"HD DVD death made official; downloads to kill Blu-ray next."

[sarnell2]

http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2008/0...-death-ma.html

Are "downloads" really that much of a concern?

[Marcusarilius]

Originally Posted by sarnell2

http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2008/0...-death-ma.html

Are "downloads" really that much of a concern?

Cool. Can't wait till Bull-ray dies.

[Zipzap713]

Not for a very long time.

[cartman781]

**** downloads. I want my hard copies

[Marcusarilius]

Originally Posted by cartman781

**** downloads. I want my hard copies

Thats what she said...

[hc666]

Originally Posted by cartman781

**** downloads. I want my hard copies

Agreed. I want the hard copy of what I buy with the extras, books, high end audio...etc.

Downloads will never be the majority. Guarantee it.

[Sith]

I love having a hard copy, how long would it take to download these things...
I've downloaded hd movies to rent on my 360 and it takes a long time...Renting maybe....

[ezcobar411]

I'm not going to download movies, I enjoy the high quality that is available on BLU

[richard lichtenfelt]

Downloads are in competition with other rental services and stores.
People who like buying movies will continue to do so.

http://blogs.zdnet.com/Ou/?p=959

[komp]

How long has HDTV been in use, ooo 25 years+, as for bandwidth for these downloads!!!!

Until fibre to the home is the norm in most continents it isnt totally feasible. Of course we can get low res versions but its not the same as a 50GB download or something lol.

Paramount / Microsoft releasing downloadable video is the latest chat in the war but its only rentable and I dont think the propaganda machine will say its low quality video in the marketing.

I dunno a few more years and maybe so but remember the cinema in PS HOME ??? Well I am sure with the lineup in BD support we can expect something from them too, all be it low res video no doubt hehe.

[Sporty]

Digital Downloads are the new battle cry from the HD-DVD die hards.

But they are quite a ways away. Ironic when most of the Anti-BD trolls always cried over DRM on BD, even though it is invisible to the user. Yet they are quick to embrace downloads where DRM is more of an obstacle. And limited to authorized devices. Not to mention compressed to hell and low quality.

Just goes to show those that want to skip BDs since they beat HD-DVD were never in HDM due to quality, but only the fanboy part of the format wars

[Kairav]

Downloads could not replace DVD, leave HDM out of your mind.

[pitabun]

This is an exciting day for mankind

[Paradiso]

I guess w/ the popularity of "the kids" downloading mp3s instead of buying the "physical" product is where this line of thinking is coming from. But at least there are a few of us out there that like to actually own things and have libraries. A positive note: books are still being published as physical things. I suppose one day that cable and the networks (or whatever form that will take) will have vast databases that will house everything. All available at the command of a remote. That's my guess, anyway, but who's to say what the future holds in multimedia. Interesting times indeed; much as I hate to sometimes, you just have to go with the flow or be left behind.

[bluskiff]

hd download are only 720
if they tried 1080 they would need to rebuild the whole network.
Not even close to bluray

[cartier]

The download model is not conducive to be the primary source of the home entertainment market. There are several reasons why this is the case and in order to be a serious contender they must address the following.

1) Bandwidth, there is insufficient infrastructure to provide the movies in a timely matter. Nor is it possible to provide the same level of quality (See below)

2) Quality, the quality of these downloaded movies is in great doubt because of the compression they go through to be transmitted. Sending a full HD movie without compression is not realistic. This is because of the afore mentioned bandwidth and the next reason storage. Also an issue given the ever larger TV screens in individuals homes. The lack of quality on these screens is visible even if one does not see it on their iPod.

3) Storage, where will homes keep these movies. What happens if you want more movies then you have storage to accommodate your expanding library. The answer spend hundred if not more to watch a movie you could have purchased for approximately $20.

4) Portability, movies are usually a shared experience. This is difficult if you are locked into keeping it stored in your home.

5) Price, how much is the consumer willing to spend for something they can not easily backup and is playable only under their account?

6) Ownership, how does one resell a download that is licensed to their account. If they use a rental / on demand model, how many times will someone pay $3 or $4 to rent the same movie. Assuming it is quality (see above). This usually also involves another proprietary box (yet another buy or lease decision). What should happen if you switch TV providers will your movies you paid for on Comcast still be yours when you switch to Verizon?

These are only six reasons as to why downloads are not viable. There are many more and almost all opinions as to why downloads are the way of the future are rebuked by one or all of these points. Sometime in the future downloads could be the answer for some. However, at the present and for the near future they are not.

[Paradiso]

Originally Posted by cartier

The download model is not conducive to be the primary source of the home entertainment market. There are several reasons why this is the case and in order to be a serious contender they must address the following.

1) Bandwidth, there is insufficient infrastructure to provide the movies in a timely matter. Nor is it possible to provide the same level of quality (See below)

2) Quality, the quality of these downloaded movies is in great doubt because of the compression they go through to be transmitted. Sending a full HD movie without compression is not realistic. This is because of the afore mentioned bandwidth and the next reason storage. Also an issue given the ever larger TV screens in individuals homes. The lack of quality on these screens is visible even if one does not see it on their iPod.

3) Storage, where will homes keep these movies. What happens if you want more movies then you have storage to accommodate your expanding library. The answer spend hundred if not more to watch a movie you could have purchased for approximately $20.

4) Portability, movies are usually a shared experience. This is difficult if you are locked into keeping it stored in your home.

5) Price, how much is the consumer willing to spend for something they can not easily backup and is playable only under their account?

6) Ownership, how does one resell a download that is licensed to their account. If they use a rental / on demand model, how many times will someone pay $3 or $4 to rent the same movie. Assuming it is quality (see above). This usually also involves another proprietary box (yet another buy or lease decision). What should happen if you switch TV providers will your movies you paid for on Comcast still be yours when you switch to Verizon?

These are only six reasons as to why downloads are not viable. There are many more and almost all opinions as to why downloads are the way of the future are rebuked by one or all of these points. Sometime in the future downloads could be the answer for some. However, at the present and for the near future they are not.

...not mention all the stores out there that would be put out of business...or at the very least, vastly change their selling models.

[Marcusarilius]

Thats one small step for man....

[Paradiso]

Originally Posted by Marcusarilius

Thats one small step for man....

...one giant "creep" for mankind....buh-bye HD DVD.



(Not referring to you Marcus )

[X-Ninja]

Originally Posted by Marcusarilius

Thats what she said...

Hahaha. Dont think ive ever seen a better place to put that... ever.