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

[Jumpman]

Originally Posted by master gandhi

I see. So you just don't like those Disney movies anymore?

I go through phases. I always consider myself a fan of Disney, Star Wars, James Bond, The Fast and the Furious, but I go through phases where I'm more obsessed than usual. For that reason, I need to have all of that in my collection for whenever I have the fever for them. heh

I'm in a "why am I still buying the Disney movies" phase at the moment...on the eve of ALADDIN being released digitally next week. Love that damn film but my boys could care less about animated films anymore. Sure, they love cartoons but I can't get them to sit down and actually watch an animated film that's not the latest animated film in the theatres.

So, who am I collecting these things for? Not really sure anymore. I don't even remember the last time I watched an Disney animated film without the kids (not including Pixar in this question).

Still, digital just makes it easy to just collect everything, as long as you have the hard drive space. It's tempting as shit.

[JMS1223]

Originally Posted by master gandhi

I see. So you just don't like those Disney movies anymore?

No, I buy the digital versions.

[master gandhi]

Originally Posted by JMS1223

No, I buy the digital versions.

Oh okay, that makes sense. Cool.

[leburn98]

For movies, I go physical except for when a film is only released in HD digitally.

For TV shows, I find myself preferring digital and will usually buy physical if the Blu/DVD release has extras that are not available digitally. Even then I will still rip the shows to my server. In my opinion, TV shows lend themselves to digital due to the marathoning nature of them. When working at my computer, I much prefer to have a show run continuously in the background from my Plex server, versus having to change discs every 4-6 episodes.

Regardless, all of my digital files reside on my server so I do own them, unlike the many streaming/cloud services.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by alchav21

It's all Digital now, the only difference is Streaming from your Blu-ray Player or Streaming Server. Film use to be the best Picture Quality, but now even the Studios are going all Digital. The Streaming Picture Quality and Sound is only going to get better. Streaming is the Future, and First Run Movies are coming out Streaming as soon as they hit the Theaters.

Studios are going Digital because it's easier (and cheaper I presume) film is, and always will be, vastly superior IMO.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Sector Drone

You do know that Vudu has HD versions of movies that have only been released on DVD, right? So they actually do have the highest quality on some movies.

It's also not hard to understand why people would want the convenience of being able to watch all of their movies across all of their devices. Storage also becomes a major factor once you build up a big enough physical collection.

It is hard to understand. Film is a art form, not some disposable time waster watched in between Twitter sessions on a 4 inch screen or soon, a smartwatch. The slow death of film continues and the future looks depressing.

[TheLibrarian]

I prefer my physical media because digital, while more practical at times doesn't give you that same feeling of ownership or having nice cover art to admire.

[PCFan]

Originally Posted by TheLibrarian

I prefer my physical media because digital, while more practical at times doesn't give you that same feeling of ownership or having nice cover art to admire.

When space becomes an issue I must make compromises if I want to keep a decent size collection. My compromise is recycling or reselling the cases, storing the discs in a high quality disc wallet, and keeping the cover art in a large envelope inside my cupboard. I just don't want movie cases cluttering my bedroom. I could care less about displaying cover art when space is an issue.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by PCFan

When space becomes an issue I must make compromises if I want to keep a decent size collection. My compromise is recycling or reselling the cases, storing the discs in a high quality disc wallet, and keeping the cover art in a large envelope inside my cupboard. I just don't want movie cases cluttering my bedroom. I could care less about displaying cover art when space is an issue.

So you do care? Or do you mean couldn't care less?

[PCFan]

I mean I couldn't care less if that means I don't care.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by PCFan

I mean I couldn't care less if that means I don't care.

Yes, correct sir. So you are purely all about the quality? That's the most important thing always but I love having my discs on display. Packaging like The Twin Peaks boxset is splendid.

[PCFan]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Yes, correct sir. So you are purely all about the quality? That's the most important thing always but I love having my discs on display. Packaging like The Twin Peaks boxset is splendid.

Boxed set packaging I don't get rid of and I display them on my bookshelf with the discs in the boxed sets. I don't have many boxed sets so I have space for those. I don't know if I could recycle boxed set packaging, such as the James Bond Collection, I don't feel like throwing those in the garbage, or if it's worth the hassle selling the empty boxed set on ebay.

[gridlocke13]

I'm 50/50 on this. I like the better PQ on physical media (BluRays) over the lossy PQ on my backed up and compressed files. However my biggest worry about my physical media is the slow demise of the hardware bluray player (wear and tear).

[alchav21]

Originally Posted by gridlocke13

I'm 50/50 on this. I like the better PQ on physical media (BluRays) over the lossy PQ on my backed up and compressed files. However my biggest worry about my physical media is the slow demise of the hardware bluray player (wear and tear).

Did you see the latest, where they are going to start Streaming First Run Movies to your Home Theater? Physical Media is slowly becoming obsolete, Digital will become main stream. Two Movies lately, Jurassic World and Martian, I Streamed in HDX to my HDTV way before they came out on Disc, and the PQ was outstanding.

[GuyIncognito]

My biggest gripe I have with digital is sometimes they restrict what version you can watch on particular platforms. There are some movies in my account that Vudu will only allow me to watch in SD on my PC even though I own the HDX. They require a different device to watch in HD. What if a PC is my only device? To me, that would be the same as a blu-ray having a restriction to say HD is only available on a Samsung Smart blu-ray player. If you use an LG non-smart player, this will only play in SD. If I paid for HD, I expect HD wherever I want to watch it. (the Weeds series is an example of this. There are some movies that do this as well but I don't remember which ones currently).

I also hate how sometimes there will be a random error and then I have to download the movie before watching it. The purpose of digital is for convenience. I select a movie and it streams.

[Canada]

Physical copy for me, always, better video and better audio.

[alchav21]

Originally Posted by GuyIncognito

My biggest gripe I have with digital is sometimes they restrict what version you can watch on particular platforms. If I paid for HD, I expect HD wherever I want to watch it.I also hate how sometimes there will be a random error and then I have to download the movie before watching it. The purpose of digital is for convenience. I select a movie and it streams.

Yes, I don't know the reason why on PC's only SD is the option but then I don't get why people watch Movies on their Phones and PC's. I know convenience, but that is not the best Movie experience. As for random errors, the proper set up is the best. Wireless is okay for Mobile Devices, but for your HDTV Hard Wired is the only way.

[Smackos]

My biggest worry with Digital isn't something that is talked about much. With physical media you have the basically Studio>Shop>You in the chain. With digital you have Studio>Shop>ISP>You. To get to your digital collection you need an internet provider, and the more reliant we all become on that Internet connection over the years then the higher they'll hike the price of it, whilst capping data as much as they can get away with. Think of a situation where you're paying prices of a full cable package and to "cord cut" means having to give up access to your digital collection too. You're basically committing yourself to always having an Internet connection at home no matter the cost of it.

[master gandhi]

Originally Posted by Smackos

My biggest worry with Digital isn't something that is talked about much. With physical media you have the basically Studio>Shop>You in the chain. With digital you have Studio>Shop>ISP>You. To get to your digital collection you need an internet provider, and the more reliant we all become on that Internet connection over the years then the higher they'll hike the price of it, whilst capping data as much as they can get away with. Think of a situation where you're paying prices of a full cable package and to "cord cut" means having to give up access to your digital collection too. You're basically committing yourself to always having an Internet connection at home no matter the cost of it.

Even if I wasn't a fan of streaming, I wouldn't be able to live without internet at home. I'd say most people can't live without internet at home, so I'm not quite sure of your point. Streaming isn't the sole reason to have home internet. It's just one of the bigger reasons in recent years (thanks to Netflix streaming and such). You still need it for web browsing, emails, online video games, etc.

[Smackos]

Originally Posted by master gandhi

Even if I wasn't a fan of streaming, I wouldn't be able to live without internet at home. I'd say most people can't live without internet at home, so I'm not quite sure of your point. Streaming isn't the sole reason to have home internet. It's just one of the bigger reasons in recent years (thanks to Netflix streaming and such). You still need it for web browsing, emails, online video games, etc.

No, sorry I disagree. The vast majority of Internet usage is now streaming related, the stats don't lie. Netflix alone makes up over 60% over Internet usage now stateside. I think most people now "web browse" on their mobiles, not on a pc generally in this day and age. The fact remains.. If you want to go digital then you are completely beholden to whatever your ISP wants to charge you. That's the simple hard truth. I'm a big proponent of streaming, I use Netflix, Amazon, iplayer and spend a lot of money on iTunes on a literal daily basis. Doesn't mean I'm not fully aware of how much I'm now being held to ransom whilst doing so.