Physical media VS Streaming?

[msldavies]

Re: Physical media VS Streaming?

The only movies I have in my library were either from Ultraviolet codes that came with discs or from free giveaways

Ditto. We have one TV with a DVD player (basic, not connected to anything else, no cable, no satellite, no DSL), my desktop computer and my tablet. I only got an account here when S.O. accidentally purchased a pre-release movie. I'm now working on adding a small collection via disc-to-digital to watch on my tablet when we are away from home (frequently) because TV programming does not appeal to us. Those movies will need to be converted through another D2D provider--I wouldn't mind paying Vudu to convert them to offset some of the bandwidth I use streaming movies when away from home, but our systems are no longer compatible.

I think the main thrust of this discussion is that not all of us have the latest and greatest equipment, nor have the desire or need for it. Some of us prefer physical media, others don't. (I still read real physical books, too.) We are all members here for our own special reasons. It does not make any one of us more right or wrong than another.

[rdodolak]

Re: Physical media VS Streaming?

I am going to put effort in being civil. However, your logic is so obtuse, I am surprised you put them on a publc forum.

Physical media is typically not treated as holy relics by consumers. They are susceptible to damage from too many ways to list. However, even if it were treated as priceless holy relics and stored in museum conditions, Mylar tape stretches over time. Optical disc looses reflectivity. Go to the National Archive government web site for an explanation.

Without question, the redundant storage array method used by streaming providers is the irreproachable gold standard for data retention. Trying to raise fear of loss of playback through policy change ignores that physical media lives it's life in the real world where there are dogs with sharp claws, and children, and mini-vans that get to 157 degrees in parking lots.

Not to mention that streaming is a feature upgrade. Try to start to watch a movie on your living room TV after you have located your plastic disc and then press pause and pick back up on your bed room TV. By the time you do, I will be ten minutes further along and almost asleep. That is just one example of the expanded feature set streaming has over physical.

It has nothing to do with bias in my case. It is an educated decision based on technical realities. I assume most other people moving to streaming are making decisions on the same basis.

Streaming even with it's conveniences isn't the holy grail either. You simply need a drop out in your internet provider or streaming provider and you can't stream the movies you want to watch until the issue is resolved. Not to mention an online connection is an additional monthly cost and some providers are capping the monthly bandwidth allowed. But, let's not forget, no online system has ever lasted forever and it's only a matter of time before an online system is shut down; whether it be 5, 10, or 20 years from now. But one thing is obvious from previous examples, once the service is shut down you'll lose access to that content.

[Walter-S_North_Carolina]

Re: Physical media VS Streaming?

Streaming even with it's conveniences isn't the holy grail either. You simply need a drop out in your internet provider or streaming provider and you can't stream the movies you want to watch until the issue is resolved. Not to mention an online connection is an additional monthly cost and some providers are capping the monthly bandwidth allowed. But, let's not forget, no online system has ever lasted forever and it's only a matter of time before an online system is shut down; whether it be 5, 10, or 20 years from now. But one thing is obvious from previous examples, once the service is shut down you'll loss access to that content.

I agree. Well said.

[diamond204]

Re: Physical media VS Streaming?

But, let's not forget, no online system has ever lasted forever and it's only a matter of time before an online system is shut down; whether it be 5, 10, or 20 years from now. But one thing is obvious from previous examples, once the service is shut down you'll lose access to that content.

That's the issue Ultraviolet was created to fix. In concept, once you own a UV movie, you always own it, and even if a studio leaves UV or sells the film to another studio, or the film is no longer sold.

As far as retailers losing their doors, recently Target Ticket closed, and it transferred all its users non-uv films to Cinemanow. The users UV films had no need to transfer, they were already available at all UV retailers. The weakness of UV is that not all vendors are on board yet, including some big players.

[rdodolak]

Re: Physical media VS Streaming?

That's the issue Ultraviolet was created to fix. In concept, once you own a UV movie, you always own it, and even if a studio leaves UV or sells the film to another studio, or the film is no longer sold.

As far as retailers losing their doors, recently Target Ticket closed, and it transferred all its users non-uv films to Cinemanow. The users UV films had no need to transfer, they were already available at all UV retailers. The weakness of UV is that not all vendors are on board yet, including some big players.

The other weak link is that those vendors require a connection to UVVU. If the UVVU servers ever get shut down, which they will at some point, then it's came over for UV.

[Walter-S_North_Carolina]

Re: Physical media VS Streaming?

The other weak link is that those vendors require a connection to UVVU. If the UVVU servers ever get shut down, which they will at some point, then it's came over for UV.

I respectfully disagree. The MPAA DECE initiative resides on the NuStar platform. This is the same platform the national SS7 data resides on for telecommunications. It has been around for more then a generation and is going nowhere. I think it is clear the MPAA is in the game for the very long haul.

Streaming adoption is gaining acceptance as a method of playback. I do not see any reports of this trend abating. Instead all seem in concert that it is going to continue to become the prefered methods consumers use for playback.

[rdodolak]

Re: Physical media VS Streaming?

I respectfully disagree. The MPAA DECE initiative resides on the NuStar platform. This is the same platform the national SS7 data resides on for telecommunications. It has been around for more then a generation and is going nowhere. I think it is clear the MPAA is in the game for the very long haul.

Streaming adoption is gaining acceptance as a method of playback. I do not see any reports of this trend abating. Instead all seem in concert that it is going to continue to become the prefered methods consumers use for playback.

I will have to respectfully disagree as well. UV still costs the studios and providers money and if and when they decide to turn this system off they will. Walter, I assume you're planning on sticking around for the next 20 years so we can revisit this in the future?

[tsken02]

Re: Physical media VS Streaming?

I prefer my movies to be easily portable, and not require Internet connections. That leaves out Blu-ray and Streaming.

I watch on planes, airports, and lots of hotel rooms.

[QuiGonJ]

Re: Physical media VS Streaming?

I keep physical copies for major blockbusters like Hunger Games. The quality is slightly higher. Depends greatly on the home playback system you have. All I know is if they shut off the servers without having a new system in place, somebody gonna be facing a major, major class action lawsuit.

[Walter-S_North_Carolina]

Re: Physical media VS Streaming?

I will have to respectfully disagree as well. UV still costs the studios and providers money and if and when they decide to turn this system off they will. Walter, I assume you're planning on sticking around for the next 20 years so we can revisit this in the future?

You are correct that UV costs the studios money. Per transaction, lets call TCO for that to be X.

To sell the same title via a physical medium, they need to incure costs A+B+C+D+E+F, the sum of which are going to dwarf anything it costs for DECE membership.

[Alan Smithee]

Re: Physical media VS Streaming?

I am going to put effort in being civil. However, your logic is so obtuse, I am surprised you put them on a publc forum.

I'm surprised that you would say that, and then respond with so many spelling errors. And "Optical disc looses reflectivity"? No, its reflectivity neither loosens nor is it lost- My oldest CDs are now 30 years old, and I have laserdiscs which are over 35 years old which still play like new- none of them have either lost or loosened their reflectivity. I also have a few Beta tapes that will be 39 years old in a few months- they still play fine, though I've transferred them to DVD just to be safe, and will make backups of those DVDs also just to be safe.

Not to mention that streaming is a feature upgrade. Try to start to watch a movie on your living room TV after you have located your plastic disc and then press pause and pick back up on your bed room TV. By the time you do, I will be ten minutes further along and almost asleep. That is just one example of the expanded feature set streaming has over physical.

I don't HAVE a "bed room TV". Why would I want one? Movies are meant to be seen on a BIG screen, and I have the biggest one I can afford in my living room. I generally don't start a movie if I'm not going to be awake for all of it, but if I do fall asleep I'll watch the rest of it on my BIG screen, not some little bedroom TV (with sound likely through its pathetic built-in speakers as well.)

And you COMPLETELY ignored the fact that Vudu already HAS removed titles- they were refunded, but that doesn't bring them back for those who wanted to keep them. I've also heard that some purchased the extended version of Disney's "Bedknobs and Broomsticks" recently, only to have it replaced one day with the shorter version. That sort of thing is also likely to happen in the future- George Lucas loves to keep updating "Star Wars" for instance, so what is there to stop him from changing it every day if he so desires? Doesn't matter if you liked the version that was up when you "bought" it!

[addseo1118]

Re: Physical media VS Streaming?

I have so enjoyed with all discussion here. Thanks for sharing well.

[Walter-S_North_Carolina]

Re: Physical media VS Streaming?

You are right. I should be more careful, but am lazy when posting on forums.

Even though your optical discs still play, there is data loss over time. Really, the only way of safe guarding from data loss is on storage systems. Those are too expensive for almost all people and keeping one in your house would be a pain. Having a provider do it for you is a tremendous service, IMHO.

[Popcorn]

Re: Physical media VS Streaming?

I don't HAVE a "bed room TV". Why would I want one? Movies are meant to be seen on a BIG screen, and I have the biggest one I can afford in my living room. I generally don't start a movie if I'm not going to be awake for all of it, but if I do fall asleep I'll watch the rest of it on my BIG screen, not some little bedroom TV (with sound likely through its pathetic built-in speakers as well.)

Uh Al, didn't you have a gripe about Adult movies being removed? Not sure you need or want a big screen for that.

I personally love having the ability to watch movies on my bedroom tv. Not everything is pure art and I don't feel bad watching Dumber and Dumber Too in the bedroom. I've got plenty of options, a 120" screen in my home theater, 65" Panasonic in the family room, and televisions for each bedroom and home office. They all get used.

[lujan]

Re: Physical media VS Streaming?

Uh Al, didn't you have a gripe about Adult movies being removed? Not sure you need or want a big screen for that.

I personally love having the ability to watch movies on my bedroom tv. Not everything is pure art and I don't feel bad watching Dumber and Dumber Too in the bedroom. I've got plenty of options, a 120" screen in my home theater, 65" Panasonic in the family room, and televisions for each bedroom and home office. They all get used.

I use the Vudu Spark in the bedroom and watch lots of TV shows there. I also like to watch there when I'm sick and in bed.

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