Blu-ray/HD-DVD vs Downloading HD Movies..

Damian Howard · 08-22-2007, 05:23 PM

In all the news in the past few days about Paramount going HD-DVD exclusive and dragging this war for another 18 months or so, i'ved heard lots of things that "downloading movies" will be the winner. Or that Hollywood with Hi-Def has a last chance with pre-packaged optical media.

Now i'm not sure about you guys but I for one will not go downloading for several reasons.

- Size of downloads - if downloading is to become serious then they have to be very high quality (around 20+gigs). Now this poses a problem or 2, not only will it take a while to get the file (less for some more for others

) but ISP's who have Download caps or Download thottles when a certain amount has been downloaded will be under pressure in terms of reducing costs / there servers being hammered.

- Collectibilty - too me there's nothing like having a Shelf of 2 (or 10) full of DVD's you can peruse at your leisure. Downloading takes this collectibity away and makes it just another "digital" 0/1 on your Hard Drive.

- Cost - Although cost of these would be lower due to no packaging required, less overheads etc - will the hidden costs of Downloading 100's of gigs for a few movies be leveled from your ISP's?

- Quality - Higher compression? To reduce file sizes will higher compression be used? Thereby reduced quality and the whole point of HD?

Anyway if these 2 HD Optical continue to fight it out (if you can call 2 optical discs a "fight") then in my opinion DVD will continue to dominate - downloading HD movies unlike downloading music albums are vastly larger in size. And not sure if it's same in the USA but here in the UK downloading HD movies WILL NOT take off as speeds and the heavy usage caps prevent even more than a few to be downloaded (or should say once they appear (if))

Just my 2 cents not sure if this is the right forum to post this in so move if required..

Clinton McClure · 08-22-2007, 05:31 PM

I don't support downloads for the above mentioned reasons plus the cost of local storage space (read: hdd) would eat me alive.

Ronald Epstein · 08-22-2007, 05:52 PM

Damian,

You said a mouthful.

As much as Hollywood is pushing for downloadable fare,
most of us will not be supporting it for the reasons you mentioned.

One studio exec told me that they could cater to the download
community by providing just the film. Collectors could buy the
disk for the film and supplements.

I suppose both formats could coexist, but quite frankly, I haven't
given much thought to it.

Damian Howard · 08-22-2007, 05:56 PM

Been a lurker here for ages so thought i'd finally speak. This reminds me of the early DivX / DVD session. But I guess i answered my own concerns in my original post

Douglas Monce · 08-22-2007, 06:06 PM

I think downloads may replace the rental market, and that may not be such a bad thing. But I don't think it will ever replace the feeling that people want to own the product.

You are right on the money with collectibity. Look at the Blade Runner briefcase set with all its extra goodies.

Doug

**HTF Ads**

Patrick Sun · 08-22-2007, 06:07 PM

Looking forward to the sob stories when hard drives go kaput (and they will, just a matter of time), taking down a sizable collection of downloads (and who wants to re-download 20-40GB of files per film?). No thanks.

Douglas Monce · 08-22-2007, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patrick Sun

Looking forward to the sob stories when hard drives go kaput, taking down a sizable collection of downloads (and who wants to re-download 20-40GB of files per film?). No thanks.

Good point. And how do you chose which movie you want to delete when you run out of hard drive space and want to add another movie to your collection.

Doug

Jim_K · 08-22-2007, 06:12 PM

Even without the pay-per-view model (something smells like DIVX) I'll never go the download route.

Here's a prime example:

I had all 6 of the Star Wars films recorded in glorious High Def from HBO HD and stored on my HD DVR unit. One day my DVR Hard drive crashed (as hard drives tend to do), and there goes the Star Wars films on HD.

Now imagine having a whole movie collection that you paid for via download at the mercy of your hard drive, not to mention viruses, etc. Nooooooooooooooo thanks.

[EDIT]

Patrick Sun already made this point I see.

TravisR · 08-22-2007, 06:22 PM

Fortunately, the points that you make about downloading are why it will take a long time to have that dark day come.