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

[alchav21]

Originally Posted by GuyIncognito

I just wanted to reiterate my thoughts on this in light of recent events. I've always said digital is obviously more convenient for extremely large collections, but my preference will always be physical. Case in point...hurricane Matthew. I have had power through that storm this entire time (except for a one and a half hour window) but my internet/TV has been down for three days now. I can't stream anything. Luckily I have physical movies to keep me occupied.

Originally Posted by ChrisOz

At the same time, a hurricane could roll through your house and destroy your physical movie collection, whereas a hurricane would do nothing to a digital collection.

I'm playing devil's advocate here, but of course physical media wins out for me too. I agree that ownership is having a copy on the shelf.

Yes, I don't wish disasters on anyone, but they happen and the best is to have both. If one gets wiped out you still have the other. As for having a copy on the shelf, a good record will help too. If you keep good records of your Digital Library, you should be able to retrieve anything missing.

[Themodafokinley]

I'm doing more digital than physical atm, only getting movies I really like in physical disc.
Should start collecting 4k physical soon just need to get a 4k bd player, already have the TV.

[Cranston37]

Originally Posted by GuyIncognito

I just wanted to reiterate my thoughts on this in light of recent events. I've always said digital is obviously more convenient for extremely large collections, but my preference will always be physical. Case in point...hurricane Matthew. I have had power through that storm this entire time (except for a one and a half hour window) but my internet/TV has been down for three days now. I can't stream anything. Luckily I have physical movies to keep me occupied. I will never consider a digital library to truly be considered "ownership" when you also rely on a secondary service to access it.

Hurricane Matthew could also act as a counter argument - what if all your discs had been wiped out but your UV account remained safe? The only thing that matters though is that you are safe!

[headphones]

Originally Posted by GuyIncognito

I just wanted to reiterate my thoughts on this in light of recent events. I've always said digital is obviously more convenient for extremely large collections, but my preference will always be physical. Case in point...hurricane Matthew. I have had power through that storm this entire time (except for a one and a half hour window) but my internet/TV has been down for three days now. I can't stream anything. Luckily I have physical movies to keep me occupied. I will never consider a digital library to truly be considered "ownership" when you also rely on a secondary service to access it.

When I buy something on digital, I don't need internet access to view it though. I can access it without no service at all. Never had a problem regarding that.

[headphones]

Originally Posted by Themodafokinley

I'm doing more digital than physical atm, only getting movies I really like in physical disc.

Pretty much my thoughts in a nutshell. I only get movies I plan on watching at least 4 or 5 times a year. With the exception of a few movies that haven't been released on bluray. I pretty have every movie I'll ever want to own on bluray. I have about 25 or so. Everything else, I'll rent digitally. It's only $3.99 on amazon. A lot cheaper than the $14 movie ticket.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by headphones

Pretty much my thoughts in a nutshell. I only get movies I plan on watching at least 4 or 5 times a year. With the exception of a few movies that haven't been released on bluray. I pretty have every movie I'll ever want to own on bluray. I have about 25 or so. Everything else, I'll rent digitally. It's only $3.99 on amazon. A lot cheaper than the $14 movie ticket.

There are only 25 films you have ever wanted to keep? how old are you? 12!

[PenguinMaster]

Originally Posted by headphones

Pretty much my thoughts in a nutshell. I only get movies I plan on watching at least 4 or 5 times a year. With the exception of a few movies that haven't been released on bluray. I pretty have every movie I'll ever want to own on bluray. I have about 25 or so. Everything else, I'll rent digitally. It's only $3.99 on amazon. A lot cheaper than the $14 movie ticket.

A Blu-ray rental at Redbox is even cheaper.

[Carlanga]

Originally Posted by headphones

Pretty much my thoughts in a nutshell. I only get movies I plan on watching at least 4 or 5 times a year. With the exception of a few movies that haven't been released on bluray. I pretty have every movie I'll ever want to own on bluray. I have about 25 or so. Everything else, I'll rent digitally. It's only $3.99 on amazon. A lot cheaper than the $14 movie ticket.

IDK, I prefer to buy the BD, either sell part of the digital to recoup cost and have digital and physical or just sell the digital and watch it as many times as I want, most of my collection has cost less than your rental due to sales everywhere throughout the years. Plus not all movies that I like are available to rent.

Originally Posted by Cranston37

Hurricane Matthew could also act as a counter argument - what if all your discs had been wiped out but your UV account remained safe? The only thing that matters though is that you are safe!

Home Insurance can cover it, but as a counter argument to yours, what if UV decides to close down suddenly due to low sales of digital content it cannot be supported and you are left w no movies unless you download them and copy them onto a hard drive or discs that have less lifetime than a pressed disc and still with DRM so you are stuck w whatever can support the app, of course support of bd is dependent on bd players as well? In the end the only way to truly keep it basically forever is no drm digitalization and loading it into your personal cloud and backup.

[headphones]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

There are only 25 films you have ever wanted to keep? how old are you? 12!

[headphones]

Originally Posted by Carlanga

Home Insurance can cover it, but as a counter argument to yours, what if UV decides to close down suddenly due to low sales of digital content it cannot be supported and you are left w no movies unless you download them and copy them onto a hard drive or discs that have less lifetime than a pressed disc and still with DRM so you are stuck w whatever can support the app, of course support of bd is dependent on bd players as well? In the end the only way to truly keep it basically forever is no drm digitalization and loading it into your personal cloud and backup.

It wont close due to low sales. And they cant just legally take away movie you purchased. That's a class-action lawsuit waiting to happen. If anything, it would be bought out by a bigger company, like amazon, and everything would transfer over.

[headphones]

Originally Posted by Carlanga

IDK, I prefer to buy the BD, either sell part of the digital to recoup cost and have digital and physical or just sell the digital and watch it as many times as I want, most of my collection has cost less than your rental due to sales everywhere throughout the years. Plus not all movies that I like are available to rent.

If they don't match the criteria of 'I'm going to watch it 4 or 5 times a year,' I consider it hoarding. I live in an apartment, and have very limited space. It's a waste of time for me to buy a movie, watch it once and sell it.

[headphones]

Originally Posted by PenguinMaster

A Blu-ray rental at Redbox is even cheaper.

Maybe. But it's not easier by any means. I can rent a movie right from my TV with amazon, and I have 30 days to watch it. And titles are never unavailable.

[PenguinMaster]

Originally Posted by headphones

If they don't match the criteria of 'I'm going to watch it 4 or 5 times a year,' I consider it hoarding. I live in an apartment, and have very limited space. It's a waste of time for me to buy a movie, watch it once and sell it.

At $3.99 per rental, most movies are easy to find on Blu-ray for only a little higher than that. If you only watched a movie twice in your entire lifetime it would still be a better deal than your rentals.

[headphones]

Originally Posted by PenguinMaster

At $3.99 per rental, most movies are easy to find on Blu-ray for only a little higher than that. If you only watched a movie twice in your entire lifetime it would still be a better deal than your rentals.

It's not about the money. Otherwise I would just stream them illegally like everyone else. Saving a few extra dollars over the course of a lifetime, isn't worth the added inconvenience. I don't want to own a movie that I'm only gonna watch twice in my entire lifetime.

[PenguinMaster]

Originally Posted by headphones

And they cant just legally take away movie you purchased.

Think of the implication of what you are saying: digital providers are legally required to continue to provide support for every title they've ever offered for all time. That law would be absurd. I firmly believe that no company or individual should be required to provide support for anything forever but they also shouldn't make products that require their continued support.

Physical media doesn't require any companies' continued support. If I choose to I can still watch (and buy) any of titles released on VHS, LaserDisc, or HD DVD even though none of those products have any official support anymore.

[headphones]

Originally Posted by PenguinMaster

Think of the implication of what you are saying: digital providers are legally required to continue to provide support for every title they've ever offered for all time. That law would be absurd. I firmly believe that no company or individual should be required to provide support for anything forever but they also shouldn't make products that require their continued support.

Physical media doesn't require any companies' continued support. If I choose to I can still watch (and buy) any of titles released on VHS, LaserDisc, or HD DVD even though none of those products have any official support anymore.

I don't think it's absurd at all. There was a time when if a bank closed down, you lost all your life savings, and any interest forever. To me that's absurd. Point being. It doesnt work like that anymore.

I highly doubt a company would just shut down one day and say "everything you've ever bought is gone forever." That's a lawsuit in the making.

[rui no onna]

Originally Posted by PenguinMaster

Physical media doesn't require any companies' continued support. If I choose to I can still watch (and buy) any of titles released on VHS, LaserDisc, or HD DVD even though none of those products have any official support anymore.

Not quite. Some newer Blu-ray discs require internet connected players with up-to-date firmware in order to play back the disc. DRM on Blu-ray is more invasive compared to DRM on DVD. There are several threads on AVSForum asking for help with troubleshooting HDCP. DRM on online services (iTunes, Amazon, Vudu, etc) is even more restrictive.

What's frustrating is pirates don't have to deal with the crap that consumers who go by legal avenues do.

[PenguinMaster]

Originally Posted by headphones

I don't think it's absurd at all. There was a time when if a bank closed down, you lost all your life savings, and any interest forever. To me that's absurd. Point being. It doesnt work like that anymore.

I highly doubt a company would just shut down one day and say "everything you've ever bought is gone forever." That's a lawsuit in the making.

I'm far more concerned about individual titles being removed than entire libraries being removed. Let's say your favorite movie is only available digitally. You buy the movie digitally through Amazon. The movie never becomes popular and 20 years from now it is removed and you can't download it or stream it anymore.

Do you really think you'd have a case? "I bought that movie 20 years ago for $10 and now I can't access it anymore." Even in the highly unlikely instance where they sided with you all you'd get is your $10 back. You still wouldn't have access to the movie anymore.

[rui no onna]

Originally Posted by headphones

I don't think it's absurd at all. There was a time when if a bank closed down, you lost all your life savings, and any interest forever. To me that's absurd. Point being. It doesnt work like that anymore.

I highly doubt a company would just shut down one day and say "everything you've ever bought is gone forever." That's a lawsuit in the making.

There's no FDIC or NCUA for digital media purchases.

[PenguinMaster]

Originally Posted by rui no onna

Not quite. Some newer Blu-ray discs require internet connected players with up-to-date firmware in order to play back the disc. DRM on Blu-ray is more invasive compared to DRM on DVD. There are several threads on AVSForum asking for help with troubleshooting HDCP. DRM on online services (iTunes, Amazon, Vudu, etc) is even more restrictive.

What's frustrating is pirates don't have to deal with the crap that consumers who go by legal avenues do.

I have never connected any of my Blu-ray players to the internet and I've never had a problem playing any titles either. I'm just as strongly against physical media with online DRM as downloads and streaming, but I haven't encountered that problem on any Blu-rays.