Stay with DVD, Buy a Blu-Ray, or None

[urlawyer]

I have been on the fence with Blu-Ray (See below Pioneer BD-09FL or OPPO BDP 83) and now I read a report in my local paper with states that DVD sales world wide are down, that Blu-Ray has not caught on, and that Studios are getting worried.

I would think that in times like this people would buy more DVDs and or Blu-Rays in order to stay home and save money. Consider that a trip for two costs an average of $50 to $60 (ticket, popcorn, and drinks) for a movie and only half of that to stay home and see a movie on DVD or Blu-Ray. But it appears that this is not the case. People apparently do not want to spend the money and are watching TV instead.

So what do you think?

[Nick M]

$50-$60 for two!? Where do you see movies! :lol:

I live in the Northeast where costs are relatively high compared to national averages. Tickets are ~$7/person for a matinee, and a large drink ($4) and large popcorn ($6) fetch $10. So we usually figure on $25 for an outing (including taxes).

I could easily see $50 for a family of four though if you figure in the extra tickets and separate food/beverage costs.

DVDs and Blu-Ray Discs are really a luxury or item of excess for most families, although going to the theaters has traditionally surged in previous times of economic hardship as people simply look for an escape from reality - even for just a few hours.

I can understand why media sales have dropped - just as I expect ticket revenue to eventually spike along with smuggling of canned soda and candy bars... :B

[Chris D]

I'm not worried. I think the current and future state of sales look just fine. If nothing else, I definitely would NOT go so far as to recommend anyone stay away from media purchases because of impending obsolescence.

Me, I say go ahead and take the plunge to Blu-Ray. With the format war over, I think it's a safe bet even more now, and the format will be enjoyable for years and years.

Now, if you're considering getting into HD-DVD on the other hand...

[Nick M]

Yeah I'm sure it will rebound, with Blu-Ray eventually becoming the dominant media source as SDTV's are replaced with HDTV's.

But I think we still have a number of years before the average Joe is tossing a few Blu-Ray Discs in the shopping cart - especially at their $20-$30 price.

I have a PS3 and about a dozen Blu-Ray Discs, but I only purchase about 1 title every 3-4 months. The rest were received as gifts.

If they were $15 I would probably pick up one a month.
For $16/mo getting Blu-Ray Discs in the mail via NetFlix is just a better investment unless I really plan on watching something more than once (such as Pixar films, which I buy on the release date without fail).

[urlawyer]

You are right about the cost of the movies for two. However, can you take your wife or girlfriend to the movies without stopping for dinner and/or drinks after?

Not me! Wife gets dressed to go out and she expects dinner also. After all she works too and with the way things are its not everyday we take in a movie.

[David Meek]

Lawyer, don't sit on the fence. When the Oppo comes out, snap one up. Blu-Ray discs are past the "early adopter" stage and they aren't going quietly away. FWIW, I strongly disagree with your local paper's writer. Even if you only buy one BD or SACD a month, that is 12 amazing discs that will only increase your enjoyment of movies and music. It would be sad to look back in a year and go "I wish I hadn't waited".

Yes, sales are down, but we are in the midst of a world-wide economic downturn. Many people are having to hold off on those less than necessary purchases which definitely includes DVDs/Blu-Rays, and that (more than anything) is drawing the numbers down. But, there many people purchasing them already and the studios/manufacturers see that (and more will buy them once things turn around). Companies like Pioneer, Oppo, Toshiba, Sanyo, etc... wouldn't be investing in BluRay on the scale they are if there was any doubt.

As far as going to the cinema, I was leaning away from that with DVDs and Blu-Rays only made it easier to avoid the movie houses. Rude audiences, laser pointers, bad quality video and audio, and especially escalating prices all conspired to point out to me just how superior my home theater is in all respects.

Anyway, hop in with that Oppo, plop in a disc like Iron Man, sit back and be thrilled. :T

[bigburner]

If I was into movies I'd rent DVDs from my local video shop which has a huge range and is 5 minutes drive from my house. On Mondays all titles except the most recent ones are NZ$1 for a week's hire. That's US 50 cents per title. There must be a recession on.

If I didn't have a DVD player I'd buy the new Oppo BDP-83 Blu-ray universal which plays standard DVDs better than most DVD players and leaves the door open for you to go Blu-ray in the future.

Nigel.

[JonMarsh]

Just a few more thoughts....

In no particular order....

• FIrst, in my most humble opinion, the quality of releases has declined significantly the last several years. Months go by without anything I'm willing to expend the effort showing up at my local digital cineplex, which has excellent picture quality
• This affects the available DVD and Blu-Ray releases, in the sense of, "Gee, do I really want to buy that?"
• Early Blu-Ray players sucked. Let me be explicit about that; even many more recent ones have severe cost performance issues, compared with what you could buy for $500-600 in an HD DVD player. I have two of the latter that have excellent video processing chips, which affects both the playback of DVD and HD material.
• The new Panasonic BD-30 and BD-35 are finally offering a combination of video and audio performance at good price points- (sub $300 at Costco, still reasonable at Amazon). I bought a BD-30 shortly after it came out, and persuaded ThomasW to do so, also- at a lower price, it's a significant step up in overall performance from his previous player
• The full impact of HD media MANDATES a 1080P capable dispaly- otherwise too much resolution killing cross scaling is going on. Forget 720P, forget 1368 X 768, or any of the other BS resolutions- if that's all you've got for now, DVD is OK- but don't expand your DVD collection, just rent. Probably lots of folks are doing that, and thats why sales are down.

OK, you may just want to write me off as a persnickety grumpy curmudgeon, but I think there's more than a small kernel of truth in the observations above. :W

Hollywood, ignore at your own peril....

And what's going on with TV these days? Every new interesting TV show that comes along seems to get cancelled after one season, because all the yahoos are watching "reality" TV with moronic concepts and production values? My latest complaint is the death of "Life on Mars", on ABC.

[Race Car Driver]

I refuse to buy DVDs and havent bought one in about 2 years.

BR only over here.

[robert L]

I refuse to buy DVDs and havent bought one in about 2 years.

BR only over here.

couldnt agree with u more

[urlawyer]

I agree with JonMarsh with regard to blu-Ray releases of earlier DVD titles. When I look at some released titles I often see that the title is only Dolby Digital 5.1 as the original DVD title. So I wander if the video is up to Blu-Ray standards.

So why pay for the Blu-Ray get the original DVD at 10 to 15 dollars less and up scale it. In addition, some earlier DVD titles are selling for as little as 5 dollars at WalMart.

[wettou]

I agree with JonMarsh with regard to blu-Ray releases of earlier DVD titles. When I look at some released titles I often see that the title is only Dolby Digital 5.1 as the original DVD title. So I wander if the video is up to Blu-Ray standards. So why pay for the Blu-Ray get the original DVD at 10 to 15 dollars less and up scale it. In addition, some earlier DVD titles are selling for as little as 5 dollars at WalMart.

YES carefull buying old movies on Blu Ray it is not worth it unless they have the following:

1. Video remastered at 1080p
- Dual layer 50 GB discs
- H.264/MPEG-4 AVC

2. Lossless Audio sound track remastered with:
- DTS-HD Master Audio 24Bit 5.1 or 7.1
- Dolby Digital True HD 24Bit 5.1 or 7.1


All these old movies where done cheaply and lack the advanced audio codec, not worth it in my book :cry: A lot of Warner Brother old movies are that way!!!!

http://www.blu-raystats.com/Stats/Stats.php?OrderBy=Studio&Audio=DD

[urlawyer]

Wettou how do you tell if the title meets the standards you set out?

[wettou]

Wettou how do you tell if the title meets the standards you set out?

Just check these websites and they will give you all the details about the blu ray you are about to buy.

http://www.blu-raystats.com/ :B

http://www.blu-ray.com/ :T

[1oldguy]

Wondering what is considered among the best Blue ray Players on the market right now?
And if there are players that really ahead of the ps3 for both video and audio.
My Kuro wants some new gear I think.

[littlesaint]

...

• The full impact of HD media MANDATES a 1080P capable dispaly- otherwise too much resolution killing cross scaling is going on. Forget 720P, forget 1368 X 768, or any of the other BS resolutions- if that's all you've got for now, DVD is OK- but don't expand your DVD collection, just rent. Probably lots of folks are doing that, and thats why sales are down.

...

I don't know if this is a mandate. I have a 50" 720p display (1366x768 Panny plasma) and a 58" 1080p display (also a Panny plasma). My BD35 looks just as good on either once you get to about 15 feet or so. I think it really depends on the display and how well it handles 1080p material, if at all. If not, you need a player with a good scaler, which up until the yet-to-be released Oppo, has been slim pickings on the Blu-ray side.

[sikoniko]

YES carefull buying old movies on Blu Ray it is not worth it unless they have the following:

1. Video remastered at 1080p
- Dual layer 50 GB discs
- H.264/MPEG-4 AVC

2. Lossless Audio sound track remastered with:
- DTS-HD Master Audio 24Bit 5.1 or 7.1
- Dolby Digital True HD 24Bit 5.1 or 7.1


All these old movies where done cheaply and lack the advanced audio codec, not worth it in my book :cry: A lot of Warner Brother old movies are that way!!!!

http://www.blu-raystats.com/Stats/St...tudio&Audio=DD

Dual-Layer is mostly used for extras and very rarely does the movie extend beyond what would be required of a single layer. Thats not hardly a bar to decipher if a transfer will be of high quality.

LPCM is just as good as the above mentioned tracks. most movies released today are one of the three.

all around Blu-Ray is a significant step-up from DVD and even cable or satellite HD content. The video is better and the sound is better.
Its unfortunate there aren't more 7.1 tracks...

[sikoniko]

I don't know if this is a mandate. I have a 50" 720p display (1366x768 Panny plasma) and a 58" 1080p display (also a Panny plasma). My BD35 looks just as good on either once you get to about 15 feet or so. I think it really depends on the display and how well it handles 1080p material, if at all. If not, you need a player with a good scaler, which up until the yet-to-be released Oppo, has been slim pickings on the Blu-ray side.

there are a number of people that feel that a 720p DLP is better than a 1080p LCD (at least when it comes to projectors).

I only have 720p right now and don't feel the need to upgrade yet. I think stuff is changing too frequently right now.

[wettou]

there are a number of people that feel that a 720p DLP is better than a 1080p LCD (at least when it comes to projectors).

I only have 720p right now and don't feel the need to upgrade yet. I think stuff is changing too frequently right now.

Go take a look at JVC DLA-RS20 and see what 1080p done well can do for you. :B

[sikoniko]

Go take a look at JVC DLA-RS20 and see what 1080p done well can do for you. :B

JVC uses D-ILA, not LCD.

[bigburner]

My latest complaint is the death of "Life on Mars", on ABC.

In that case Jon you'll have to get hold of the entire British series. That will fill the gap admirably for a while. In my limited experience the original British show is usually better than the American copy.

Nigel.

[audioqueso]

It's cheaper for me to buy. BR's are usually about $25-50 for me (depending if I buy japanese or american version) compared to going to the movies where it's $12 a ticket per person plus another $20 for food and baby-sitter. My system sounds better than the local movie here (seriously, it does... the theater here sucks). I usually buy 2-4 movies a month (depending on what's out).

It's much easier to buy if you have young kids. I don't like bringing kids at all (even if they're knocked out) cause I can never just relax and enjoy the movie. I have to be alert of them, keep an eye on them, and keep them quiet. It's just too much, and getting a baby-sitter makes it cost the same.

[1oldguy]

I agree about the home thing.Plus I was never one for the smell of pop corn and having people rummage through various items while I'm trying to get into said movie.Of course there are the occasional 3 or 4 times a year I just say the hell with it and want to see it on the big screen.LOL can we ever be satisfied? 8)

[audioqueso]

True. Generally, I just buy the movies, but movie theaters still have their spots reserve for special occasions like big movies, or big upcoming movies... like TRANSFORMER 2!!!!!!!!! :B For movies like that, the extra time and cost are worth it!

[1oldguy]

I agree..........Been Looking forward to T2 for a a while now.It's going to be a blockbuster that's for sure.One day I may even get to hear it on my B&W's.LOl I've had them 4 months now.......without hearing them.lol But they sure do look good.

[HDBLU]

Blu-ray is the format of the future, It is doing very well in the market at this time.