still remember people saying that Pay-Per-View was going to eliminate DVD...............I guess that didn't happen......

[Knoxer]

Originally Posted by cawgijoe

I still remember people saying that Pay-Per-View was going to eliminate DVD...............I guess that didn't happen......

Lol, I don't even watch cable! And I use Pay-per-view about MAYBE once a year. I watch atleast 2 DVD's a week.

[greekjgg]

The only challenge left is the ridiculous amount of pointless threads that are being created now.

Gang, I'm sorry to say. The war is over now !! GO HOME!! Stop trying to come up with intelligent conversation now that just isn't there anymore now. People are really going to have to come up with a way to fill the void now that there is nothing to fight about now.

Stop creating dumb threads just because you haven't anything else to talk about!!

[Knoxer]

Originally Posted by greekjgg

The only challenge left is the ridiculous amount of pointless threads that are being created now.

Gang, I'm sorry to say. The war is over now !! GO HOME!! Stop trying to come up with intelligent conversation now that just isn't there anymore now. People are really going to have to come up with a way to fill the void now that there is nothing to fight about now.

Stop creating dumb threads just because you haven't anything else to talk about!!

Again you come in a thread with nothing but rage and complaints.

This is a good article and is very post worthy. With blu-ray the winner there isn't going to be much news. Stop whining and enjoy what you get or take your own advice and stop coming here at all.

[Guinness]

Blu-ray will be the delivery system of choice for many years for movie collectors, but downloads will very likely become the preferred delivery system for movie watchers (i.e., a person who watches movies but doesn't have a movie library). It simply depends on your perspective. The primary reason you are seeing many articles about movie downloads is that it will appeal to a very large audience once you can buy a "movie box" for less than $200 that enables you to download movies (or TV shows or live sporting events, etc.) to your living room very simply and inexpensively ($5 or less). It's only a matter of time, and I suspect within 2 years such a product will exist. With that said, it will likely have little to no impact on movie collectors. Again, it depends on your perspective.

[hc666]

Prices really need to come down for players, that is the only threat right now.

[greekjgg]

Originally Posted by Knoxer

Again you come in a thread with nothing but rage and complaints.

All three of the subjects discussed have been beaten to death in other threads. They don't need a new one started!!

[Living Near Shamu]

Originally Posted by hc666

Prices really need to come down for players, that is the only threat right now.

They will, but like every new technology, it takes time before prices come down. I mean look at flat-panel tvs. It took years for them to get to where they are right now. Just a year ago they were still in the low 2ks where most of the affordable ones are in the low 1Ks.

[whippersnapper]

Originally Posted by greekjgg

The only challenge left is the ridiculous amount of pointless threads that are being created now.

Gang, I'm sorry to say. The war is over now !! GO HOME!! Stop trying to come up with intelligent conversation now that just isn't there anymore now. People are really going to have to come up with a way to fill the void now that there is nothing to fight about now.

Stop creating dumb threads just because you haven't anything else to talk about!!

Dude, you really do need to LIGHTEN UP! I agree with others who observe that you seem to have some sort of irrational ANGER issue going on. If you don't want to read a thread, don't read it. If you become angry everytime you go to a forum, maybe it's time for YOU to stop coming to that forum.

If you miss the "format war" and think that this forum is only good for format wars, then maybe you just don't belong here. The Blu-ray format is going to be present for many years and Blu-ray.com will be here for many years as a place to come to share information, news, advice and discussion. Please don't polute it with your anger and animosity.

Let's keep Blu-ray.com a pleasant community.

[hc666]

Originally Posted by Living Near Shamu

They will, but like every new technology, it takes time before prices come down. I mean look at flat-panel tvs. It took years for them to get to where they are right now. Just a year ago they were still in the low 2ks where most of the affordable ones are in the low 1Ks.

Agreed. I just hope it's soon. Would be nice to see at least a 1.1 player for 300'ish by Summer.

[HiDefSushi]

Originally Posted by greekjgg

The only challenge left is the ridiculous amount of pointless threads that are being created now.

Gang, I'm sorry to say. The war is over now !! GO HOME!! Stop trying to come up with intelligent conversation now that just isn't there anymore now. People are really going to have to come up with a way to fill the void now that there is nothing to fight about now.

Stop creating dumb threads just because you haven't anything else to talk about!!

I think you are a little disgruntled because the Steelers are so bad. But that's ok. Once the Bus & Cower left, the reality hit all Steeler fans as hard as the car hit Roethlisberger's empty, Helmetless head. He's just not that good.

Anyway, while that sinks in, we all here in Blu-ray land will be fighting the good fight like we have from day one, against the Microsoft fanboy Propaganda machine.

You can belittle us, but we're too strong for you. Hell, we just won a 2 year War against the most powerful company on the planet. I mean, it wasn't as big of an upset as the GIANTS smoking the Patriots (18-1), but if we can beat a juggernaut like Microsoft, we can sure survive people like you that try to take away our glory and sweet taste of Victory!

[superdynamite]

Originally Posted by greekjgg

All three of the subjects discussed have been beaten to death in other threads. They don't need a new one started!!

geekjgg,

please,
Stop fighting with members.

Thank you.

[Kristin Simard]

The next obvious challenge is to beat standard DVD.

[Blu As Hell]

Originally Posted by greekjgg

The only challenge left is the ridiculous amount of pointless threads that are being created now.

Gang, I'm sorry to say. The war is over now !! GO HOME!! Stop trying to come up with intelligent conversation now that just isn't there anymore now. People are really going to have to come up with a way to fill the void now that there is nothing to fight about now.

Stop creating dumb threads just because you haven't anything else to talk about!!

Dude...stop being so damn combatative. If you see a thread of something you don't like don't read it. You are always hijacking threads to yell at everybody. STOP IT!!!!!

[DNA]

great article. this should be in the NY Times. It would quiet alot of people that don't know what they're talking about.