Streaming vs BD/DVD (Split From Blockbuster Thread) - Page 2 - Canadian TV, Computing and Home Theatre Forums

pinner62 · 2012-04-20, 02:37 PM

Both blu-ray and streaming will exsist ,blu-ray is not gonna disappear.I purchase blu-rays that i want forever ,I stream stuff I wanna watch once or twice.There;s nothing like popping in a blu-ray putting your feet up to the best sound and picture available,blu- rays will eventually make dvd,s obsolete,hell I heard even the next xbox is gonna have a bluray drive in it ,makes sense if they wanna compete next generation!
http://www.techradar.com/news/gaming...rumours-937167

Blackloz · 2012-04-20, 02:51 PM

I sure hope BD will be around for a while yet as I will never do any kind of streaming. I had Netflix for 2 weeks and cancelled, it was just terrible.

pinner62 · 2012-04-20, 02:53 PM

I collect steelbook blu-rays ,no one is taking them from me lol!

audacity · 2012-04-20, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blackloz

I sure hope BD will be around for a while yet as I will never do any kind of streaming. I had Netflix for 2 weeks and cancelled, it was just terrible.

All the people who have had this reaction to Netflix aren't aware that Netflix defaults to the lowest streaming quality setting if you are in Canada. Just go into your account page and set the quality setting to the highest setting and it looks really good.

PokerFace · 2012-04-20, 04:08 PM

Although PCs are dropping optical drives from their designs, Future Shop has a $1000 PC with a Blu-ray disc drive (shown in its latest flyer on page 16).

Since many people use online streaming or downloading to view their movies, it makes sense not to add disc drives to PCs (plus it costs less ... and the buyer can choose to add a DVD or Blu-ray drive to the system if desired). If there were no longer any bays available on a new PC to add a disc drive, that would be shocking to me.

In addition to great sound, Blu-rays also often include more Special Features ... however, since both Blockbuster and Rogers often carried the Rental versions (if available) stripped of extras, I started to dread wandering through video store aisles. Not only that, but in Canada, we are stuck with many Canadian versions of DVDs and Blu-rays that often only include some (or none) of the Special features that are included on the often superior American DVD/Blu-rays.

I don't want to bother with streaming and would prefer to rent or buy physical media, however, until there's a convenient way to watch Blu-rays without having the need to occasionally use the Internet to get firmware updates for some of the new releases, I'll stick with the inferior DVD format.

It's very expensive for the video stores to keep up with format changes. I wonder what would have happened had the Blu-ray format never been born? Would the reduced inventory and overall cost (since no Blu-ray versions to purchase) have allowed Blockbuster to flourish even more? Or would the lack of premium Blu-ray quality content have driven even more renters to the Internet (to stream/download the same content).

If it was no longer possible to rent Blu-rays (and buying was the only option), I assume that even more people would turn to the Internet (or VOD) because the quality would be closer to that of DVD (even with a basic Internet setup). The lack of online Special Features might deter some from streaming movies, but the overall convenience would probably trump that.

Family Video (a US-based company) has about 7 stores in Ontario and might expand to other parts of Canada in the future. A lot depends on how fast the digital world grows.

Related Blu-ray/Streaming thread:

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=135424
[Feel Cheated By Blu-ray]

HDTV101 · 2012-04-21, 12:38 AM

too late for No more "Late Fees" ....

MarcP · 2012-04-21, 12:45 AM

I don't care at all about the extras on DVD or Bluray. I just want the movie. Physical format will become a niche.

pinner62 · 2012-04-21, 02:35 AM

Speak for yourself ,the extra's are a bonus,maybe not everyone cares but movie collectors do!Also director cuts on bd ,extended cuts as in lord of the rings I will always cherish!

eljay · 2012-04-21, 08:10 AM

Quote:

I don't care at all about the extras on DVD or Bluray. I just want the movie.

Yup, same here.

ssbtech · 2012-04-21, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by audacity

All the people who have had this reaction to Netflix aren't aware that Netflix defaults to the lowest streaming quality setting if you are in Canada. Just go into your account page and set the quality setting to the highest setting and it looks really good.

I made sure to change this setting on my Netflix account. Also browsed only HD movies.

Netflix HD is about comprable in PQ to my DVD ISO rips. My bluray -> MKV rips blow Netflix out of the water.

I like to take my disc collection and build it into one library - all of my movies, TV shows, etc.. are integrated into one interface in MyMovies for Media Center. With streaming services I'm forced to bounce between several "apps" on various devices to get to what I want.

Inzane · 2012-04-21, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PokerFace

Although PCs are dropping optical drives from their designs

I don't like where this is going...

lars · 2012-04-21, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by audacity

Blu-ray is dead, streaming video is the future.

How dead is it? I've read that 2011 was blu-rays best sales year yet, and I've seen nothing that states 2012 won't be better than last year. I'm pretty sure that blu-ray and streaming will coexist for a long long time.

jshel101 · 2012-04-21, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ssbtech

My bluray -> MKV rips blow Netflix out of the water.

This is in your opinion anyways. HD Netflix PQ is excellent IMO. But anyway, who really cares. I enjoy the excellent PQ I get watching whatever I want to watch, wether it is Netflix, downloads, streaming videos, etc....

And how is all of this relevant to Blockbuster pulling the plug in Canada? I think we are going waaaay OT here.

ssbtech · 2012-04-21, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jshel101

This is in your opinion anyways. HD Netflix PQ is excellent IMO. But anyway, who really cares. I enjoy the excellent PQ I get watching whatever I want to watch, wether it is Netflix, downloads, streaming videos, etc....

It's more than my opinion, I did a side-by-side comparison - one window Netflix HD, the other a DVD ISO. They were virtually identical.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jshel101

And how is all of this relevant to Blockbuster pulling the plug in Canada? I think we are going waaaay OT here.

It's related in that in the wake of BlockBuster, we're stuck with inferior services as a substitute. You could also say that these streaming services are partly to blame for BlockBuster's disappearance. It's all intertwined.

audacity · 2012-04-21, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lars

How dead is it? I've read that 2011 was blu-rays best sales year yet, and I've seen nothing that states 2012 won't be better than last year. I'm pretty sure that blu-ray and streaming will coexist for a long long time.

Well, with the primary distribution mechanism of Blu-ray discs shutting down (historically people would rent movies rather than buying them since most people only watch a movie once. Very few movies are watched multiple times by the same individual.

So, unless the RedBox style business grow like crazy, I suspect that the next few years will show a decline of volume for the optical disc market (well, optical discs with movies on them).

Also, I should point out that the Blu-ray format didn't exactly take the consumer electronic market by storm. Sure, it may have grown last year, but the numbers are still very small. It will never be "the" movie format like DVD was/is. I think its a pretty easy bet that the total revenue from streaming video will eclipse Blu-ray long before Blu-ray eclipses DVD in total revenue.

Quote:

Originally Posted by PokerFace

If there were no longer any bays available on a new PC to add a disc drive, that would be shocking to me.

Have you heard of Ultrabooks? When looking over the "tablet" designs that some Windows 8 PCs are adopting, I don't see many optical drives there either.

Sure, desktop machines will (almost) always have space for a optical drive, but that is a shrinking percentage of the PC market.

2012-04-20, 04:08 PM	#20
PokerFace Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 409	Blu-ray of light or darkness for the video stores Although PCs are dropping optical drives from their designs, Future Shop has a $1000 PC with a Blu-ray disc drive (shown in its latest flyer on page 16). Since many people use online streaming or downloading to view their movies, it makes sense not to add disc drives to PCs (plus it costs less ... and the buyer can choose to add a DVD or Blu-ray drive to the system if desired). If there were no longer any bays available on a new PC to add a disc drive, that would be shocking to me. In addition to great sound, Blu-rays also often include more Special Features ... however, since both Blockbuster and Rogers often carried the Rental versions (if available) stripped of extras, I started to dread wandering through video store aisles. Not only that, but in Canada, we are stuck with many Canadian versions of DVDs and Blu-rays that often only include some (or none) of the Special features that are included on the often superior American DVD/Blu-rays. I don't want to bother with streaming and would prefer to rent or buy physical media, however, until there's a convenient way to watch Blu-rays without having the need to occasionally use the Internet to get firmware updates for some of the new releases, I'll stick with the inferior DVD format. It's very expensive for the video stores to keep up with format changes. I wonder what would have happened had the Blu-ray format never been born? Would the reduced inventory and overall cost (since no Blu-ray versions to purchase) have allowed Blockbuster to flourish even more? Or would the lack of premium Blu-ray quality content have driven even more renters to the Internet (to stream/download the same content). If it was no longer possible to rent Blu-rays (and buying was the only option), I assume that even more people would turn to the Internet (or VOD) because the quality would be closer to that of DVD (even with a basic Internet setup). The lack of online Special Features might deter some from streaming movies, but the overall convenience would probably trump that. Family Video (a US-based company) has about 7 stores in Ontario and might expand to other parts of Canada in the future. A lot depends on how fast the digital world grows. Related Blu-ray/Streaming thread: http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=135424 [Feel Cheated By Blu-ray]

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2012-04-20, 02:37 PM	#16
pinner62 Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 117	Both blu-ray and streaming will exsist ,blu-ray is not gonna disappear.I purchase blu-rays that i want forever ,I stream stuff I wanna watch once or twice.There;s nothing like popping in a blu-ray putting your feet up to the best sound and picture available,blu- rays will eventually make dvd,s obsolete,hell I heard even the next xbox is gonna have a bluray drive in it ,makes sense if they wanna compete next generation! http://www.techradar.com/news/gaming...rumours-937167

2012-04-20, 02:51 PM	#17
Blackloz Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Regina,SK & Plentywood MT Posts: 854	I sure hope BD will be around for a while yet as I will never do any kind of streaming. I had Netflix for 2 weeks and cancelled, it was just terrible.

2012-04-20, 02:53 PM	#18
pinner62 Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 117	I collect steelbook blu-rays ,no one is taking them from me lol!

2012-04-21, 12:38 AM	#21
HDTV101 Veteran Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 2,000	too late for No more "Late Fees" ....

2012-04-21, 12:45 AM	#22
MarcP Veteran Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Airdrie, AB Posts: 3,819	I don't care at all about the extras on DVD or Bluray. I just want the movie. Physical format will become a niche.

2012-04-21, 02:35 AM	#23
pinner62 Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 117	Speak for yourself ,the extra's are a bonus,maybe not everyone cares but movie collectors do!Also director cuts on bd ,extended cuts as in lord of the rings I will always cherish!