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

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Lee A Stewart

That's Anthony P's scenario so you will have to ask him. I just copied it.



Who said Suzy will stop her subscriptions? She considers her monthly sub cost a "utility" just like her internet, electric and gas bills.



Yes we know you do. You have told us ad nauseum.

Yeah, because you don’t repeat yourself Lee!

[Lee A Stewart]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Yeah, because you don’t repeat yourself Lee!

Not in every post I make.

[cheez avenger]

Originally Posted by bhampton

I disagree.

with steaming the commitment is minimal and the resulting quality is also minimal.

The less you put into something the less you get out of it in general.

For those that don't care about the quality it's a good deal. They aren't investing in something they don't want.

The whole point of being a minimalist is to free yourself from the burden of ownership of tangible/physical things. You can get into the minutiae aspect of it, but that's the base of it. It's one of the absolutes in the whole minimalism way of living. It works for some and it doesn't for others.

I'm a minimalist on certain things. Physical media is not one of them, but I do appreciate and value digital content, especially streaming options like the streaming channels that I subscribe too.

[Steedeel]

Minimalists are a bit like Vegans, they want to tell the world they are that way. No one cares. Just buy stuff that makes you happy and get the balance right between quality family time and quiet time.

Life is mundane and hard work enough without depriving yourself of pleasures like films and other stuff.

(Not aimed at anyone, just a general opinion of mine).

[cheez avenger]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Minimalists are a bit like Vegans, they want to tell the world they are that way. No one cares. Just buy stuff that makes you happy and get the balance right between quality family time and quiet time.

Life is mundane and hard work enough without depriving yourself of pleasures like films and other stuff.

(Not aimed at anyone, just a general opinion of mine).

Hoarders and people whose material wealth overwhelms them, they need to scale it back and become minimalists or adopt some of those fundamentals. It's like that phrase from Fight Club: When the stuff you own ends up owning you. Same thing.

Vegans are more annoying, though.

[meremortal]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Minimalists are a bit like Vegans, they want to tell the world they are that way. No one cares. Just buy stuff that makes you happy and get the balance right between quality family time and quiet time.

Life is mundane and hard work enough without depriving yourself of pleasures like films and other stuff.

(Not aimed at anyone, just a general opinion of mine).

I've never really been what I'd consider to be a minimalist, but I can see how people would be very enthusiastic to share their experiences. Many of the posts I've heard of people adopting the lifestyle were coming from a more cluttered home and years of the stress that came with it. I definitely put a lot of thought into organization and the lack of it that I have. I often desire of having the "bare essentials" and focusing less on "collecting." The problem is I often easily get fascinated and it quickly becomes routine. For example, I rarely even read comic books. But I've gone through multiple phases where I ended up with over a thousand of them in just a year or two. I also got way too into Funkos not too long ago because there are so many characters with nostalgia value. Once I got rid of those collections, my interest kind of folded as well. With physical media, I always seem to feel like I have an obligation to watch them and it can become laborious like I'm mainly watching to meet a purchase quota and actually make use of them. I'll admit that sometimes streaming/renting is a different kind of positive experience since there are deadlines and less commitment, etc. I've noticed that I tend to pay more attention when I don't own the movie versus a blu I can always watch again later. I'm pretty much just babbling without a coherent point, but I'll say that minimalism sounds pretty exciting for less upkeep, commitment, etc which may also be less stressful for many people.

[dcx4610]

Honestly for me, it's not so much for me needing to physically own something and have it on a shelf as it is quality and control/ownership.

I was a diehard CD collector forever until FLAC became popular and easy to obtain. Rather than a wall of CDs, I can have my entire music collection on a hard drive (backed up numerous times mind you and in different formats) and instant access from my computer or other devices. Since it's the exact same quality, that's what really matters to me. And in a rarity, you also get the convenience of having your music in one place and all at once.

I treat my digital FLAC files like physical media. They are sorted, named properly, have perfect artwork, etc. Most importantly, it's DRM free and I control the files. I can back them up, transfer them to different formats, stream it, etc. It's like having physical media to me just without the space concerns.

If movies were the same way, I'd jump on board. Right now, I have an entire bedroom wall devoted to movies and I'm almost out of space. I have no idea what I'm going to do when I fill up the space. There's no room anywhere else in the house unless I go custom-shelving which probably will have to end up happening.

With movies, you have zero control. Every movie you stream is locked tight with DRM and if you find someone that lets you download the file, the file itself is again DRM'ed and you can't play it without using a digital service. On top of that, the file is compressed and doesn't offer the same quality as a Blu-ray or UHD disc.

If it were like FLAC and I could download literal 1:1 copies of the movies I currently have on my shelf with all special features, audio and most importantly, had no DRM restrictions, I'd switch to digital for movies as well.

I care too much about quality and having the best possible versions of movies to simply stream or watch compressed versions. In the case of movies, I'll support physical until they stop making it simply because it's still the best open.

[bhampton]

Originally Posted by cheez avenger

I'm a minimalist on certain things.

Me too. And I am an occasional vegetarian.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by cheez avenger

Hoarders and people whose material wealth overwhelms them, they need to scale it back and become minimalists or adopt some of those fundamentals. It's like that phrase from Fight Club: When the stuff you own ends up owning you. Same thing.

Vegans are more annoying, though.

No they don’t. They can do what they like. They don’t need to become anything. You are sounding like a Vegan mate!

[bhampton]

My copy of Fight Club owns me but the relationship has been a positive one.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by meremortal

I've never really been what I'd consider to be a minimalist, but I can see how people would be very enthusiastic to share their experiences. Many of the posts I've heard of people adopting the lifestyle were coming from a more cluttered home and years of the stress that came with it. I definitely put a lot of thought into organization and the lack of it that I have. I often desire of having the "bare essentials" and focusing less on "collecting." The problem is I often easily get fascinated and it quickly becomes routine. For example, I rarely even read comic books. But I've gone through multiple phases where I ended up with over a thousand of them in just a year or two. I also got way too into Funkos not too long ago because there are so many characters with nostalgia value. Once I got rid of those collections, my interest kind of folded as well. With physical media, I always seem to feel like I have an obligation to watch them and it can become laborious like I'm mainly watching to meet a purchase quota and actually make use of them. I'll admit that sometimes streaming/renting is a different kind of positive experience since there are deadlines and less commitment, etc. I've noticed that I tend to pay more attention when I don't own the movie versus a blu I can always watch again later. I'm pretty much just babbling without a coherent point, but I'll say that minimalism sounds pretty exciting for less upkeep, commitment, etc which may also be less stressful for many people.

I see it the same way as renting. It’s just throwing money away without anything to show for it. At least with my discs, I have access to uncut, uncensored films for the next decade and probably another after that. Also, I couldn’t do without my games consoles, music separates etc..

I’m far from a hoarder though, I have one room with all my stuff in and the rest of the home is very neat and tidy. Even my HT room is well organised.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by bhampton

My copy of Fight Club owns me but the relationship has been a positive one.

Twin Peaks can own me anytime it wants!

[meremortal]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

I see it the same way as renting. It’s just throwing money away without anything to show for it. At least with my discs, I have access to uncut, uncensored films for the next decade and probably another after that. Also, I couldn’t do without my games consoles, music separates etc..

I’m far from a hoarder though, I have one room with all my stuff in and the rest of the home is very neat and tidy. Even my HT room is well organised.

That's good you have the room and can confine them to one area. I nearly did as well at one point, but my collection outgrew the limitations of available space. I'm not so sure renting is "throwing money away" compared to say the real estate market where property mostly appreciates over time. If you're renting for a couple dollars or so and buying a blu for $10+, then you may have a higher net loss on average. Boutique label releases are a pretty good bet though.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by meremortal

That's good you have the room and can confine them to one area. I nearly did as well at one point, but my collection outgrew the limitations of available space. I'm not so sure renting is "throwing money away" compared to say the real estate market where property mostly appreciates over time. If you're renting for a couple dollars or so and buying a blu for $10+, then you may have a higher net loss on average. Boutique label releases are a pretty good bet though.

I always blind buy. I have a high success rate. Part of the appeal is watching a gem for the first time. It’s not the same renting.
Is it a risk? No, I don’t drink, smoke or go to clubs. I don't have kids so for my situation, it’s money well spent. I spend around £950-£1,200 a year on discs. I get huge satisfaction from doing so, so....
Plus, if I’m spending money on HT, I don’t want to feed it low bit rate, brittle crap.

[Anthony P]

Originally Posted by Lee A Stewart

That's Anthony P's scenario so you will have to ask him. I just copied it.

Originally Posted by bhampton

Is it sexist making Suzy the dumb one in this example ?

Phineous has something to show for it after Suzy stops renting stuff.

I prefer to buy instead of rent esp Disney stuff which tends to be good.

Lee brought Disney into the mix. As for the names I picked them because they were the two first two names I thought of that would make a link to the their preferred content distribution format. (i.e. the two first letters match Phyneous picks physical and suzy chooses subscription.

As for dumb. I don't think anyone is necessarily dumb it is a matter of different choices and priorities and accepting the reality of those choices. At this point in time money is not a big concern for me. I like films and spending a bit more on having choice and quality is worth it IMHO. For someone else that might not be the case and they might not care what is playing and looking for the cheapest option to fill in hours of time.

Originally Posted by Lee A Stewart

Who said Suzy will stop her subscriptions? She considers her monthly sub cost a "utility" just like her internet, electric and gas bills.

but what if Suzy loses her job and has to cut down in "utilities"?

[Anthony P]

Originally Posted by Lee A Stewart

Not in every post I make.

which post did I miss

[Lee A Stewart]

Originally Posted by Anthony P

but what if Suzy loses her job and has to cut down in "utilities"?

So Suzy is going to give up her internet? She can't. She needs it to look for a new job. She'll just get rid of her nonessential spending. She will also collect unemployment.

$8 a month or $15 a month isn't going to break her lowered budget.

No clubbing for Suzy!

[sapiendut]

I’m planning on downgrading my internet from the gigabit speed to “merely” 400 mbps. That will be a $40 savings each month for the speed that I never use

[Vilya]

In the most fascinating news that you will read all day I am a mouse click away from ordering my first pair of height speakers. Once connected, it will give me a bizarre 5.0.2 set-up.

Adding a subwoofie will be next, but for now my floor standing speakers will continue having to do the heavy lifting for bass.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Lee A Stewart

So Suzy is going to give up her internet? She can't. She needs it to look for a new job. She'll just get rid of her nonessential spending. She will also collect unemployment.

$8 a month or $15 a month isn't going to break her lowered budget.

No clubbing for Suzy!

This Suzy sounds hot! Pictures?