I’m ditching streaming services for Blu-ray this year — and I’m not alone

[StarFuryG7]

I’m ditching streaming services for Blu-ray this year — and I’m not alone

[bhampton]

When it comes to movies I prefer to buy and own so I can revisit when I want.

They are (for now) cheap enough that renting or leasing or trying to get permission to watch someone else's copy isn't something I do.

I did watch (half) of Anyone But You on NF the other day because my daughter wanted to. It was funny but I don't need or want to buy that one. (Unless it's like $5 on disc at some point.)

[stonesfan129]

I never really got into streaming apart from signing up for a month once in awhile on one service to binge a show.

As for digital cloud copies, I'm getting more and more annoyed by all the little quirks. Like with Vudu, they had two outages inside of a month not long ago when I wanted to watch something. Apple seems like they won't support 4K HDR on any of my Rokus, but will on my Xbox One S. I also am annoyed at how Vudu will support D2D, but Apple does not, and then not everything is DMA-compatible so it doesn't copy over.

I don't like that they go out of their way to make sure you don't actually own anything, yet the price doesn't reflect that and it's like they are happy about screwing customers long term.

Not sure why they refuse to use the same model music has (non-DRM-protected downloads). Sadly, more and more things are becoming streaming exclusives like TV series.

[crutzulee]

Thirstiest thread title in the history of bluray.com....

Well done...

[Warm Gun]

You can't write an article like that without a whole section about the cost of storage. Outsiders don't know how burdensome these fat, tall cases can become.

[veritas]

Originally Posted by Warm Gun

You can't write an article like that without a whole section about the cost of storage. Outsiders don't know how burdensome these fat, tall cases can become.

It takes a while before space becomes to much of an issue. One bookshelf will hold around 400 or 500 films.

Books have caused me space problems way faster then movie buys.

[Warm Gun]

Originally Posted by veritas

It takes a while before space becomes to much of an issue. One bookshelf will hold around 400 or 500 films.

Books have caused me space problems way faster then movie buys.

Guessing you're a home owner.

Books are no bigger than they need to be. Movie cases are much bigger than they should be. Should make them smaller if they want more consumers.

[veritas]

Originally Posted by Warm Gun

Guessing you're a home owner.

Books are no bigger than they need to be. Movie cases are much bigger than they should be. Should make them smaller if they want more consumers.

What I'm saying is in terms of space 50 books is the same as buying 200 or 300 movies.

The first few years of collecting for most people fits on a 1 foot by 8 inch shelf. Your in deep by the time space really shows itself as an issue.

As far as making them smaller idk I don't think it would help. Ever go to a thrift store and look though cds its a pain in the ass with titles so small and the same looking that they all blend together. imagine cds, blu rays and dvds all the same size and look it might as well be a dumpster dive at that point. if the buyer wants to downgrade the size of his collection and put everything in a binder or jewel cases then that's fine but I think it would harm sales more then helping them if you forced that on everyone.

[Eurbane132]

Good for you all.

[meremortal]

The lack of being able to sell or trade collection titles is really annoying. Probably at least a quarter of the ones I have were purchased because a blu was not yet available. I do enjoy streaming more as time has gone on, however. It does save space and is a chance to get things like out of print physical media for cheaper digitally. Vudu/Fandango disc to digital is really nice. From a collecting standpoint it is still frustrating and at a minimum I wish all of the major studios joined MA.

[critterdvd]

I still keep a few streaming services because while I’m interested in viewing new films, but not blind buying them for $20-$25 a pop like I used to do every Tuesday for years. For two reasons: they always get super cheap 3-4 months after release and secondly because I ended up with a lot of duds that take up shelf space, which is at a premium in my 700sq ft studio which I don’t plan of leaving for years. I’d rather save the shelf space for the classics/boutique labels.

When you have to squeeze a kitchen, bedroom, living room and a work from home office in 700sqft there’s only so much room for bookcases.

[Streamingsux]

Thread titles like this make me moist. I wish all streaming services would burn to the ground and the ashes sucked into a black hole..

[bhampton]

I don't mind the free ones.

The price is right at least.

[ResidentEvil7200]

I myself never really enjoy streaming services. I prefer a physical disc because I enjoy the 4K HDR Dolby Vision and Atmos sound, and also, if your internet goes out, you'd still have a physical copy.

I was real unhappy with Best Buy, my favorite store, because they stopped selling movies, which I was buying at a discount after I cashed in my Sony Rewards (also going to discontinue soon) for a Best Buy e-gift card. The last movie I bought at Best Buy's website is Conan The Barbarian/Destroyer in 4K early this year.

[stonesfan129]

Originally Posted by ResidentEvil7200

I myself never really enjoy streaming services. I prefer a physical disc because I enjoy the 4K HDR Dolby Vision and Atmos sound, and also, if your internet goes out, you'd still have a physical copy.

This is really the bottom line. With a physical copy, you will always have access, provided you have some way to read the disc. Don't get me wrong, I have a few 4K UHD titles in Vudu and Apple, but the quality on a disc is really nice. I got the Arrow version of Dark Water (2002) a few days ago. This is unavailable in 4K UHD on Vudu or Apple (only in HD there) and the Vudu version doesn't even offer surround audio (it's only stereo while on Apple it is in DD 5.1).

Speaking of which, that is another thing that irritates me about Vudu. Lots of their movies are old copies that they never cared to update and many do not even offer surround sound. The Host, Blade Runner (theatrical cut), Dark Water; there are a number of them if I go back through and look. On Apple, all of these have been updated with surround sound (DD 5.1).

[Number 28]

Originally Posted by Warm Gun

Guessing you're a home owner.

Books are no bigger than they need to be. Movie cases are much bigger than they should be. Should make them smaller if they want more consumers.

+1

The old VHS cassettes/cases were about 2.5 times bigger than a DVD case, yet there was no wasted space in a VHS case.

What I find a real waste of space is the height of Blu-ray HD and 4K cases. Up to 35mm could be chopped off the height of a box, a 20% reduction in size!

I find the most efficient way to store DVDs and BDs is using Spur aluminium T Slot shelving, there is also Twin Slot steel shelving systems, which are more common. The pine wood shelves I use are 165mm wide and 20mm thick (no sagging).

[bhampton]

I can see the appeal of not owning things if you live in an apartment. At this point I just don't see the appeal of living in an apartment.

[Number 28]

Originally Posted by veritas

What I'm saying is in terms of space 50 books is the same as buying 200 or 300 movies.

The first few years of collecting for most people fits on a 1 foot by 8 inch shelf. Your in deep by the time space really shows itself as an issue.

As far as making them smaller idk I don't think it would help. Ever go to a thrift store and look though cds its a pain in the ass with titles so small and the same looking that they all blend together. imagine cds, blu rays and dvds all the same size and look it might as well be a dumpster dive at that point. if the buyer wants to downgrade the size of his collection and put everything in a binder or jewel cases then that's fine but I think it would harm sales more then helping them if you forced that on everyone.

I understand the concern about identifing titles and things blending in etc. Any change would have to be done right.

If, for example, Blu-ray cases were cut down in height to reduce space, which I see as wasted, that would be 35mm less/20% or if you wanted to keep the Blu-ray strip at the top of the case, 20mm/12% could be removed.

Even if Blu-ray cases were reduced in height by 12% or 20% they would still be bigger than CD cases.

In the end it would mean saving plastic, weight and storage be at home, a retail shop or warehouse, plus transport or postage costs.

[bhampton]

You could always make you own storage solution. Some people use binders or books.

The original packaging can be kept but it's hard to make it take up any less space.

[cheez avenger]

I have several storage solutions from these guys:


https://www.t3lshop.com/shop/frontpage.html

Highly recommended.