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

[PenguinMaster]

Originally Posted by PCFan

You don't have a choice whether to go digital or physical for PC games these days. Most PC games require an account to play and an internet connection to install. If you are a hardcore PC gamer you will end up having multiple accounts for various PC games. Only a few physical PC games can be bought at a retail store but you still end up having them tied to an account during the installation process by entering a serial key that came packaged with the game. Once they are tied to your account, you can't resell them. With console games, you are not forced to buy digital. However, at least the graphics are better on PC games provided you have powerful enough hardware.

That's why I stick with console games. I'm willing to deal with worse graphics in order to avoid online DRM.

[PCFan]

Originally Posted by PenguinMaster

That's why I stick with console games. I'm willing to deal with worse graphics in order to avoid online DRM.

Have your ever bought DLC for any of your console games? DLC has DRM even on consoles. You can't buy DLC on disc for even for console games and DLC must be bought digitally for console games and tied to user's account.

[PenguinMaster]

Originally Posted by PCFan

Have your ever bought DLC for any of your console games?

No.

[alchav21]

Originally Posted by alchav21

I keep telling these guys this will be the way of The Future, putting your Movies on Servers. K-Scape had their problems because they just charged too much, your set up is also costly but I think Streaming Providers can set up these Servers at a reasonable cost to their Customers. Your Server is on your Home Network, but I think they can be set up in your ISP or Community Intranet. With the proper Codec a 1:1 Video and Audio Quality could be achieved.

Originally Posted by PenguinMaster

Exactly. With that scenario there would be three options:

A) Spend thousands of dollars on hard drives to store your collection.
B) Select each movie hours before you want to watch it so it has time to download.
C) Spend thousands of dollars per year on a fast internet connection.

So you either spend way more time waiting for downloads than it would take to insert a disc or you spend way more money than it would take to buy a disc. How are those options superior to disc?

I don't know about Gamers, but I guess a Local Server would work out too. I'm not talking about Downloading Movies, because The Studios really don't like that, that's why the Downloads will be compressed and of lesser quality. While Streaming Movies the BitRate will be the same as Reading and Streaming from Disc. You will need a fast Internet Connection, and Fiber will be the Gold Standard.

[PenguinMaster]

Originally Posted by alchav21

I don't know about Gamers, but I guess a Local Server would work out too. I'm not talking about Downloading Movies, because The Studios really don't like that, that's why the Downloads will be compressed and of lesser quality. While Streaming Movies the BitRate will be the same as Reading and Streaming from Disc. You will need a fast Internet Connection, and Fiber will be the Gold Standard.

Do you take into account the price you're paying for internet when you calculate the cost of your movies? An internet connection that can consistently and reliably stream Ultra HD Blu-ray bitrates will cost over a hundred dollars per month.

And what if you live with multiple people who want to watch other high bitrate movies at the same time? That'll raise the price even higher.

[alchav21]

Originally Posted by alchav21

I don't know about Gamers, but I guess a Local Server would work out too. I'm not talking about Downloading Movies, because The Studios really don't like that, that's why the Downloads will be compressed and of lesser quality. While Streaming Movies the BitRate will be the same as Reading and Streaming from Disc. You will need a fast Internet Connection, and Fiber will be the Gold Standard.

Originally Posted by PenguinMaster

Do you take into account the price you're paying for internet when you calculate the cost of your movies? An internet connection that can consistently and reliably stream Ultra HD Blu-ray bitrates will cost over a hundred dollars per month.

And what if you live with multiple people who want to watch other high bitrate movies at the same time? That'll raise the price even higher.

Yes, you're right I'm lucky to have Fiber now and it's not cheap but I also have IPTV. It's just a matter of priorities, Utah happens to be the 6th State with the fastest Internet Speeds behind Washington D.C. and some New England States. People are just starting to wake up to the fact that Streaming Video, and a fast Internet Connection are going to be essential. I keep saying that Copper is Obsolete, and our Infrastructure has to be Fiber. There were three Major Companies that could provide this, but Google dropped out leaving only AT&T and Verizon. Now the big hope is Wireless 5g, but that has limitations. We are headed for a Digital Future, but people have to set there Priorities.

[randian]

Originally Posted by alchav21

I keep saying that Copper is Obsolete, and our Infrastructure has to be Fiber. There were three Major Companies that could provide this, but Google dropped out leaving only AT&T and Verizon.

Verizon has pretty much dropped out too, they stopped expanding FIOS years ago and have sold off much of their FIOS assets.

[PenguinMaster]

Originally Posted by alchav21

People are just starting to wake up to the fact that Streaming Video, and a fast Internet Connection are going to be essential.

Neither streaming video nor a fast internet connection are essential. But you can't have streaming video without a fast internet connection so that's what makes streaming video so expensive.

[alchav21]

Originally Posted by alchav21

I keep saying that Copper is Obsolete, and our Infrastructure has to be Fiber. There were three Major Companies that could provide this, but Google dropped out leaving only AT&T and Verizon. Now the big hope is Wireless 5g, but that has limitations. We are headed for a Digital Future, but people have to set there Priorities.

Originally Posted by randian

Verizon has pretty much dropped out too, they stopped expanding FIOS years ago and have sold off much of their FIOS assets.

You're correct, and I hope Verizon wakes up, they sold some of their Wireline to Frontier. Verizon is in Trials with 5g, hoping this will take the place of their Wireline. Like I said, we are headed for an all Digital World with Streaming Video and Cloud Services. For Business and Home this will require a lot of Bandwidth that only Fiber could accommodate. In my estimation Wireless 5g will just be an interim solution for areas not served by Fiber, and Remote Devices.

[alchav21]

Originally Posted by alchav21

People are just starting to wake up to the fact that Streaming Video, and a fast Internet Connection are going to be essential.

Originally Posted by PenguinMaster

Neither streaming video nor a fast internet connection are essential. But you can't have streaming video without a fast internet connection so that's what makes streaming video so expensive.

Well Penguin I think you hit the nail on the head. Stay with Obsolete Disc and Copper with Slow Internet, or Advance into The Future with Streaming Video and Cloud Services on Fast Fiber!

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by alchav21

Well Penguin I think you hit the nail on the head. Stay with Obsolete Disc and Copper with Slow Internet, or Advance into The Future with Streaming Video and Cloud Services on Fast Fiber!

See that's just a troll post IMO. There is absolutely nothing obsolete about disc, in fact it will probably outlast Digital HD. Just like CD will probably outlast ITunes MP3 downloads. Not many predicted that now did they?

[Greyman]

Originally Posted by alchav21

Well Penguin I think you hit the nail on the head. Stay with Obsolete Disc and Copper with Slow Internet, or Advance into The Future with Streaming Video and Cloud Services on Fast Fiber!

Copper is not obsolete for millions of people.

[Texan26]

Originally Posted by PenguinMaster

Neither streaming video nor a fast internet connection are essential. But you can't have streaming video without a fast internet connection so that's what makes streaming video so expensive.

But how much would you have to pay on physical media to watch what people see per month on Netflix and Hulu? The cost of binge watching shows on TV on DVD and blu-ray would be way higher. Most people wouldn't even bother because of the cost. I pay about $60 a month for internet and Netflix, Hulu, Shudder, and Vudu HDX work fine. I paid about $40 per month for internet before all the HD streaming services came out. But I also paid over $120 a month for HD cable with a DVR. Got rid of cable and quit paying $30 to $50 for each TV On DVD/blu-ray seasons that came out.

[PenguinMaster]

Originally Posted by Texan26

But how much would you have to pay on physical media to watch what people see per month on Netflix and Hulu? The cost of binge watching shows on TV on DVD and blu-ray would be way higher. Most people wouldn't even bother because of the cost. I pay about $60 a month for internet and Netflix, Hulu, Shudder, and Vudu HDX work fine. I paid about $40 per month for internet before all the HD streaming services came out. But I also paid over $120 a month for HD cable with a DVR. Got rid of cable and quit paying $30 to $50 for each TV On DVD/blu-ray seasons that came out.

Nothing on Netflix or Hulu is permanent so they should be compared to rentals, not purchases. At most that should cost $5 per season, not $30-$50.

[alchav21]

Originally Posted by alchav21

Well Penguin I think you hit the nail on the head. Stay with Obsolete Disc and Copper with Slow Internet, or Advance into The Future with Streaming Video and Cloud Services on Fast Fiber!

Originally Posted by Steedeel

See that's just a troll post IMO. There is absolutely nothing obsolete about disc, in fact it will probably outlast Digital HD. Just like CD will probably outlast ITunes MP3 downloads. Not many predicted that now did they?

No need for Name Calling I'm just the messenger, Penguin called it, Disc and Copper is on the way out. I know we still use both, but those days are numbered. I still use CD's, but new cars don't have them anymore. Time and Technology just moves on, and all we can do is try and keep up.

[Texan26]

Originally Posted by PenguinMaster

Nothing on Netflix or Hulu is permanent so they should be compared to rentals not purchases. For anything you can't rent you can instead buy it and then sell it when you're done. At most that should cost $5 per season, not $30-$50.

I know it's not permanent. It's like renting thousands of movies and tv shows at a very low price. I and many people don't have time to rewatch a tv show anyways since there's always something new to watch. So you actually think it's better for people to go through the inconvenience of buying and then reselling physical media? That was always a hassle. I remember buying Mad Men season 1 on DVD when it first came out because it got such great reviews. It wasn't my cup of tea so I had to resell it on eBay. Probably still lost about $15. With Netflix, I could have saved money and hassle. With netflix and hulu, I easily start watching a show and if I don't like it right away just move on the next one.

There are so many movies and tv shows I would have never seen if it wasn't for services like Netflix, hulu, and Shudder. I love horror movies and there are so many titles that I would have never taken a chance on with the cost of renting it or buying it on physical media.

[PCFan]

Originally Posted by alchav21

No need for Name Calling I'm just the messenger, Penguin called it, Disc and Copper is on the way out. I know we still use both, but those days are numbered. I still use CD's, but new cars don't have them anymore. Time and Technology just moves on, and all we can do is try and keep up.

You can still rip CD's you own to to WAV to your hard drive and there you go, you have a digital lossless version of the CD you own.

[flyry]

Originally Posted by PenguinMaster

Do you take into account the price you're paying for internet when you calculate the cost of your movies?

This is silly logic as internet is a necessity for most these days. Are you going to add your monthly internet cost for when you pre-order a blu-ray on amazon?

Originally Posted by Steedeel

See that's just a troll post IMO. There is absolutely nothing obsolete about disc, in fact it will probably outlast Digital HD. Just like CD will probably outlast ITunes MP3 downloads. Not many predicted that now did they?

Streaming has replaced digital purchases for music. I predict streaming will still be around 20 years from now. I'd be really surprised if the CD is.

I feel the same way about movies as well.

[PenguinMaster]

Originally Posted by flyry

This is silly logic as internet is a necessity for most these days. Are you going to add your monthly internet cost for when you pre-order a blu-ray on amazon?

Internet is a necessity, but fast internet is not. I pay less than $30 per month for internet (for a household of 4 people). If you're paying more than that it's because you need faster speeds for streaming. The extra cost should therefore be factored in as an added expense for streaming.

Originally Posted by flyry

Streaming has replaced digital purchases for music. I predict streaming will still be around 20 years from now. I'd be really surprised if the CD is.

People said CDs were dead 10 years ago but they (and vinyl) still make up about 28% of the market. I'd be really surprised if they were gone in 20 years.

[flyry]

Originally Posted by PenguinMaster

Internet is a necessity, but fast internet is not. I pay less than $30 per month for internet (for a household of 4 people). If you're paying more than that it's because you need faster speeds for streaming. The extra cost should therefore be factored in as an added expense for streaming.



People said CDs were dead 10 years ago but they (and vinyl) still make up about 28% of the market. I'd be really surprised if they were gone in 20 years.

Is that broadband speed you're paying for?


And you are being a bit hyperbolic. Yes CD sales might have started slowing 10 years ago but the first smartphone had not even come out yet 10 years ago today.


and now streaming has become the major player music wise. Spotify didn't even exist then either. That's why billboard started counting streams last year.

I do realize that vinyl has come back for the hipsters but in general buying a CD is no longer en vogue, for better or worse. Same for movies.

My younger co-workers look at me like an alien for still purchasing movies.