Divx and copying DVD's in general... What's the point?

[thomsbrain]

ripping a dvd to a 1400 MB divx avi takes me a total of 5 minutes or less of actual sit-at-computer time. My computer's usually on anyway. The quality certainly is far from DVD, I won't argue there, but it is also far better than VHS. I get movies from netflix. I have the movie anyway, I paid to rent it, but this way I can save it to watch for later and send the movie back promptly. I rarely rent movies more than once because I can't justify the cost (got 400 other movies in my queue to work through first), but 30 cents for a couple of CD-R's I don't have any problem justifing.

 

[thomsbrain]

<< Do you still get 5.1 audio with Divx? >>



Yes, if you encode it that way. The extra data needed for surround sound will cut into your video quality, though.

 

[Jzero]

<< Kami, did you forget that DVDs cost $20 when DivXs are free? >>


Divx are free? That's news to me. It might cost the script kiddie nothing, but I've rarely seen copies of a major film handed out to the masses for free.

 

[jaydee]

<< "As far as encoding goes, that's a load of BS. Not the fact that the Pee 4 encodes faster, the fact the encoding DIVX and SVCD is something most people would bother to do. Why, to get a crappy looking Movie that you've already seen? Hell if you are going to steal it you might as well download it of the net and let some other fool do all the work for you."
Seriously... why bother? You get a lower quality (video AND audio) product, for a significant amount of effort. Now I can understand wanting to download a movie that is still in the theatres. But why copy DVD's?
I'm not one who collects movies, because I'd never watch them multiple times.
Those of you who do, I pose the questions:
Do you really watch all of them enough to justify the cost/time/effort?
Or do you have several movies that you haven't had a chance to watch, and probably never will? >>


FWIW, some people use Divx for more than just pirating DVD's. In my communications class, we use it for dramatically reducing the size of personal videos we make on our own, thus freeing up hard drive space. Streaming an hour off our Sony's take about 7-8 GB's IIRC, that's quite a bit to store. We don't use it often enough to envoke us to buy the best P4 everytime they release a new one, but I could see where you might if you run a small personal video editing/encoding service (something I may do someday). So why exactly is this a load of BS?

 

[Red Dawn]

jaydee

<< So why exactly is this a load of BS? >>

jaydee, that quote is sort of taken out of context. I was made tongue in cheek when I was debating others about the P4 on another forum. In this thread I've heard other explain why they choose to do it and for the most part it seems reasonable.

 

[jaydee]

<< "As far as encoding goes, that's a load of BS. Not the fact that the Pee 4 encodes faster, the fact the encoding DIVX and SVCD is something most people would bother to do. Why, to get a crappy looking Movie that you've already seen? Hell if you are going to steal it you might as well download it of the net and let some other fool do all the work for you."
Seriously... why bother? You get a lower quality (video AND audio) product, for a significant amount of effort. Now I can understand wanting to download a movie that is still in the theatres. But why copy DVD's?
I'm not one who collects movies, because I'd never watch them multiple times.
Those of you who do, I pose the questions:
Do you really watch all of them enough to justify the cost/time/effort?
Or do you have several movies that you haven't had a chance to watch, and probably never will? >>


FWIW, some people use Divx for more than just pirating DVD's. In my communications class, we use it for dramatically reducing the size of personal videos we make on our own, thus freeing up hard drive space. Streaming an hour off our Sony's take about 7-8 GB's IIRC, that's quite a bit to store. We don't use it often enough to envoke us to buy the best P4 everytime they release a new one, but I could see where you might if you run a small personal video editing/encoding service (something I may do someday). So why exactly is this a load of BS?

 

[Phuz]

<< You get a lower quality (video AND audio) product, for a significant amount of effort. >>



Obviously you don't know how to rip a good movie.
I've seen SVCD's that look identical. And crappy sound? You control it, why does it have to be crappy?
The standard for most DivX's is 128kpbs... but i use 224kpbs. What the hell is wrong with that?

 

[Stiler]

Now this PISSES me off, anyone makes a topic about making a .exe for a game and whoa thats the worst and the mod has it locked before anyone can see it . But man when you talk about actually copying dvd's thats just uber fluckin coo (note the sarcasicm in that last sentance.)

 

[Red Dawn]

<< FWIW, some people use Divx for more than just pirating DVD's. >>

That was made clear to me in that other thread from a guy who was using it to save Movies of his baby Daughter. But he also said that he, like you, are often more the exception than the rules.



<< But man when you talk about actually copying dvd's thats just uber fluckin coo (note the sarcasicm in that last sentance.) >>

Well if you bring it to their attention they'll probably lock this too.

 

[HappyPuppy]

So what's your problem with my collection of hubcaps from the '50s and '60s? Just think, some of them might have come from your parents station wagon and now they're being preserved for antiquity rather than rotting in a junk yard.

I also have a pretty nice carburetor collection.

 

[randomlinh]

yes, it's time consuming.. but that's why i have a divx box to encode it easy access to lots of movies to bring to school w/o having to bring dvd's, and as many have stated, the "entertainment" system this goes w/ it's just plain two speaker 19" tv

 

[Red Dawn]

<< So what's your problem with my collection of hubcaps from the '50s and '60s? Just think, some of them might have come from your parents station wagon and now they're being preserved for antiquity rather than rotting in a junk yard. >>

I don't care what you do.

 

[FrontlineWarrior]

are there 1 step programs for DVD to DIVX like there is for DVD to SVCD?

 

[Nefrodite]

because its easy to justify stealing something if its pretty much impossible to get caught hehehe

 

[MikeO]

What's the point?

Good video and audio quality when properly done + I live in Finland where it's perfectly legal to make few copies for your own use. So you can't even call me a stealing pirate bastard. <nelson> ha-ha! </nelson>

 

[Nefrodite]

even if you dont' own the dvd in finland?

i mean thers nothing wrong with ripping if u own the dvd its yours to do with as you please.. fair use