DVDs -- How And Why You Should Switch To BluRay
Yep, it's time to make the switch to BluRay. You should buy a BluRay player and/or start buying movies on BluRay instead of regular DVDs wherever it makes sense. If you've got an HD capable TV and a BluRay player, you should also consider replacing some of your favorite movies with BluRay versions. Here's how and why.
You own a regular TV -- Buy a BluRay player today and in the future buy only BluRay titles. BluRay players are now very cheap ($200 is common). It seems like an additional expense but every time you buy a regular DVD when a BluRay version is available for a similar price, you're actually wasting money. It's like buying 8 track tapes when you KNOW you're gonna get a CD player eventually. A BluRay player can let you watch all your regular DVDs and any BluRay DVDs you buy. You won't see any difference on a regular TV, but when you eventually upgrade to an LCD or plasma that's HD-ready, you'll have a library of titles ready to go.
You own an HD-ready TV, either a plasma or LCD -- Why don't you own a BluRay player? The better brands "upscale" the regular DVDs you already own, making them look better than they are. No, they don't look as good as actual BluRay titles, but it does make a difference. Plus, you should only be buying BluRay titles from now on. The difference is that significant, just like it was when you jumped from VHS to DVD or cassette to compact disc.
Replacing the DVDs you already own with BluRay -- Any title you truly love and want to watch over and over again is worth buying on BluRay no matter how much more expensive it is. But in general, I'd say unless a movie is absolutely one of your big favorites, there's no need to replace all your regular DVDs with BluRay. You can watch all those movies and if you have an HD-ready TV, the BluRay player will make them look even better than they do. And naturally, comedies and documentaries and TV shows (especially older ones) don't necessarily need the pizazz of BluRay. Of course, if we're talking a sci-fi spectacle like 2001: A Space Odyssey or a landmark film like The Godfather, those are cases where it will be worth your while to upgrade right away. And you can always re-gift your regular DVD copies to someone because they're great movies and a friend will be glad to own them. But for most of your library, I'd wait until the BluRay versions were really cheap (prices better come down at some point) or not bother at all. Your regular DVDs look great. It just doesn't make any sense to keep buying them from now on.
Buying new DVDs on BluRay or regular DVD -- In general, I'd just stop buying regular DVDs. Buy a movie you want on BluRay, especially when the price is about the same on BluRay, which is quite common when you're comparing special edition DVDs to BluRay versions of new releases. If the regular DVD version is, say, $20 and the BluRay is $40, just don't buy it. Unless it's some incredibly elaborate special effects extravaganza you're dying to get, there's no reason to shell out significantly more bucks for BluRay. If you really can't bear to wait, maybe it's one of the few movies worth shelling out for. But why not just Netflix it and wait? Dont encourage them to think that BluRay can be an excuse to permanently raise prices on DVDs. But again, don't waste your money on regular DVDs any more. If it's an obscure flick that's never been available on DVD and isn't put out on BluRay, sure, make an exception. Otherwise, hold off.
So buy a BluRay player and start building your BluRay library, even if you don't own an HD-ready plasma or LCD TV. And if you do, the format war is over, so what are you waiting for? Here are some recent BluRay releases and whether they make sense to buy compared to the cost of a regular DVD.
The Dark Knight ($35.99 on BluRay versus $34.98 for regular DVD special edition; Warner Bros.) Sure, you can buy a single disc regular DVD edition for $28.98 but I'm going to compare the standard DVDs loaded with extras to the BluRay since if you're enough of a fan to buy the movie, you probably want all the bells and whistles. So in this case, there is only $1 in difference in the cost. And this movie looks stunning on BluRay -- a real demo disc for when your friends come over, whether you're showing off your new TV or your sound system. Finally, when there's no price difference, you'd be foolish to buy a regular DVD. This is exactly why you need to buy a BluRay player now, whatever home entertainment system you have. You can enjoy the movie right away and then be wowed once you upgrade your system.
Tommy Boy ($29.99 on BluRay versus $12.98 for regular DVD; Paramount) -- Okay, an extra 17 dollars is a huge premium, especially when you're talking about a low-budget comedy that won't gain a huge benefit from being seen on BluRay. If you own it already, I don't see the need to upgrade. Naturally, if it's on your all-time favorite list, any movie is worth getting.
The Cheetah Girls One World ($34.99 versus $29.99 on regular DVD; Disney) -- Okay, the price difference is a minimal $5. On the other hand, there's no need for super great picture or sound on the titles your kids watch, is there? Maybe not, but why buy a regular DVD when BluRay is available and has a few extra bonus features they'll love to check out. When the price is about the same, you should go BluRay, even for kids' stuff.
The Man Who Fell To Earth ($39.95 versus $39.95 for regular DVD; Criterion) -- Criterion always sets the gold standard for special edition DVDs. Here we have one of their first BluRay releases, only to discover that it costs exactly the same amount as their regular Criterion release. One big difference: the regular Criterion edition came with a copy of the book the movie is based on. Otherwise the editions are identical and I imagine the extras will be identical when possible as well. Since the movie matters to me more than the extras, I'm especially glad the price is the same. This BluRay also comes in a flimsier cardboard slipcover, which is either another cost-saving measure or an eco-friendly change. But quality control does't get better than Criterion, so it's great news to see them determined to release BluRay titles at the same price point as their regular DVDs.
Hot Rod ($29.98 versus $19.98 for regular DVD; Paramount) -- Another low-budget comedy and not a very successful one, despite Andy Samberg's appeal. Is there any reason the BluRay version should cost $10 more? Nope. So wait until the price comes down. But you're itching to own it and wonder whether you should pay $20 for a regular DVD? In general, just go cold turkey. If the price is too high to buy on BluRay, don't buy it at all. That's the only way to let the studios know that you're not willing to pay a premium for the pleasure of buying movies on BluRay. They should see BluRay as a reason to keep you buying titles, not as an excuse to raise prices. Remember, DVDs were better and cheaper than VHS and that market took off. CDs were almost always more expensive than cassettes and for a while it worked but when a cheaper alternative came along (digital tracks) the market collapsed. Lower BluRay prices and be glad people aren't just watching these movies for free online!
Into The Wild ($29.99 versus $35.98 for the special edition regular DVD; Paramount) -- Here's a terrific surprise. The BluRay edition is $6 LESS than the regular DVD special edition and contains all the same bonus features. It's the same price as the regular single disc DVD. It's an acclaimed film that's beautfully shot and looks great on DVD. Just on principal, we should all buy this title to encourage them into pricing BluRays like this.
Lost Complete Fourth Season ($96.99 versus $59.99 for regular DVD; ABC/Disney) -- And here's the exact opposite of Into The Wild, a DVD set that is dramatically more expensive than the regular DVD for absolutely no good reason. (A few modest exclusive extras certainly aren't worth $36.) On top of it, both sets are the same price as previous season sets despite having fewer episodes. Sure, the series looks even more smashing on BluRay than regular DVD -- this is Lost, and not some set-bound sitcom. But this massive price hike is unconscionable. Watch the episodes online and wait for a much lower price point before adding it to your library. Even if the show's a favorite, the gap in prices make this one you should resist. UPDATE: the Suggested Retail Price for this set was lowered soon after it came out to $69.99. That's only $10 more than the $59.99 for the regular DVDs and since this is an entire season as opposed to just one movie, that's a very competitive price. Still, it was a dumb move to put it out even for a week at such a higher SRP. People see that in their heads and get the fixed idea that BluRay will be much more expensive than regular DVDs. Of course what YOU should be looking at are the sale prices and when it comes to that, BluRay is quickly matching regular DVDs. See my update below for more info. And thanks to Jeff Kleist of The Digital Bits for alerting me to this price change.
Ray Charles Live at Montreaux 1997 ($24.98 versus $14.98 on regular DVD; Eagle Rock) -- Okay, Ray Charles is a giant but this show comes at the tail end of his illustrious career. It's a fine concert, if not a legendary one for such a riveting, iconic figure. Ten dollars more is a big increase for the BluRay version, especially since it's a low-cost price point to begin with. I'm generally avoiding comparing sale prices, but in this case I'd point out that buying it on sale reduces the difference to just over $5. Still, no need to encourage smaller companies to hike their prices just like the big ones. They should provide better value and gain market share on the big boys that way.
Ghost ($29.99 versus $12.99 on regular DVD; Paramount) -- Maybe this is your favorite romantic movie and you won't mind ponying up. But again, there's no reason a movie almost 20 years old should cost more than twice as much on BluRay as it does on regular DVD.
Death Race ($39.98 versus $29.98 on regular DVD; Universal) -- This is an action flick and so it'll pop on BluRay. And if you're a Jason Statham fan, at least you can tell yourself the extra money is worth the free digital copy the BluRay version offers so you can watch it on your computer or portable device. Still, a 30% increase in price is hard to justify in general.
Death Proof and PLANET TERROR ($29.95 each versus $14.95 on regular DVD; Dimension/Genius) -- Two very fun B movies (though I still wish they'd offer the original theatrical version with these movies as shorter double features). And they look and sound great on BluRay. But twice the price? No way, unless female stunt artists are a source of joy for you.
Old School ($29.99 versus $14.99 for regular DVD; DreamWorks) -- A very funny comedy that isn't going to really improve dramatically on BluRay. And twice the price keeps this off your list unless Vince Vaughn is unmissable. In that case you probably own it already on regular DVD and there's no need to upgrade.
Other recent BluRay releases: The Truman Show ($29.99; Paramount); Event Horizon ($29.99; Paramount); The Women (2008 remake) ($35.99; New Line); Tori Amos Live at Montreaux ($24.98; Eagle Rock); Days Of Thunder ($29.99; Paramount); The Heartbreak Kid ($29.99; DreamWorks); The Strat Pack Live In Concert ($24.98; Eagle Rock); Last Holiday ($29.99; Paramount); and Coach Carter ($29.99; Paramount).
So there you see it. On new releases, sometimes you can pay even less for BuRay and often it's within $5. When it's a big spectacle, that makes BluRay well worth it. On reissues of classic movies, the bigger the flick and the more special effects, the more likely it's worth it. And whether it's a comedy, a TV show or a classic western, unless the title is among your absolute favorite, there's no need to shell out 30% or even 100% more just for the pleasure of BluRay. But do buy a player today, slow down or stop your regular DVD purchases, buy new releases when they make financial sense and carefully upgrade your catalog. BluRay is a major leap ahead and you shouldn't spend any more money on regular DVDs if you can help it.
UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE
Okay, so tons of comments on this post. I first put it up on Friday and today the New York Times has an article talking about BluRay's fuzzy future. They're right and wrong -- I don't expect it to supplant regular DVD completely or even wholly. But with DVD sales slowing (it's a mature format), if they can keep sales steady by introducing improvements like BluRay then that'll be a success. But the NYT is wrong in thinking of BluRay as a whole new format. It's not. You can buy a very modestly priced BluRay player today ($150 and dropping) and watch all your regular DVDs on it. You don't need to get rid of them and buy BluRay the way you did when you switched from VHS to DVD. Here are some responses to the most frequent comments.
1. HOW DARE YOU! THERE'S A RECESSION -- Yes, we're in a recession. But people will still review new automobiles and fancy restaurants and vacation getaways. That's not offensive. Someone will buy a new car this year, even if most people will hold off if they can. People like to read reviews of wildly expensive restaurants even if they never plan to eat there. And DVDs are hardly a luxury item a la yachts and caviar. If you're a family of four, a $22 DVD is a great bargain compared to going to the movies. During the Depression of the 1930s, people went to movies more often than they ever have before or since. But did the fact of the Depression mean movie critics at the time were insensitive cretins for even talking about films? Of course not.
2. NEW FORMAT X IS JUST ON THE HORIZON -- A new format or technology is ALWAYS on the horizon. If you follow that logic, you must be watching a 12 inch black and white TV while listening to your Edison cylindars. I am VERY cautious about embracing a new format. I've actively campaigned against almost every new format in entertainment you can think of, from VHS and laser disc (too expensive and bulky) to Divx and MP3s. (Hate 'em.) The ONLY two formats I've embraced in the last 25 years are CDs and DVDs. And whatever new formats arise in years to come, I'll enjoy the library of CDs and DVDs I have now for the rest of my life, just like some people still enjoy their LPs. New technologies don't mean old technologies become "useless." I'll still enjoy my hardcover book even if you only read on a Kindle.
3. HI-DEF DOWNLOADING IS CLEARLY GONNA STOMP ON DVDS -- I do agree that streaming and downloading movies will be the dominant way people rent movies quite soon. But for many technological and legal reasons, hi-def downloading is years away from being the dominant way to buy movies, even if we do overcome efforts by telecos/cable/internet companies to charge people onerous fees for using a lot of bandwidth. And certainly, worldwide, hi-def downloading is absurd to consider as dominating in giant markets like China, India, Indonesia and Africa for decades to come. Even the US won't be capable of getting it available to a majority of users for a good decade. And so what if it does become dominant and you decide come 2015 that you never want to buy a DVD again? The library you have will still be useful. And if you only rent, the modest $150 you spent to get a BluRay player so you could rent BluRay from Netflix (for an extra $1) or borrow from your local library will surely have been worth it by then.
4. BLURAY IS TOO EXPENSIVE -- I compared the suggested retail price because sale prices vary so much from store to store and even week to week. But when you check out the sale price of new releases, BluRay and regular DVDs are almost neck and neck. The Dark Knight, for example, costs only $1 more on BluRay than regular DVD at Amazon. And it's not a new format -- you don't need two players and you can always buy or rent anything on regular DVD that's a lot cheaper or only available that way.
5. BLU RAY WON'T LAST -- Even if it doesn't, your player can still play regular DVDs and I'm confident that just as you can still buy a turntable you'll be able to buy a cheap DVD player than can play regular and BluRay DVDs for years to come. Again, regular DVDs are the dominant worldwide medium by far and certainly won't fade away in the next decade. Twenty years is quite a good run for any format. LPs lasted about 40 years, 78s even longer but of course as technology improves so does the pace of change. But again, the library you build will be positive and enjoyable for years to come, combining regular DVD and BluRay DVDs, whether or not most of us are watching 3-D holograms via an implant come 2025.
6. I'M SHILLING FOR MANUFATURERS AND MUST HAVE BEEN PAID TO WRITE SUCH A DUMB COLUMN -- Of course, I wasn't paid a penny by anyone to write this column. In fact, I spent years excoriating them for the absurd format war they engaged in between BluRay and HD-DVD. I modestly preferred HD-DVD but called for a pox on both their houses for going to market with both. I'm perfectly happy with my regular DVDs and if the studios thought they could jack up prices via BluRay they've been proven very wrong. This is the make or break year for BluRay and they're reducing prices very fast. IF you own a HD-ready plasma or LCD screen or plan to buy one in the next five years and IF you're already buying DVDs and IF the title you want is available on BluRay for about the same price, I recommend you buy it on Bluray. Does that sound like some crazy, 'oh my gosh BluRay is AWESOME' plug to you? To have this option available to you, you'll have to shell out a modest $150 for a DVD player that plays regular and Bluray DVDs. But hey, even if you're just renting from Netflix, a BluRay player makes sense. If the worst case scenario happens and the studios abandon BluRay in five years, you'll STILL be able to watch and buy regular DVDs using your player and enjoy the superior quality of BluRay for the titles they did release. And I'll bet anyone any amount they want to suggest that DVDs in both or either format will absolutely be around in 2015. To suggest they'll disappear completely is silly. And AGAIN, if they did, so what? You can still enjoy the library you've built for the rest of your life, just like your books and CDs.
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michael, you consistently produce the most knowledgeable threads. thanks. in our gigantic house we have everything haphazardly hooked up to everything else. there are sports parties going on in front of two plasmas. there's an lcd dedicated internet display, and so on and so forth all this is jocked by a surly, illegally young warcraft obsessive and an old roadie now reduced to setting up video and PA's for business meetings.
my ignorance-based experience? no problem with dvd or hard drive formats. but for tv shows based on close-ups- soaps, teen & chick drama, news panels, etc.- my friends and i are happiest with a big old tube television as the end component- without high definition. the surly, contemputous, nonverbal tech jock says i need to get a flat screen and turn down the brightness pitch. but i've seen some big ones that are backed down (maybe to save power) and they seem to lose resolution.
with the onward march of audio and video tech, we seem to be parting ways in terms of our preferred content as well as budgets, etc. format advances are definitely molding content. big action is most improved by high resolution- it may supress the production of other content until tech production and post production learn how to keep 50" faces from looking like drivers' license pictures. i mean, why waltz around with all this when the gossip girls wind up looking like they're standing in a flourescent-lit tile bathroom?
Hilarious perspective. Lucky you to be able to have so many options that you can watch your programming on the best device possible. Thx for reading and the nice comment.
Excellent article. I bought a Blu-ray player awhile ago based on a review by Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun Times. I love watching nature documentaries, and the Baraka and Planet Earth Blu-rays have the most beautiful pictures that I have ever seen.
Those really are stunning BluRay titles. I can't wait for Koyanisqaatsi myself.
Blu-ray makes movie watching a much better experience then standard definition tv. For example, I always thought the film Kingdom of Heaven was boring until I watched it on Blu ray and I was just blown away! If you have the proper LCD/Plasma screen, a Blu-ray player, proper cables and a decent sound system then you will get the full experience it has to offer which is 100 times better then regular tv in my mind!
And to those who say it's not the right time...wel
And what do people do during a bad economy?? Statistics say that people do more tv watching..
Great point about cocooning. Also, if people already own the home entertainment system, there's absolutely no downside to getting an inexpensive BluRay player. Modest investment on top of what they've already spent and when the BluRay movie is about the same price as the regular one, why wouldn't you choose that version? And even if you're not ready to upgrade to an HD-ready plasma or LCD screen (maybe it'll be years away), you can buy the titles on BluRay and watch them right away on your regular TV screen if you buy a cheap player, along with your regular DVDs. Then when you switch over to a better TV screen, you'll have a ready supply of 10 or 20 or however many BluRay titles that will look so much better they'll seem like new. Thx for reading.
Yeah, $200 for a new technology that's 2 years in -is- cheap, wether the cheapskates like it or not.
The DVD tech was quite a bit more expensive relatively back in 2001btw.
Now, is it more expensive to buy in Blu Ray or get your weekly carton of cigarettes? Or your Booze. Actually I'm pretty sure it's also cheaper than the weekly Baseball game where you stuff your face with chili dogs or greasy bbq ribs + beer.
And it's better for your health, too.
Online is going to take over anyway? On which planet do you live? Because last time I checked, Bandwith isn't free, and it's going to get pricier with the more people sucking on it, and the quality of video on it is sub par at best. Not counting all the areas in the world (in the US even) not covered by Broadband.
Entertainment is vain and worhtless? Sure. It's not like life has to be lived for anything other than working your butt off and reproducing, right?
I agree that the price of the BR movies need to go down, but any film lover has, is considering, or will soon, change to Blu Ray. The difference is that good. Plus it's compatible with my DVD collection.
Btw I come from a middle class income home, both my wife and I work our butts off, but we love movies.
Last year: HDTV - $1100. PS3: $399. This year: 2nd BR player (bedroom) - $180.
Thx for reading. I'll also be stuffing my face with a hot dog at a Yankee game when I'm not home watching BluRay, recession or no recession.
Evidently it has escaped Glitz's notice that we're in a recession (and have been for a year); people are losing their jobs, their homes, and retirement savings.
Nothing else could explain Giltz calling a $200 BluRay DVD player "very cheap" -- especially when he clearly intends that it will be a DUPLICATE piece of electronics (albeit an upgrade).
Thx for reading. For electronics, under $300 is often considered the price point where a product goes mainstream. By the end of the year, BluRay players will be available for $99 (you can already get them for $150). People already paying for Netflix can rent BluRay instead of regular DVDs for just $1 more and get a lot more bang for their buck -- and on a budget. Obviously, my column is about buying and renting DVDs which may seem like a luxury to those out of work but should I just stop writing about DVDs? Should people stop talking about movies and books and music because some people will choose not to buy them at this time? By the way, I'm broke and out of work :)
Why do you keep referring to a "flat screen tv" ? You mean an HD capable TV. I have a flat screen Toshiba CRT TV that is about five years old, and it definitely does not support HD despite the shape of its screen.
I bought a blu ray player for Christmas only because my old DVD player stopped working. I have a 32 inch LCD TV that supports 1080i and 720p but not 1080p. The blu ray on 720p looks marginally better than a standard dvd with upconversion. The difference would probably be more noticeable on a bigger screen. The scene in The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford with the night riders hiding in the woods with hoods over their heads being illuminated by the light of the passing train looked really spooky. Probably better than it would have looked on an upconverted dvd, but I am not convinced it would have been worth it if my old dvd player hadn't died.
At least I should thank you for not using that ad writer's blather about 1080p being "full HD," as though any other output is somehow not really HD. There are no HD tv signals out there that are 1080p and anyone who claims to be able to tell the difference between 1080p and 1080i or 720p on any but the biggest screen is full of baloney. 1080p is not "full" it is just highest resolution with progressive scan CURRENTLY available.
Thanks for the info -- I'm no tech expert. I've changed the wording.
we watched our first blueray DVD movie last night. loved the quality of the pic.
DVD's look just fine. And because they are digital, they'll never be truly obselete. Worrying about constanly upgrading your technology to the latest is just another example of American consumerism running rampant. It's a waste of time. Hold on to what you've got.
"DVD's look just fine. And because they are digital, they'll never be truly obsolete."
Not sure this true... there is nothing wrong with DVD's its just that Blu Ray disks are HD and everything is moving that way. Jump in when you can afford it...
I understand BetaMax was superior to VHS and you know how that turned out.
So.... clue me in what do I do if I want a DVR do they make ones that play/record blue ray or is this another attempt to nickel and dime consumers into buying more video equipment in incompatible formats----jeez the media industry gets it WRONG again. I'll think I'll just watch what I used to tape on the internet.
uh...well if you tried to play a blue ray disc in a dvr you wouldn't be able to find a slot for it to go in so I guess they are incompatible. There is no reason for them to be compatible however. One plays discs and one records things off of the TV. An HD DVR will have picture quality comparable to a blu ray player. If they start selling Blu-Ray Recorders that might compete directly with DVRs, but DVR's would win for the same reason Mp3 players beat CD players.
This whole thing makes me a little ill. We are in a recession, the planet is in real trouble ecologically, and we're talking about dumping more stuff into a landfill? How's this for an idea: be happy with what you've got.
Hi PaxMundis, You could of course write that comment after every single article in every single newspaper and magazine and website published for the next ten years that doesn't directly address the economy and the environment. What's your point? No one should watch any TV, ready any books, watch any movies, or buy anything because f these important pressing issues? My article was not about grotesque over-indulgence (I was hardly writing about skiing trips via helicopter to remote mountains or the like). It's about how people like me on a budget and wary of new techology formats might for various reasons find it economically reasonable if they buy DVDs already to buy BliuRay since more and more of them are about the same price. Not being rich but loving music, for example, I stopped buying cassettes and had a "library" of about 30 CDs before I bought my first CD player, which only happened after prices came down enough. I can enjoy good films (like Al Gores An Inconvenient Truth or Iranian cinema or Ballast, the story of ignored and forgotten people in middle America) AND also stay engaged in those important issues. Why can't you?
Michael Glitz might find of interest a Nov. 6, 2008 article in Maclean's, the Canadian weekly newsmagazine macleans.c
Unfortunately it's the exact same process that was used when DVD replaced VHS, the commercials are EXACTLY the same! The commercials progressed from, "Available in VHS and now DVD/Available in VHS and DVD/Available in DVD and VHS." It's currently exactly the same with DVD and the Blu-Ray. The video companies DON'T CARE if Blu-Ray isn't selling as well as it should right now. They've decided that the Blu-Ray will be what people will have to buy PERIOD, so they can make more money. It's the same thing with TV's, I've heard that soon non-flatscreen TV's will not be sold ANYWHERE in the US. It's a known fact that flatscreens are constructed to burn out FASTER than regular TV's but cost over 3 1/2 times the price.
Guess what Mr. Giltz and the video and tv companies?? When I can't buy DVD's anymore, I'm not planning to switch over to Blu-Ray. When my regular TV goes out after more years, I'm NOT getting a flatscreen tv that costs the same as a klunker CAR. I will NOT contribute to more unnecessary tech-crap polluting the planet.
Hey guys, thanks for reading. Ianmcc, if you have a good computer monitor that you've already purchased, you might very well be able to see a much better screen image of BluRay via that without buying a new TV. But unfortunately, people simply aren't buying cathode ray TVs so they will be harder and harder to find in the next few years. I understand BluRay won't necessarily replace regular DVDs but under my cautious, careful approach, it won't matter. Your BluRay player plays both formats, I talk endlessly about how a lot of titles aren't worth replacing on BluRay if you already own the regular DVD and I denounce higher prices for BluRay every step of the way. BUT, if you already own a HD-ready TV or plan to buy one in the next ten years and if the title you're buying is the same price on BluRay as regular DVD, I'm just suggesting that it makes sense to get the BluRay version. If everyone does like I say, BluRay sales will remain very slow until the prices of them are the same or less as regular DVDs.
The Blurays are slowly taking over the dvd section at Best Buy. Personally I'm just downloading all of my movies digitally these days. Digital downloads are the future ...
and that just it for now, there the future...I want something NOW
Here's an idea:
Pay a few more bucks for cable, and you can get all the movies your heart desires either for free, or for $5, on the spot, just by hitting the ">" key on your remote!
How often do people really watch Batman on DVD, or BluRay anyway? 10 times a month? I doubt it. Just watch it On Demand, through your cable subscription. It's so much greener than buying all new BluRays. What a colossal waste, replacing everything.
Also, Netflix, under certain plans, lets you watch movies on your computer! Hook up your computer to your TV, and you're good to go!
That's where I am at now, most movies are On Demand, and I don't have to fill my house with DVDs or BluRays or whatever. I ordered an enhanced version of Hitchcock's movie Shadow of a Doubt, that's about the only thing that can tempt me to purchase a DVD these days.
Streaming pay per view movies to your tv is the same as renting movies....
Unless we plan on waiting for about 2 more years when hard goods are dead. Apple TV, OnDemand, Netfilx... all will allow you to just download movies, buy them or rent them. No need to store countless DVDs that just take up room gather dust, clutter up the living room, make you look like a geek and slowly become obsolete.
Just skip BlueRay altogether and buy an AppleTV, watch your movies OnDemand or get a Netfilx box. Much better. And no DVDs to end up in a landfill.
Well genius, you must not have much of a home theater system... because downloads are inferior in audio - low bit rate = crappy dolby digital 5.1, not mulitchannel PCM, and the video is no where near the same quality when it comes to picture quality - blu ray wins hands down.. When downloads are equal in terms of audio and video quality - I am all for it, but downloads are not, and will not be until our broadband infrastructure is severely upgraded and ISPs stop limiting bandwidth available to would be downloaders.
Not to be picky, but everyone who bought a 720P "flatscreen in the last 3 or 4 years, probably is still getting used to seeing 500 lines of resolution. Why would they upgrade to 1080P to see the difference when they were fine with 720P when they stepped up to that? My point is that only videophiles will 'need' blueray. I'm a videophile who doesn't want to spend the money.
TOMMY BOY? Really? Record it on your DVR once a year, and watch it a couple times before erasing.
"TOMMY BOY? Really? Record it on your DVR once a year, and watch it a couple times before erasing." Wish I had said that. This whole article illustrates the problem with Hollywood. Its all about special effects and stars. No one seems to get it that what really matters are plot and characters and dialog. I would rather see a new episode of Six Feet Under or The Sopranos (yes I know they haven't been in production for a while I'm just struggling to think of anything decent that is still being done) displayed through grainy YouTube than some new ultrahighdef piece of crap staring the latest buffed scientologist and anorexic barby.
Totally agree.
Plus, I'm trying to cut down on the amount of movies I buy. My current collection is getting rather large and I own way too many stupid movies I'll never watch again.
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