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is Blu-Ray a failure?
- Thread starter Gaddabout
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This.
Most of my HDDVD purchases have been around $5. Most of my BDs have been right around $10-$12.
Darth Llama
Rise Up Red Sea!
Blu Ray hardware is definitely coming down in price. I was holding out on Blu Ray because of Price, but the laptop I just bought has a Blu Ray Player and an HDMI out so I have been trying out Blu Ray recently. Laptops with Blu Ray used to be around the $1500 mark, now they are appearing on laptops around the $1k mark.
I have to say that I agree with the above that it only really matters on certain movies. Yes, you might notice on the Blu Ray version of The Wedding Singer that the sky is a deeper shade of blue in one scene then on the upscaled DVD, but really the difference isn't that great. If however, you put in a movie like one of the Lord of the Rings series, you'll never want to watch the DVD version again.
The one and only thing that keeps me from buying more blu rays is the price. The average movie price is still around $35 which is a tad high. Yes, you can shop around and find deals on some movies, but the more in demand movies are going to cost you pretty much the same anywhere you go. Add that to the fact that people already have extensive DVD collections they aren't looking to replace.
I have a Blu Ray player and an HD-DVD Player, and I put them on the same level. HD-DVD looked absolutely amazing, every bit as good as Blu Ray (if not better) and I was disappointed to see that format end. I'm a big fan of Blu Ray as well, I think as time goes on and they refine the reproduction process a little, you'll see prices come down. Unless the price of Blu Ray comes down to DVD price though, I'll still get most movies in regular DVD format. As said before, who really needs to watch The 40 Year Old Virgin on Blu Ray when you can get the DVD $10-$15 cheeper and not really even notice the difference?
I have to say that I agree with the above that it only really matters on certain movies. Yes, you might notice on the Blu Ray version of The Wedding Singer that the sky is a deeper shade of blue in one scene then on the upscaled DVD, but really the difference isn't that great. If however, you put in a movie like one of the Lord of the Rings series, you'll never want to watch the DVD version again.
The one and only thing that keeps me from buying more blu rays is the price. The average movie price is still around $35 which is a tad high. Yes, you can shop around and find deals on some movies, but the more in demand movies are going to cost you pretty much the same anywhere you go. Add that to the fact that people already have extensive DVD collections they aren't looking to replace.
I have a Blu Ray player and an HD-DVD Player, and I put them on the same level. HD-DVD looked absolutely amazing, every bit as good as Blu Ray (if not better) and I was disappointed to see that format end. I'm a big fan of Blu Ray as well, I think as time goes on and they refine the reproduction process a little, you'll see prices come down. Unless the price of Blu Ray comes down to DVD price though, I'll still get most movies in regular DVD format. As said before, who really needs to watch The 40 Year Old Virgin on Blu Ray when you can get the DVD $10-$15 cheeper and not really even notice the difference?
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If you search around, and rarely by movies retail, you can get good prices on media. I have only paid more than $20 ONE TIME on a single Bluray. The rest of the movies can be found cheaper if you purchase the week they come out, or you wait for 25% sale at Deep Discount, or even willing to pay for used discs at Amazon/Half etc. Even buying used Blurays are a good way to save money. I have yet to find BD's with scratches on them.
....Things to consider.
Darth Llama
Rise Up Red Sea!
Yeah, I admit I could look a little harder. I'm sure if I did a little more leg work I could get them a lot cheaper. I still think that the average in store price is a little high, but I'm sure that will eventually come down as well. I might give Amazon a shot, thanks for the heads up.
mojorizen7
ASFN Addict
Definately, which gives me great pleasure in purchasing older classics on BRD as well as buying newer visually stunning films.
Kubrick films come to mind.....Full Metal,Shining and Clockwork sound fantastic.
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Chaplin
Better off silent
Because I have such a big Standard DVD collection, most Blu-Rays for me become of decision of double-dipping.
So the way I determine whether I will buy one is the quality of the movie as far as shots/effects/etc. and the extras.
Like when Lawrence of Arabia comes to Blu-Ray, I am definitely getting it. But if Citizen Kane comes to the format, then my decision to purchase will be based strictly on the extra features.
New movies, however, are an easier decision because I don't already have them on DVD. So that justifies my purchases of Taken, The Dark Knight and Hellboy 2 on the format.
So the way I determine whether I will buy one is the quality of the movie as far as shots/effects/etc. and the extras.
Like when Lawrence of Arabia comes to Blu-Ray, I am definitely getting it. But if Citizen Kane comes to the format, then my decision to purchase will be based strictly on the extra features.
New movies, however, are an easier decision because I don't already have them on DVD. So that justifies my purchases of Taken, The Dark Knight and Hellboy 2 on the format.
Agree with this. I just stopped buying DVD all together. Basically, if it's a new movie and not reasonably priced, I just don't buy it. I will wait for it to go on sale. They all go on sale.
Also agree with the fact that double dipping only makes sense with certain movies. There are just movies I have in my collection that I just don't care if they are in Blu Ray. If it's one of my favorite action movies, sci fi movies or other movies that you would see a difference (Animation, 3D animation), I will buy again. All of the rest I could care less and will probably never replace the DVD version.
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The only DVD I still buy is TV on DVD. A lot of shows will never make it to BD.
Chaplin
Better off silent
Well, really, I am probably in a much different situation than pretty much every other person here. I literally can open my own video store with all the DVDs I have.
The thing is, I am a collector, I buy to own. It's an expensive hobby, but really no different than any other collection like baseball cards.
I still buy DVD because it's cheaper and there is no incentive on many titles for me to get the Blu-Ray. When the Hangover comes out, unless there's some kind of "must-have" feature on Blu that isn't on the DVD, I'm getting the DVD. No need spending 10 more dollars for a movie like that.
The thing is, I am a collector, I buy to own. It's an expensive hobby, but really no different than any other collection like baseball cards.
I still buy DVD because it's cheaper and there is no incentive on many titles for me to get the Blu-Ray. When the Hangover comes out, unless there's some kind of "must-have" feature on Blu that isn't on the DVD, I'm getting the DVD. No need spending 10 more dollars for a movie like that.
You are not totally different. I am a collector as well and also have a huge library of titles. I also buy to own. However, I am also an HD enthusiast. The only difference is that I will purchase all movies going forward in the Blu Ray format versus buying DVD. I get why your doing it and along those lines I will never replace some of my DVD titles.
We have a similar hobby but because of my HD tastes I will end up spending more money for titles then you for sure. It is an expensive hobby. Just wait until my wife see what I am upgrading my Home Theater equipment too later this year.
Chaplin
Better off silent
You are not totally different. I am a collector as well and also have a huge library of titles. I also buy to own. However, I am also an HD enthusiast. The only difference is that I will purchase all movies going forward in the Blu Ray format versus buying DVD. I get why your doing it and along those lines I will never replace some of my DVD titles.
We have a similar hobby but because of my HD tastes I will end up spending more money for titles then you for sure. It is an expensive hobby. Just wait until my wife see what I am upgrading my Home Theater equipment too later this year.
How big is your collection?
I used to have over 3000 movies in my collection (counting my VHS collection) but I recently gave those away to my older brother and father. I have over 600 movies on DVD/Blu Ray collection now. I would have probably have well over 1000 by now but I took a huge break from buying movies until a couple years ago. My first 3 years in our new house we spent upgrading different parts which made the wife happy. Which is probably why I am still married.
I only recently this past few years starting really collecting again. It might not sound alot to a hard core collector but I am a huge home theater buff as well. I have spent a ton of money over the years swapping out my home theater gear over and over in the past 10 years or so.
I know people that are either movie buffs or HT buffs. I am unfortunately both. So my money has to be spread around to appease both my addictions.
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Chaplin
Better off silent
I used to have over 3000 movies in my collection (counting my VHS collection) but I recently gave those away to my older brother and father. I have over 600 movies on DVD/Blu Ray collection now. I would have probably have well over 1000 by now but I took a huge break from buying movies until a couple years ago. My first 3 years in our new house we spent upgrading different parts which made the wife happy. Which is probably why I am still married.
I only recently this past few years starting really collecting again. It might not sound alot to a hard core collector but I am a huge home theater buff as well. I have spent a ton of money over the years swapping out my home theater gear over and over in the past 10 years or so.
I know people that are either movie buffs or HT buffs. I am unfortunately both. So my money has to be spread around to appease both my addictions.
I hear you there. I live in an apartment, so it's hard to get a really great system. But I do have simulated surround on my 60" big screen.
Right now I have about 75 Blu-Rays and about 4100 DVDs. I have a few VHS's left, but I don't watch them--trying to figure out whether to throw them out or find someplace I could sell them for 5 cents a piece. I also have 2 laserdisc players and about 150 laserdiscs. But I don't really watch them anymore.
One of the advantages of working for a big movie studio is a lot of freebies and really cheap bargains. The good thing is that the majority of my wants are already bought--so I shouldn't be spending that much more in the future.
I hear you there. I live in an apartment, so it's hard to get a really great system. But I do have simulated surround on my 60" big screen.
Right now I have about 75 Blu-Rays and about 4100 DVDs. I have a few VHS's left, but I don't watch them--trying to figure out whether to throw them out or find someplace I could sell them for 5 cents a piece. I also have 2 laserdisc players and about 150 laserdiscs. But I don't really watch them anymore.
One of the advantages of working for a big movie studio is a lot of freebies and really cheap bargains. The good thing is that the majority of my wants are already bought--so I shouldn't be spending that much more in the future.
I thought about selling the VHS but my older brother and dad still watch lots of VHS so I just gave them up. Also, I never got into the LaserDisc format at all. By the time I started collecting VHS it was the dominant format and Laser Disc was expensive and never widely adopted. Plus, I was a bachelor when I started my VHS collection and LaserDisc equipment and movies were expensive.
Now in some ways I have started over again. Funny thing is that there are very few movies I actually miss in that collection. All of my favorite movies I already have on DVD/Blu Ray.
