Physical & Digital EST: The Future of Home Video Discussion Thread

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by tob

You are lucky to have the HMV store steedeel still miss the one we had in Cork and my Xtravision store in my town.

Don't use it mate. I just order my entire bulk off Amazon. HMV are a bit expensive. Use Amazon UK, USA and Amazon DE.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by master gandhi

I'm not usually searching for very obscure titles, but there are still some items only found online. I used to show up to Best Buy and/or Target on release day, but then I started ordering almost everything online, plus I've been purchasing a lot of digital.

Still, there's something satisfying about browsing the shelves of the store and getting it in person. That's how they get you to impulse buy, and I don't mind doing that sometimes, as long as it's a movie I've already been interested in, or I can take the time to research it on my phone in the store.

It's just disappointing to see the in-store options dwindle. Not that I ever went to the grocery store with the intention of buying a movie. I can see why they did away with them.

I get all the discs at once! It's sad to admit, but I get very excited with 60 Blu-Rays to open when I get in from Work! (Family are kind enough to come over on the day they are due!) I can't afford to miss them!

[master gandhi]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

we are seeing the opposite. Two years ago, our biggest store (HMV) looked dead. Now, it is stacked with Bluray and even Vinyl!

Yeah, those stores are fun to be in. It's all about movies and music. No nonsense (unlike Best Buy, Target and Wal-Mart, which sell a lot more than just those things). Having three major brick & mortar chains here that offer movies and even exclusives isn't too bad, though. And they're readily available in and around major cities too.

But I used to think Best Buy was trying to invest in digital (CinemaNow), so they could fall back on it if their stores no longer turned a profit on physical media. Then they sold CinemaNow, and they have nothing to fall back on. I think that maybe bodes well for physical media, or it reveals their ignorance.

CinemaNow is a good name for a digital provider. They should have focused on it more to keep it competitive. Now it's largely forgotten, and FandangoNow is such a similar name, it's just weird to have both of them out there. I'm surprised Fandango didn't buy them too. I guess they couldn't afford to buy both M-Go and CinemaNow. They just liked the Now part, and didn't get in trouble for copying it.

But I digress.

I still say digital is the future, but I just mean that it will continue to grow in popularity and likely become the mainstream option, not that it will cause physical media to die completely. Not everyone is going digital, and some people's internet sucks so bad they really shouldn't bother with digital yet.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by master gandhi

Yeah, those stores are fun to be in. It's all about movies and music. No nonsense (unlike Best Buy, Target and Wal-Mart, which sell a lot more than just those things). Having three major brick & mortar chains here that offer movies and even exclusives isn't too bad, though. And they're readily available in and around major cities too.

But I used to think Best Buy was trying to invest in digital (CinemaNow), so they could fall back on it if their stores no longer turned a profit on physical media. Then they sold CinemaNow, and they have nothing to fall back on. I think that maybe bodes well for physical media, or it reveals their ignorance.

CinemaNow is a good name for a digital provider. They should have focused on it more to keep it competitive. Now it's largely forgotten, and FandangoNow is such a similar name, it's just weird to have both of them out there. I'm surprised Fandango didn't buy them too. I guess they couldn't afford to buy both M-Go and CinemaNow. They just liked the Now part, and didn't get in trouble for copying it.

But I digress.

I still say digital is the future, but I just mean that it will continue to grow in popularity and likely become the mainstream option, not that it will cause physical media to die completely. Not everyone is going digital, and some people's internet sucks so bad they really shouldn't bother with digital yet.

It's just not the same. It really isn't. i don't see myself EVER going digital for purchases.

[master gandhi]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

I get all the discs at once! It's sad to admit, but I get very excited with 60 Blu-Rays to open when I get in from Work! (Family are kind enough to come over on the day they are due!) I can't afford to miss them!

Originally Posted by Steedeel

It's just not the same. It really isn't. i don't see myself EVER going digital for purchases.

So those 60 movies really are all at once each year? What gave you the idea to do it that way (Black Friday sales?)? I simply couldn't be satisfied with a single batch of movies once each year. Part of the thrill is adding something new to my collection. Yes, watching them is the primary purpose. But adding them is part of the fun too, whether that's physically or digitally. If I waited the whole year to buy my movies, I'd have compiled a list in the hundreds. Either that, or I'd be over collecting after a year without doing so has gone by.

I can understand not liking digital. I wasn't very interested in it a year ago. Didn't see much of the appeal. Then when I realized I could get an early digital copy when I preordered certain Blu-rays through Best Buy (that's over now, but Wal-Mart still does it), my whole outlook changed. I then saw my codes included with my Blu-rays as a nice bonus. A way to watch movies in HD on a TV without always needing the disc. I thought, what if I move into a house with two stories where the physical collection is on another story, or I want guests to have access to movies in a guest room without having to rifle through my discs?

My mind went these places, so I redeemed every code in my collection. It took days. Just when I thought I was done, I'd discover that there were also movies in my collection with codes that didn't say so on the outer packaging. Then the first digital purchase I made was when I saw Watchmen (theatrical cut) on sale for $4.99 on Vudu. I thought, oh cool, that cut was never released to Blu-ray! Then I got Panic Room (also never released to Blu-ray), and I became a man obsessed. Heh. At first, I was only getting digital exclusives, but that didn't last long.

It probably took this thread and our discussions to see how much my mindset had changed over the past year. I had gotten to a point where I decided to go all-digital. I went from being all about Blu-ray to all about digital. Now I'm into balancing the two. There's room for both in my movie-obsessed life. And I've always been good about remembering what I have in my collection, and in which version, so I have no trouble recalling whether I have something on disc-only or Vudu-only or iTunes-only or all three.

But really, I mostly watch digitally. My first instinct used to be to look over my movie shelves for something to watch. Now I'm mostly scrolling through a list on my TV. It's an unexpected change. It's not necessarily better or worse than before I adopted (adapted to?) digital. It's mostly just different.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by master gandhi

So those 60 movies really are all at once each year? What gave you the idea to do it that way (Black Friday sales?)? I simply couldn't be satisfied with a single batch of movies once each year. Part of the thrill is adding something new to my collection. Yes, watching them is the primary purpose. But adding them is part of the fun too, whether that's physically or digitally. If I waited the whole year to buy my movies, I'd have compiled a list in the hundreds. Either that, or I'd be over collecting after a year without doing so has gone by.

I can understand not liking digital. I wasn't very interested in it a year ago. Didn't see much of the appeal. Then when I realized I could get an early digital copy when I preordered certain Blu-rays through Best Buy (that's over now, but Wal-Mart still does it), my whole outlook changed. I then saw my codes included with my Blu-rays as a nice bonus. A way to watch movies in HD on a TV without always needing the disc. I thought, what if I move into a house with two stories where the physical collection is on another story, or I want guests to have access to movies in a guest room without having to rifle through my discs?

My mind went these places, so I redeemed every code in my collection. It took days. Just when I thought I was done, I'd discover that there were also movies in my collection with codes that didn't say so on the outer packaging. Then the first digital purchase I made was when I saw Watchmen (theatrical cut) on sale for $4.99 on Vudu. I thought, oh cool, that cut was never released to Blu-ray! Then I got Panic Room (also never released to Blu-ray), and I became a man obsessed. Heh. At first, I was only getting digital exclusives, but that didn't last long.

It probably took this thread and our discussions to see how much my mindset had changed over the past year. I had gotten to a point where I decided to go all-digital. I went from being all about Blu-ray to all about digital. Now I'm into balancing the two. There's room for both in my movie-obsessed life. And I've always been good about remembering what I have in my collection, and in which version, so I have no trouble recalling whether I have something on disc-only or Vudu-only or iTunes-only or all three.

But really, I mostly watch digitally. My first instinct used to be to look over my movie shelves for something to watch. Now I'm mostly scrolling through a list on my TV. It's an unexpected change. It's not necessarily better or worse than before I adopted (adapted to?) digital. It's mostly just different.

It requires patience but I buy all the discs I want from that year at the end of the year. It means I am one year behind you guys but I always avoid spoilers in reviews. I have one film a week to watch until next December! so while you guys will be hyped for the latest films, I will be hyped for them next year.

For Example, The Conjuring 2 will be next years batch because it won't be out until October-November. I work through my discs and then start afresh in January. The one exception was Creed which I saw at the cinema.

I limit myself to 60 because it stops me getting carried away.

Oh and I know! It's very quirky.

[master gandhi]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

It requires patience but I buy all the discs I want from that year at the end of the year. It means I am one year behind you guys but I always avoid spoilers in reviews. I have one film a week to watch until next December! so while you guys will be hyped for the latest films, I will be hyped for them next year.

For Example, The Conjuring 2 will be next years batch because it won't be out until October-November. I work through my discs and then start afresh in January. The one exception was Creed which I saw at the cinema.

I limit myself to 60 because it stops me getting carried away.

Oh and I know! It's very quirky.

Sure it seems quirky to someone who purchases multiple movies each month with little self-control (me), but it does sound like a good way to watch everything in your collection. There are many movies I haven't watched yet, because I have no system in place. My wife and I thought about just going through the collection alphabetically, but that idea didn't stick. It's tough to stick to a plan. Kudos to you!

[wolfpackTri]

I got London Has Fallen and the new X-Files on disc last night because I wanted to have them on disc. London Has Fallen was added to my UV account too.

[Krizzle1]

Someone said something along the lines of 'its a good feeling, going into a store and browsing movies, just being there having the physical in your hand' and stee you're saying dont buy from HMV?

I find it a little weird, (i might be treading different ground here) but shouldnt physical disc owners support stores that sell physical discs? Its another push (factor) that is promoting digital, if less and less people go to the stores to buy their physical discs, stores will be forced to close, it'll end up being an online store, isnt that one of the reasons why CD stores closed? I mean there are still people who loved going to the 'record' stores just to browse.

Im probably rambling here, and cant really get my point across online, but i think the people that still buy blurays should support the stores and buy from there

[master gandhi]

Originally Posted by Krizzle1

Someone said something along the lines of 'its a good feeling, going into a store and browsing movies, just being there having the physical in your hand' and stee you're saying dont buy from HMV?

I find it a little weird, (i might be treading different ground here) but shouldnt physical disc owners support stores that sell physical discs? Its another push (factor) that is promoting digital, if less and less people go to the stores to buy their physical discs, stores will be forced to close, it'll end up being an online store, isnt that one of the reasons why CD stores closed? I mean there are still people who loved going to the 'record' stores just to browse.

Im probably rambling here, and cant really get my point across online, but i think the people that still buy blurays should support the stores and buy from there

I see where you're going with that, and I have to admit that the same thing did cross my mind when Steedeel mentioned buying everything online, but it slipped my mind moments later. Heh

Yes, it does seem like a domino effect. People stop buying in stores. Stores close. People shop only online. Companies decide that people don't need physical stores or physical media. Digital prevails.

But really, they may not stop making physical media just because everyone buys online. They can still see whether people are buying physical media online or digital. They wouldn't just discontinue something that people are buying in large quantities just because they're not going to a store for it. However, it does still have an effect on the culture if everyone is buying online. It basically changes how retail works, not necessarily the media that is being sold.

[tob]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Don't use it mate. I just order my entire bulk off Amazon. HMV are a bit expensive. Use Amazon UK, USA and Amazon DE.

The same here i have to order what i want online.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by master gandhi

I see where you're going with that, and I have to admit that the same thing did cross my mind when Steedeel mentioned buying everything online, but it slipped my mind moments later. Heh

Yes, it does seem like a domino effect. People stop buying in stores. Stores close. People shop only online. Companies decide that people don't need physical stores or physical media. Digital prevails.

But really, they may not stop making physical media just because everyone buys online. They can still see whether people are buying physical media online or digital. They wouldn't just discontinue something that people are buying in large quantities just because they're not going to a store for it. However, it does still have an effect on the culture if everyone is buying online. It basically changes how retail works, not necessarily the media that is being sold.

Ok, I will answer both posts here. First of all, I have never mentioned stores and browsing.

A lot of discs I buy simply are not available in store. Come Cani Arrabbiati, The Brutes (ultra rare) Hitch Hike etc.. How would I get them instore? Also, the discs are slightly cheaper on Amazon a lot of the time.
Stores are good, many people are still using them, for me I can get all my content through different versions of Amazon.

Finally, many people buy games digitally, as game lovers shouldn't they be buying all their content from stores?

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by master gandhi

I see where you're going with that, and I have to admit that the same thing did cross my mind when Steedeel mentioned buying everything online, but it slipped my mind moments later. Heh

Yes, it does seem like a domino effect. People stop buying in stores. Stores close. People shop only online. Companies decide that people don't need physical stores or physical media. Digital prevails.

But really, they may not stop making physical media just because everyone buys online. They can still see whether people are buying physical media online or digital. They wouldn't just discontinue something that people are buying in large quantities just because they're not going to a store for it. However, it does still have an effect on the culture if everyone is buying online. It basically changes how retail works, not necessarily the media that is being sold.

It's you guys that are killing stores by buying digital films. HMV could go online only and it still wouldn't stop that.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Krizzle1

Someone said something along the lines of 'its a good feeling, going into a store and browsing movies, just being there having the physical in your hand' and stee you're saying dont buy from HMV?

I find it a little weird, (i might be treading different ground here) but shouldnt physical disc owners support stores that sell physical discs? Its another push (factor) that is promoting digital, if less and less people go to the stores to buy their physical discs, stores will be forced to close, it'll end up being an online store, isnt that one of the reasons why CD stores closed? I mean there are still people who loved going to the 'record' stores just to browse.

Im probably rambling here, and cant really get my point across online, but i think the people that still buy blurays should support the stores and buy from there

Where did I say don't buy from HMV?

[master gandhi]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Where did I say don't buy from HMV?

You said you order your entire bulk off Amazon, so yes, you said you don't use HMV, it's expensive.

We're not the ones who are anti-digital, but I'm not all-digital. Not anymore. Not for now. I was that way for a moment, but I'm balancing it now. So I'm supporting both types of media, and I still buy movies from Barnes & Noble, Best Buy, Costco, Target and Wal-Mart. Plus Amazon. They are hard to resist, just like digital (Amazon has been putting brick & mortar out of business, just like digital takes away from physical media).

In the end, I'm supporting movies in general. So are you. We do it however we see fit.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by master gandhi

You said you order your entire bulk off Amazon, so yes, you said you don't use HMV, it's expensive.

We're not the ones who are anti-digital, but I'm not all-digital. Not anymore. Not for now. I was that way for a moment, but I'm balancing it now. So I'm supporting both types of media, and I still buy movies from Barnes & Noble, Best Buy, Costco, Target and Wal-Mart. Plus Amazon. They are hard to resist, just like digital (Amazon has been putting brick & mortar out of business, just like digital takes away from physical media).

In the end, I'm supporting movies in general. So are you. We do it however we see fit.

No, I said I don't buy from HMV. Not don't buy from HMV.

[master gandhi]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

No, I said I don't buy from HMV. Not don't buy from HMV.

I see. But what if everyone wants to be like you, you trendsetter? Heh

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by master gandhi

I see. But what if everyone wants to be like you, you trendsetter? Heh

On the flip side, we wouldn't have boutique labels such as the excellent Camera Obscura or Arrow? (That's the key thing for me from using Amazon)

[Krizzle1]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Ok, I will answer both posts here. First of all, I have never mentioned stores and browsing.

I never said you did

Originally Posted by Steedeel

A lot of discs I buy simply are not available in store. Come Cani Arrabbiati, The Brutes (ultra rare) Hitch Hike etc.. How would I get them instore? Also, the discs are slightly cheaper on Amazon a lot of the time.

That's understandable if you cant find those titles in store

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Finally, many people buy games digitally, as game lovers shouldn't they be buying all their content from stores?

You might've got me there on that one

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Krizzle1

I never said you did



That's understandable if you cant find those titles in store



You might've got me there on that one

you know it!

I do browse the Apple Store! Love me some Apple.