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

[master gandhi]

Originally Posted by Fiffy

Who said "going digital" means to rebuy or "convert" all your existing movies? I surely won't.
Well, I can't beat well reasoned arguments like that. I think iTunes is a far better offering than any of the UV providers at the moment, but that's just me.

I think when one decides to go digital it is tempting to convert your whole collection. That does seem impractical, though, considering that not every DVD/BD is Disc-to-Digital eligible, and not every movie goes on sale on Vudu/iTunes (plus, not every movie is even available digitally, like the original Dawn of the Dead). I'm still waiting for Iron Man to go on sale.

The reality is that I won't go all-digital for now. It doesn't make sense. The quality doesn't quite match Blu-ray, nor can it replicate UHD Blu-ray. Not every iTunes title has iTunes Extras, even many that had extras on DVD/Blu-ray.

It's fun for some of us to dream of a future where digital offers perfect quality, every title, and all of them with extras with the ability to download the movie and its extras for offline use if need be. That isn't the case yet. But we're halfway there perhaps.

I too prefer iTunes to the UV providers, but I'm not all-iTunes, as much as I'd like to be. That's why I have a Roku and Apple TV. It's pretty annoying having two streaming devices, though. Oh well.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by PCFan

Let's put it this way: Is the music mainstream to buy an MP3 album instead of a CD album even if the CD has better audio quality and you can just rip the CD to your hard drive at full bit-rate? Is the music mainstream not for buying an MP3 album but instead are just to subscribe to music services?

That's all just a race to the bottom? Or are you agreeing with him?

[ArmyOfDarknessAW]

Originally Posted by Fiffy

Who said "going digital" means to rebuy or "convert" all your existing movies? I surely won't.
Well, I can't beat well reasoned arguments like that. [emoji14] I think iTunes is a far better offering than any of the UV providers at the moment, but that's just me.

Well if you bothered to read any of my past posts mentioning it i sold off my entire Blu-ray collection when I went digital (working on building it back up). Was it dumb? Absolutely. However I had no room and in my mind selling them was the right idea so yeah I was the right choice.

Congrats you like iTunes...i don't. Surprisingly people have opinions that are different from yours. Shocking right?

[huskerbear]

Originally Posted by master gandhi

I think when one decides to go digital it is tempting to convert your whole collection. That does seem impractical, though, considering that not every DVD/BD is Disc-to-Digital eligible, and not every movie goes on sale on Vudu/iTunes (plus, not every movie is even available digitally, like the original Dawn of the Dead). I'm still waiting for Iron Man to go on sale.

The reality is that I won't go all-digital for now. It doesn't make sense. The quality doesn't quite match Blu-ray, nor can it replicate UHD Blu-ray. Not every iTunes title has iTunes Extras, even many that had extras on DVD/Blu-ray.

It's fun for some of us to dream of a future where digital offers perfect quality, every title, and all of them with extras with the ability to download the movie and its extras for offline use if need be. That isn't the case yet. But we're halfway there perhaps.

I too prefer iTunes to the UV providers, but I'm not all-iTunes, as much as I'd like to be. That's why I have a Roku and Apple TV. It's pretty annoying having two streaming devices, though. Oh well.

This is my deal too, except.... I have no problems with itunes, but I'm not going to go buy a proprietary box that only does itunes. With the Roku I can buy or rent movies from Google play, M-go/Fandango now, Flixster, Vudu....basically all of them, except itunes. If Apple was to join UV the way they joined DMA, and un-restrict itunes so I didn't have to buy a proprietary box to view it, (or add the other apps to Apple TV) I would certainly give them a try. Apple continues to play this like they were still the only game in town. It is nice to have all my movies in one place.

[Fiffy]

Originally Posted by master gandhi

I think when one decides to go digital it is tempting to convert your whole collection.

I don't really understand why? Sure, it's nice to have some favorites (that you actually watch repeatedly) in digital form, so you can put them on a laptop/tablet for use when traveling, or have them on a media server for convenient streaming. But why would anyone need to re-buy an entire large collection?

[master gandhi]

Originally Posted by Fiffy

I don't really understand why? Sure, it's nice to have some favorites (that you actually watch repeatedly) in digital form, so you can put them on a laptop/tablet for use when traveling, or have them on a media server for convenient streaming. But why would anyone need to re-buy an entire large collection?

So you can feel that your collection is well-represented in digital form and/or you can turn to digital instead of your physical collection whenever the mood strikes you (or unique situation arises), or simply do away with your physical collection eventually.

Sometimes I catch myself wanting to recreate my collection digitally, until I'm reminded that it isn't entirely possible, nor is it necessary. I have plenty of movies in my digital collection (every 007 movie, Star Wars movie, Pixar movie, Friday the 13th movie, etc), but it probably won't rival my physical collection for a very long time (I've been collecting digital for less than a year, but Blu-ray for over eight years).

I haven't sold off Blu-rays now that I have them digitally. I simply have more options now.

There are a few movies I've bought digital-only recently (Star Wars: The Force Awakens and The Hateful Eight) where I wish I had physical copies too for the superior quality, though. So I corrected my buying habits to pick up the physical copies of big movies or movies with high-quality cinematography. In the case of those films, I've decided I'll pick up Star Wars if and when it gets a 3D release and Hateful Eight if and when it gets a UHD BD release or Roadshow Edition release.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by master gandhi

So you can feel that your collection is well-represented in digital form and/or you can turn to digital instead of your physical collection whenever the mood strikes you (or unique situation arises), or simply do away with your physical collection eventually.

Sometimes I catch myself wanting to recreate my collection digitally, until I'm reminded that it isn't entirely possible, nor is it necessary. I have plenty of movies in my digital collection (every 007 movie, Star Wars movie, Pixar movie, Friday the 13th movie, etc), but it probably won't rival my physical collection for a very long time (I've been collecting digital for less than a year, but Blu-ray for over eight years).

I haven't sold off Blu-rays now that I have them digitally. I simply have more options now.

There are a few movies I've bought digital-only recently (Star Wars: The Force Awakens and The Hateful Eight) where I wish I had physical copies too for the superior quality, though. So I corrected my buying habits to pick up the physical copies of big movies or movies with high-quality cinematography. In the case of those films, I've decided I'll pick up Star Wars if and when it gets a 3D release and Hateful Eight if and when it gets a UHD BD release or Roadshow Edition release.

I honestly don't see the point. VHS to DVD was a huge upgrade. DVD to Bluray the same. Digital is a downgrade, I don't get why you (speaking generally) would want to do that. Unless you cherish movies on a 3 inch screen.

[audiobean]

If I have invested some money in display and audio system, and more importantly investing 2 hours to watch a movie, it should and must be a time well spent for the best quality possible.

Well I may stream it through Netflix, rent it through Amazon or Itunes for more choices. But when it comes to deciding to own a beloved movie, then the higher quality the better. There are however many people who chose over convenience / selection than quality, it is a choice and everyone is different. One can choose Digital but just don't be ignorant about the quality difference. On a side note, the delivery protocol of paid download Digital media is IMHO too weak, BT of 20GB data on peer-to-peer structure works properly, but server download of paid 20GB Digital movie is simply not existing (technically not possible?). Not to forget, having a physical media means you could still rip it and digitized it on your own to tablet or whatever.

So should you pay something for a lower quality over convenience? Just think a little more before clicking the next Buy.

[PCFan]

Originally Posted by Fiffy

I don't really understand why? Sure, it's nice to have some favorites (that you actually watch repeatedly) in digital form, so you can put them on a laptop/tablet for use when traveling, or have them on a media server for convenient streaming. But why would anyone need to re-buy an entire large collection?

Many blu-rays these days come with digital codes that many people are selling. A person that wants to switch to digital movies can sell there physical copy of the movie and buy a HD digital code for the movie, from someone on a forum or an online digital code store, if it has a digital code that the blu-ray came with, for only a few dollars from the trading section in this forum.

[Rocket Richard]

Originally Posted by hogger129

I dislike the concept of not being able to store content locally, but at least you can watch them on pretty much any DVD or Blu-ray player.

Unless you have a scratched disc and it becomes unplayable!

[voltz]

While I was browsing caps-a-holic, I grew worried on something where in the future we're going to lose the right to chose whichever version of a film we want, plus full region blocking may once again become the norm. I'm really scared of this happening.

Tell me something, once physical is gone are we going to have to fully resort to piracy to get "exactly" what it is we are looking for? Please be serious with your answer on this.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Rocket Richard

Unless you have a scratched disc and it becomes unplayable!

Very rare. Over 700 discs and I have never had a scratched disc that refused to play.

[OLY82]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Very rare. Over 700 discs and I have never had a scratched disc that refused to play.

I bet you own a Laserdisc player, don't you?

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by OLY82

I bet you own a Laserdisc player, don't you?

I did back in the day! Long time ago.

[OLY82]

They were crap then. 2 discs to watch a movie. I preferred VHS.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by OLY82

They were crap then. 2 discs to watch a movie. I preferred VHS.

I have so many happy memories of my local VHS store. I was around when videos first came out. Carrie, Halloween, The Exorcist, American Werewolf in London, Dawn Of The Dead! Happy days.

[OLY82]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

I have so many happy memories of my local VHS store. I was around when videos first came out. Carrie, Halloween, The Exorcist, American Werewolf in London, Dawn Of The Dead! Happy days.

I was too.

I think you like old technology for nostalgia IMO

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by OLY82

I was too.

I think you like old technology for nostalgia IMO

Even back then I used to dream of one day owning my own home cinema. Bluray was like a dream come true. On a projector it holds its own. DVD just didn't hack it on a big screen. It's not nostalgia, I am a quality guy. I don't have a wife or kids so all my spare money goes on myself! it's bliss!

I ain't a hoarder either. Blurays are the only I collect in great. Numbers. I like a nice neat tidy apartment!

[OLY82]

I'm a modernist. That's why I swear by digital. The quality is freakin' awesome!

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by OLY82

I'm a modernist. That's why I swear by digital. The quality is freakin' awesome!

Awesome? I would reserve that word for Bluray and soon 4K Bluray. Digital? Not so much. I don't tend to follow the sheep. Never have, life is too short.