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

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by flyry

And some of the anti-physical you posted are not fear mongering, but facts

The only bullet point you highlighted was:

Fires and floods will wipe out your collection.

This statement is not actually factual as it states with certainty that disc owners will be the victims of both fires and floods, plural of each no less, and that these will destroy our collections entirely. If the word "will" was replaced with the word "could", then it would be a true statement- tecnically, as the odds of being a victim of both events must be astoundingly small.

It should be stated as: A fire or a flood could wipe out your collection. As could a tornado, hurricane, earthquake, tsunami, thieves, and never discount the threat of a ninja raid.

Sure, we could be the victims of one, or more, of these disasters, but the odds are quite low. Most of us will never be the victims of any of them. Even if we are victims of one, or more, such tragedies, our collections might even survive the event, in whole or in part. Not every fire, nor every flood, etc., results in the total loss of one's property.

No one can say for a fact that any of us will be the victim of any disaster, yet alone a disaster that destroys entirely a specific part of our property or, worse still, all of our property.

It is not a fact as quoted. It is not a certainty that we will fall victim to either of these events, yet alone both of them. The risk of a fire or a flood resulting in significant property loss is very small and that risk can be managed with emergency preparedness and by having appropriate levels of insurance.

[Wendell R. Breland]

Originally Posted by PenguinInfinity

That could go the other way too. Just think of what practices could be commonplace in the future that aren't now.

Did VUDU go black in the EU recently? Anyone from the EU confirm or deny?

[Wendell R. Breland]

Originally Posted by PenguinInfinity

My trips to Amazon.com confirm that physical media continues to sell great, it's just being bought online.

I suppose because Toys-R-Us is gone we can no longer buy dolls and toys . With so many Sears closed, stoves and washers must be on the way out .

Apparently some here has never bothered to look at Amazon, BB, Target, Walmart, Deep Discount, DVD Empire, DVD Planet, etc. for physical media .

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Wendell R. Breland

I suppose because Toys-R-Us is gone we can no longer buy dolls and toys . With so many Sears closed, stoves and washers must be on the way out .

Apparently some here has never bothered to look at Amazon, BB, Target, Walmart, Deep Discount, DVD Empire, DVD Planet, etc. for physical media .

Agreed, although it’s quite difficult getting my purchases sorted what with the closures of several sex shops.

[Show spoiler]Yes, that’s a joke for anyone in doubt

[Groot]

Originally Posted by Wendell R. Breland

I suppose because Toys-R-Us is gone we can no longer buy dolls and toys . With so many Sears closed, stoves and washers must be on the way out .

Apparently some here has never bothered to look at Amazon, BB, Target, Walmart, Deep Discount, DVD Empire, DVD Planet, etc. for physical media .

Or some of us no longer want to?

It's midnight, I wanna watch Halloween 5 but don't own it. Do I wait a few days or a week for my late night Paul Rudd fix or do I just pay $5 on VUDU and watch it right now and bask in the glory of baby Rudd?

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Groot

Or some of us no longer want to?

It's midnight, I wanna watch Halloween 5 but don't own it. Do I wait a few days or a week for my late night Paul Rudd fix or do I just pay $5 on VUDU and watch it right now and bask in the glory of baby Rudd?

That’s not the point Groot. The post was in reply to claims that discs are dying because shopping stores are downsizing their stock. Fear mongering essentially.
Disc lovers on here are going to wait a day or two to get the best possible audio and video. That’s just the way it is with us.

[Groot]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

That’s not the point Groot. The post was in reply to claims that discs are dying because shopping stores are downsizing their stock. Fear mongering essentially.
Disc lovers on here are going to wait a day or two to get the best possible audio and video. That’s just the way it is with us.

I got their point. The post went on to say look they're still widely sold at XYZ so it's not dying. I don't care that it's not dying or whatever. A lot of folks, myself included, aren't going to wait a couple days for a disc if the mood hits to watch a movie because we do not have to anymore.

But yeah, if you wanna wait for that top tier low-budget horror disc to get your fix after the mood hits...cool? I'm not going to.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Groot

I got their point. The post went on to say look they're still widely sold at XYZ so it's not dying. I don't care that it's not dying or whatever. A lot of folks, myself included, aren't going to wait a couple days for a disc if the mood hits to watch a movie because we do not have to anymore.

But yeah, if you wanna wait for that top tier low-budget horror disc to get your fix after the mood hits...cool? I'm not going to.

I have a projector, a surround sound system and I have just started 4K. Why would I want sub standard HD and 4K? There is enough entertainment with Netflix, BBC, C4, Sky and Youtube. If I’m watching films, I can wait for the best quality.

[dublinbluray108]

Originally Posted by PenguinInfinity

I don't see the point. What are the advantages of VHS over DVD or Blu-ray? Why would anyone want to rent a VHS tape instead of a DVD or Blu-ray?

If he had plenty of titles that were only available on VHS then that would make sense, but judging from the pictures in the article that's not the case.

Yeah I agree I would like to ask that question too if I'm honest. When I wished this guy the best of luck in his new venture; it was more of cautious optimism. Having so many titles in his collection that are already out DVD & Blu-ray do appear on his part to be a very big risk of failure given most of these titles out these newer formats over several years. It doesn't obtain a proper demand for his venture; it will sound like an unfortunate failure.

My own experience of VHS from my childhood was quite a varied experience. My own family would tape shows off the TV regularly on cable and a fair bit of titles with stuff mostly bought from my late grandparents. But I used to turn up at my local video rental store with my mother looking at various titles on a very regular basis. It was only a five minute walk up from the house. It was a very useful resource looking for new stuff to rent from there on a regular basis for stuff that we didn't like to own because at that time it was real expensive to buy multiple VHS titles in Ireland. It is not there now today obviously; the place turned into an off licence a few years ago while it took two retail units.

When I used VHS at home; the picture quality at that time was the only way to see stuff from that period. It was a great experience with the picture quality that we got before cable. We used to receive a low quality signal from our TV antenna when I was a young kid. It hasn't been a perfect experience when taping stuff off the TV either The tapes getting stuck in the VCR was a bloody nightmare. We had a whole stack of mostly VHS tapes on a shelf our living room wall over the years. It was real crazy stuff to have sit there doing nothing for years by not watching them again. We eventually got rid of most of the tapes in the early noughties. But we still some small amount of titles that is just not being used.

Having to own stuff on DVD & Blu-ray is so much easier to manage from my perspective if you had only bought the stuff that you really liked. And I like the fact that anyone who likes this hobby cannot dismiss you for doing so. It is really a library that suits your own personality which tells us that everyone's personal taste is different. They don't have to be the same to each and every person on the planet because people not mutually exclusive to one other. People like having to take part in different things all the time as it is a harmless hobby that helps them pass the time & doesn't make them go nuts.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by PenguinInfinity

I just looked up Halloween 5. It's not on VUDU and the Amazon Video page has this message: "This title is currently unavailable. Our agreements with the content provider don’t allow purchases of this title at this time."

https://www.amazon.com/Halloween-5-R...dp/B010NCZ3U6/

Looks like it’s a disc rental or purchase Groot?

[Groot]

I meant Halloween 6, the Curse of Michael Myers. I did specifically say PAUL RUDD. How bent do you have to be to go on this sort of fishing expedition? I own it right now in my little VUDU account cause I did want to watch it one night.

And if I wanted it Halloween 5 is on iTunes.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by PenguinInfinity

I just looked up Halloween 5. It's not on VUDU and the Amazon Video page has this message: "This title is currently unavailable. Our agreements with the content provider don’t allow purchases of this title at this time."

https://www.amazon.com/Halloween-5-R...dp/B010NCZ3U6/

Hmmm...my discs never give me messages like that.

While I was experimenting with Netflix, and with Amazon Prime video, I found that a huge number of catalog titles were not available to stream from either one of them. Not just "B" title sequels, but many well known classics and pop culture hits were unavailable on both of these services. With my disc library, it sure is nice to know that if the mood strikes me to watch something from within it, I can. The disc is ready and waiting.

Actually, with Amazon Prime I can have my discs in a single day if I pay an extra $3.99 or in the usual two days at no extra charge. In the meantime, I do have just a few other things I could watch. As spoiled as I am, I can, in fact, wait 24-48 hours to see a movie that I do not yet own.

[Groot]

Originally Posted by Vilya

Hmmm...my discs never give me messages like that.

While I was experimenting with Netflix, and with Amazon Prime video, I found that a huge number of catalog titles were not available to stream from either one of them. Not just "B" title sequels, but many well known classics and pop culture hits were unavailable on both of these services. With my disc library, it sure is nice to know that if the mood strikes me to watch something from within it, I can. The disc is ready and waiting.

Actually, with Amazon Prime I can have my discs in a single day if I pay an extra $3.99 or in the usual two days at no extra charge. In the meantime, I do have just a few other things I could watch.

That isn't the point. My grandma was in a bed I had moved to my living room to help her during her last days. She liked a lot of comedies, Christmas movies, etc. She loved that silly Madea's Christmas. I bought it on digital so she could watch before she passed. I guess I could have waited for that disc to be mailed to me, but no. It was available right then and there.

I'm sitting around with family and friends talking about Halloween, my dad had never seen Halloween 6 with Paul Rudd. I bought it to watch immediately.

Sometimes you can use what is at your fingertips for more than just "ownership" of a film and ya know, be involved with people...enjoying yourself.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by Groot

That isn't the point. My grandma was in a bed I had moved to my living room to help her during her last days. She liked a lot of comedies, Christmas movies, etc. She loved that silly Madea's Christmas. I bought it on digital so she could watch before she passed. I guess I could have waited for that disc to be mailed to me, but no. It was available right then and there.

I'm sitting around with family and friends talking about Halloween, my dad had never seen Halloween 6 with Paul Rudd. I bought it to watch immediately.

Sometimes you can use what is at your fingertips for more than just "ownership" of a film and ya know, be involved with people...enjoying yourself.

In a difficult situation like the one you experienced, I would have done the same thing.

With a collection such as mine there is always something my family or friends want to see. If they were heart set on seeing something I did not own; I would happily do a digital rental if available. When I have guests over, what they want takes priority.

Vudu is going to be my next experiment, actually, but just for rentals of titles that I am on the fence about owning.

[Groot]

Originally Posted by Vilya

In a difficult situation like the one you experienced, I would have done the same thing.

With a collection such as mine there is always something my family or friends want to see. If they were heart set on seeing something I did not own; I would happily do a digital rental if available. When I have guests over, what they want takes priority.

Vudu is going to be my next experiment, actually, but just for rentals of titles that I am on the fence about owning.

That's what I'm getting at. People are living a more fluid lifestyle and digital is a more convenient thing for people. I got discs out my ass, I still buy collectors LaserDiscs, but digital just works for me 10x better. I can be in my office watching a movie, go downstairs and finish work and start the movie on another tv without needing a disc. I can throw up my projector in the backyard and put up a large screen and stream without needing wires and stuff everywhere. It's something I didn't embrace for years, finally got on board and it's groovy for my life.

I've not bought CD's in years, I've been on iTunes for 15 years? or so, whenever the U2 iPod come out. I've used Apple Music for 3 years. I'm good with this stuff.

The only thing I can say right now is that I've been off the board for about a month and this thread circles constantly. No one is changing their opinions and people are gonna spend their money however they want. I appreciate you acknowledge the positives of digital tho, that's welcome.

[ZoetMB]

Originally Posted by PenguinInfinity

When individual movies become unprofitable they'll disappear from all digital providers. None of them are going to be willing to pay to continue hosting the movies that haven't sold in years.

Hosting isn't the issue, it's licensing. If they've licensed an entire library or sub-library for a fixed fee, they'll keep all the titles. And for the streaming services that are owned by a studio, they'll keep all the titles (like Disney's forthcoming streaming services).

But if it's not studio owned and they have to pay an annual guarantee against royalties (which some deals do require), then you're correct. They'll drop titles that people don't rent (if it's a pay per title service) or they'll drop titles that don't either encourage people to subscribe or encourage subscribers to renew if it's a fixed monthly fee service.

[Groot]

Originally Posted by ZoetMB

Hosting isn't the issue, it's licensing. If they've licensed an entire library or sub-library for a fixed fee, they'll keep all the titles. And for the streaming services that are owned by a studio, they'll keep all the titles (like Disney's forthcoming streaming services).

But if it's not studio owned and they have to pay an annual guarantee against royalties (which some deals do require), then you're correct. They'll drop titles that people don't rent (if it's a pay per title service) or they'll drop titles that don't either encourage people to subscribe or encourage subscribers to renew if it's a fixed monthly fee service.

But the next issue is a lot of titles would eventually fall into the public domain or the license would become super cheap. In print media and others it works just like that. It boosts the number of design options and makes a portfolio more impressive.

[The_Donster]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Your complete argument collapses when you refuse to acknowledge your initial post was factually incorrect. Also, I don’t know why Penguin has targeted me especially as more than a handful of people have made points about digital such as loss of contents and censored content. I can promise you right here and right now, many disc lovers have made such comments in this thread.

Anyway, your post was factually incorrect and so was Donster for backing up that post.

Poor form from both of you not to hold your hands up and admit that.

Alchav alone is proof that the post was an absolute nonsense. Either that or you both don’t understand the meaning of ‘only’.

Seriously? You are the last person that should be lecturing anyone on proper etiquette. Let alone forum etiquette. One word doesn't make his post invalid and I'm tired of trying to explain it to people who refuse to listen. So stop looking for an apology you'll never get.

[Groot]

Originally Posted by The_Donster

Seriously? You are the last person that should be lecturing anyone on proper etiquette. Let alone forum etiquette. One word doesn't make his post invalid and I'm tired of trying to explain it to people who refuse to listen. So stop looking for an apology you'll never get.

Yeeeeppppp.

You seen them jump like sharks over Halloween 5 (my original mistake, still mentioned Rudd in H6). I paid a big majestic $5 on got it on VUDU and enjoyed it twice the same night. After I watched it with the family, I watched it again in bed. I like the perk of instant access.

Every time I read this thread I think of:



Folks can enjoy both, it's okay!

[flyry]

Originally Posted by Vilya

The only bullet point you highlighted was:

Fires and floods will wipe out your collection.

This statement is not actually factual as it states with certainty that disc owners will be the victims of both fires and floods, plural of each no less, and that these will destroy our collections entirely. If the word "will" was replaced with the word "could", then it would be a true statement- tecnically, as the odds of being a victim of both events must be astoundingly small.

It should be stated as: A fire or a flood could wipe out your collection. As could a tornado, hurricane, earthquake, tsunami, thieves, and never discount the threat of a ninja raid.

Sure, we could be the victims of one, or more, of these disasters, but the odds are quite low. Most of us will never be the victims of any of them. Even if we are victims of one, or more, such tragedies, our collections might even survive the event, in whole or in part. Not every fire, nor every flood, etc., results in the total loss of one's property.

No one can say for a fact that any of us will be the victim of any disaster, yet alone a disaster that destroys entirely a specific part of our property or, worse still, all of our property.

It is not a fact as quoted. It is not a certainty that we will fall victim to either of these events, yet alone both of them. The risk of a fire or a flood resulting in significant property loss is very small and that risk can be managed with emergency preparedness and by having appropriate levels of insurance.

I'm not here to argue semantics. Some of you geeks just take it way too far. You know exactly what I meant and are just arguing for arguing sakes. A little too much free time since you retired so early if you ask me.