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

[cheez avenger]

Yeah, I went nuts this Black Friday and beyond. Haven't gone "nuts" on BF in years.

[CV19]

Originally Posted by gotmule

Pan and scan was an abomination

I couldn't agree more - I hated it. Back in the days of VHS, I would always buy a widescreen version if it was available, even though I didn't have a widescreen TV at the time. I remember buying the Alien films (despite already owning the pan and scan versions), and then the war film The Longest Day. I'm sure there were a couple of others as well but I can't recall which ones.

DVD's were a godsend for me as not only would I enjoy a film in a much higher quality than what VHS could offer, but I'd also watch them in the ratio they were intended to be seen.

[bhampton]

Originally Posted by crutzulee

Damn Black Friday sales...I had no intention of upgrading my projector until lasers came into my wheelhouse... but the price point of the lamp based NP5 just came in under what I was willing to pay for a used unit... and with 2 extra bulbs...aagghhh!

Wow congratulations! What a beautiful machine!

[Show spoiler]

I've said it before but I meant it, You have great taste in Home Theater equipment.

Good Review Here...

https://www.projectorcentral.com/JVC...tor-Review.htm

Best of luck with this new projector. I'm so happy for you !

[Wendell R. Breland]

Just received my UHD Blu-ray copies of Watchmen The Ultimate Cut (WB) and The Terminator (MGM). Watchmen did not contain any digital code and when I redeemed The Terminator at wb.com it did so at Fandango. MGM used to let me select between Apple or Fandango.

Doesn’t really matter that much to me but there appears to be a change in the air in terms of digital codes being provided with disc in the US. For those that know, is the US the only country where digital codes are provided with disc purchase?

[crutzulee]

Originally Posted by bhampton

Wow congratulations! What a beautiful machine!

[Show spoiler]

I've said it before but I meant it, You have great taste in Home Theater equipment.

Good Review Here...

https://www.projectorcentral.com/JVC...tor-Review.htm

Best of luck with this new projector. I'm so happy for you !

Oh broski.... thanks for all the kind words... but i haven't actually pulled the trigger yet..lol...

I've been kicking tires and planning a strategy for mini upgrades to my current HT while keeping an eye towards the eventual new build "from the ground up" in the "retirement " home...$5k (CDN) was the threshold for any projector upgrade for the current home (much higher budget for the next) and the NP just slots under this...I have until Dec 31st to decide and do some more intense research ( initial reading is that this may actually be a step backwards in black level... which just can't be right)...
I hate that their offering 0%financing as that's against my religion..lol... maybe I can finagle a better cash price..

[crutzulee]

Originally Posted by CV19

I couldn't agree more - I hated it. Back in the days of VHS, I would always buy a widescreen version if it was available, even though I didn't have a widescreen TV at the time. I remember buying the Alien films (despite already owning the pan and scan versions), and then the war film The Longest Day. I'm sure there were a couple of others as well but I can't recall which ones.

DVD's were a godsend for me as not only would I enjoy a film in a much higher quality than what VHS could offer, but I'd also watch them in the ratio they were intended to be seen.

As a lifelong film lover, I would catch a favourite movie multiple times in the theater on it's original run as the home presentation suffered in comparison in my estimation specifically because of aspect ratio...
When LaserDisc pivotted towards offering OAR, amongst other enthusiast goodies, in a bid to stay relevant against VHS, my interest in Home Theater and, for a brief time being a "collector ", began...

I was cured of the collector side of things when LaserDisc and Vinyl gave way to DVDs and CDs with their rinkydink packaging..lol..

[Wendell R. Breland]

Originally Posted by crutzulee

I was cured of the collector side of things when LaserDisc and Vinyl gave way to DVDs and CDs with their rinkydink packaging..lol..

I thought only us southerners in the US used such descriptive words!

[crutzulee]

Originally Posted by Wendell R. Breland

I thought only us southerners in the US used such descriptive words!

My dad was from Tulsa, Oklahoma... I didn't know him well... but I guess some of it rubbed off...

[CV19]

Originally Posted by crutzulee

I was cured of the collector side of things when LaserDisc and Vinyl gave way to DVDs and CDs with their rinkydink packaging..lol..

Rinkydink.....that's a great word. I'll have to remember that one.

Basically I was collecting two things when I started working in 1985 - VHS and CD's. I had quite a substantial collection of films that I bought over the years, and I got lots of enjoyment out of them despite their dubious presentation - in those days there wasn't really much choice unless you bought laser discs, which I doubt I would have been able to afford in my early years.

Even on TV, films were always broadcast in pan and scan until around the early 90's when some channels began to screen films in their original format. But I certainly remember one or two people complaining about the black bars at the top and bottom of the screen. It was quite funny really looking back on it now.

[alchav21]

Costco is cutting back on Books in 2025, only carry them during the Holidays...What do you guys think?

https://www.bing.com/search?q=costco...tsg=1&hsmssg=0

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by alchav21

Costco is cutting back on Books in 2025, only carry them during the Holidays...What do you guys think?

https://www.bing.com/search?q=costco...tsg=1&hsmssg=0

Does this mean that physical books are dying (again)?

Wait a minute. I don't even have a Costco membership AND I don't know how to read, anyway. Guess I'm good then.

[alchav21]

Originally Posted by Vilya

Does this mean that physical books are dying (again)?

Wait a minute. I don't even have a Costco membership AND I don't know how to read, anyway. Guess I'm good then.

The Boomers love Costco, and I have been a member for Decades. I'm also a Stock Holder, and it's strong keeps climbing now close to a $1000 a share. They have a good idea on what sells and what doesn't!

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by alchav21

The Boomers love Costco, and I have been a member for Decades. I'm also a Stock Holder, and it's strong keeps climbing now close to a $1000 a share. They have a good idea on what sells and what doesn't!

Nearest Costco to me is 93 miles away, so not even remotely practical for me to join. Plus, these type of stores are too gigantic for me to walk through given my circumstances.

I can't contribute to the success of their stock. You'll have to get rich without any help from me.

[bhampton]

I have a BJ's Cost Club near but no Costco.

Bj's has books but only very flash in the pan popular ones and not many at all.

I think specific things like books and movies are going mostly online where it's easier to distribute them.

[bhampton]

Originally Posted by crutzulee

Oh broski.... thanks for all the kind words... but i haven't actually pulled the trigger yet..lol...

I've been kicking tires and planning a strategy for mini upgrades to my current HT while keeping an eye towards the eventual new build "from the ground up" in the "retirement " home...$5k (CDN) was the threshold for any projector upgrade for the current home (much higher budget for the next) and the NP just slots under this...I have until Dec 31st to decide and do some more intense research ( initial reading is that this may actually be a step backwards in black level... which just can't be right)...
I hate that their offering 0%financing as that's against my religion..lol... maybe I can finagle a better cash price..

Well, Now or later are both great times to upgrade.

I'm in my forever home with UHD BD, an 8K laser JVC front projector, and 7.2.4 ATMOS setup. I would have to double check but I believe this is maybe my 8th projector so it took a while but I guess that's what happens over 25 years. My first projector was purchased in the 1900s. This is the first projector I purchased new at FFF. (Retail or Full ####me Fee as I often say. There was a discount for pre orders.)

Projectors tend to get better and cheaper. One fun thing about a bulb projector of course is being able to change the bulb. I use my projector and home theater everyday. There is a service center designated and when the time comes I will have to see if it makes sense to replace the Laser or upgrade to a 3 laser unit or simply another newer unit with some other better spec.

I hope to have to deal with those types of decisions someday.


-Brian

[stonesfan129]

I decided to get the Ashoka 4KBD steelbook and The Wild Robot BD from Walmart while I was there Xmas shopping yesterday (didn't realize I had an unused $100 gift card from my birthday last year). Watched disc 1 of Asokha which froze up in my LG UBK90. I honestly think that player is on its last leg. Wiped the disc all down, same thing, froze in the same spot. Got my Xbox One S out of the basement, put it in there, played through flawlessly. Surprised Walmart didn't have The Wild Robot 4KBD on the shelf at all. Like just wasn't even sold in store for some reason. Plenty of BD copies and plenty of Ashoka 4K steels.

[bhampton]

Re-organizing my movie collection today I found I had not redeemed a code for Dirty Dancing and was pleasantly surprised Lionsgate still offered it in iTunes format.

It has been difficult to redeem iTunes DCs on my M1 Mac Mini because iTunes doesn't exist but now the Lionsgate redeem page posts the iTunes code so it's much easier.

I realized also that I have almost twice as many movies in iTunes (1404) as I do on UHD BD (792). I have to stop slacking and buy more movies !!

My goal for 2025 is to get to 1000 UHD BDs !

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by bhampton

My first projector was purchased in the 1900s.

-Brian

That means you are at least 115-124 years old!

I am going to guess that you bought your first projector when you were 9 years old in the year 1909.

[Show spoiler]The 1900s can be defined as either 1900-1909 or as 1900-1999; in this case the former is more interesting and therefore must be true.

[bhampton]

Originally Posted by Vilya

That means you are at least 115-124 years old!

I am going to guess that you bought your first projector when you were 9 years old in the year 1909.

[Show spoiler]The 1900s can be defined as either 1900-1909 or as 1900-1999; in this case the former is more interesting and therefore must be true.

1999 ? ....

I guess that is a bit ambiguous, I consider 1999 part of the 1900's. But anyway, I meant 1999.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by bhampton

1999 ? ....

I guess that is a bit ambiguous, I consider 1999 part of the 1900's. But anyway, I meant 1999.

1999 is a part of the 1900s. It does not change the fact that you bought your first projector at the age of 9 in the year 1909.