Rethinking Blu-ray (The New York Times GADGETWISE Column)

If downloads could deliver the exact same picture/sound quality as Blu-ray discs, downloads wouldn't be such a bad option. I wouldn't worry about my kid playing with the disc or when I lend it to a friend. Besides I am running out of shelf space which is begining to affect my buying decision.

But having said that, the experience (and joy) whenever I watch LOTR starts even before I put the disc in the player or switch on the Tele. Just picking the gorgeous Extended Edition sets from the shelf is a thrill. Except for a handful of titles, I cant say I would have any particular liking for the physical media over a digital version.

But it will be a while before downloads can really deliver that quality. In the meanwhile I need to figure out a way to increase the shelf space.

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[Post edited by jnaps098 on Apr 29, 2009 - CDT 3:44 AM]

I still by cd's. I find that its much easier than backing up everything I buy from Itunes.

They're right about having the physical movie to hold on to. I'd rather have had HDDVD be the format of choice, but with Blu-ray just now getting to where HDDVD was when it was toppled, I think it will succeed.

The only way downloads will ever "replace" any physical media is if it is dirt cheap, and it will never happen. Seriously, why would you buy a movie with standard definition or maybe 1080i for $10-15, when you can get a 1080p Blu-ray for about $15 (if you know where to look)? Same price, but much better quality on the Blu-ray, along with excellent special features, and it won't disappear unless someone walks away with it. It's a no brainer to me.

All of this talk about downloads taking over is just talk, and I wouldn't be surprised if it was coming from the very companies that were hoping to cash in on them.

Physical media to me is key. I would rather have the actual Blu-ray disc and case on a shelf and have the ability to play it on my player and watch it in my home theatre without all the trouble of hooking my laptop up and figuring out if getting the best picture or sound quality is even possible (I really don't know much about how downloadable movies compare in terms of A/Q or P/Q). Don't have the time or energy to find it out either.

As far as music...I'll take mp3s any day. Driving in my car, going to the gym, going for walks, and cutting the lawn are all much easier when you do not have to carry around a case of CDs with you. I love having the ability to pick and choose songs from different albums, artists, and genres on the fly withouth having to "find" the CD and loading it onto a CD player.

I will always buy, in addition to downloading the mp3s, CDs from artists I love. At times, I do like to listen to music in my home theatre which can't be replicated on an iPod at 128 kbps. Plus, things like DVD-As and Dual Discs are great for me since I can listen to those while playing video games. There's only so much I can stand the audio on MLB: The Show or Madden since the announcers get tired and boring!! Give me my own music!!

Then it goes back to physical media taking precedent again when you have the option to download a FLAC or WAV file of a CD and burn it. I'd rather have the original packaging and all that good stuff. Plus, I will always support my fav. artists by purchasing their music when I can.

Bluray is fine and will be around for a while. I can't wait to have the Jason Bourne Trilogy, Fast and the Furious, LOTR Trilogy, Planet Earth, Star Wars (come on George, you don't know the power of the dark side!) etc box sets on my shelf.

to have true hd content on the net (not what they try to pass as hd right now) will take lots and lots of fiber. there simply isn't the infrastructure to support online hd content at this time with any convenience. until that happens (which would be great), there is a significant window of time to develop the blu ray format. that said, the prices of the discs still need to drop.

i like fiber:

True. Fibre to the home isn't simply quite ready just yet. Don't get me wrong, there is some areas that are lucky to have GPON right now, but some areas that it still may take two to three years to be mapped out for it. The are ai liv ein is on the list for next year! YEah me!