Do Bluray discs warrant their price tags?

[Fritzo]

Are they blind? I have a mediocre Panasonic BR player, and the difference is amazing.
I watched Avatar first on DVD, then a day later, on BluRay. The difference in detail and color was astounding.

A lot of people really could care less about quality. Most people even hook their DVD player up with the composite cables that come with the player. Hell, many Americans still have tube TV's.

Bluray won't catch on until you have $15 movies and players in the $50 range. That's when VHS took off, that's when DVD's took off, and there's no reason not to believe that's when Bluray will finally take off. The fear is that with streaming apps on players, and the popularity of Roku, Apple TV, and sites like Hulu, Bluray will be a short lived format.

I know you hate to hear it, but picture quality only matters to a certain point, then most people could care less. We passed that point with DVDs. Now people just want more convenient ways to get the content at that quality.

 

[zerocool84]

A lot of people really could care less about quality. Most people even hook their DVD player up with the composite cables that come with the player. Hell, many Americans still have tube TV's.

Bluray won't catch on until you have $15 movies and players in the $50 range. That's when VHS took off, that's when DVD's took off, and there's no reason not to believe that's when Bluray will finally take off. The fear is that with streaming apps on players, and the popularity of Roku, Apple TV, and sites like Hulu, Bluray will be a short lived format.

I know you hate to hear it, but picture quality only matters to a certain point, then most people could care less. We passed that point with DVDs. Now people just want more convenient ways to get the content at that quality.

Most people that have HDTV's don't even have any HD content. If they're happy with it they're happy with it but it doesn't make the difference in PQ that much less.

 

[BoomerD]

Most people that have HDTV's don't even have any HD content. If they're happy with it they're happy with it but it doesn't make the difference in PQ that much less.

Agreed. I don't always rent BR disks at the Redbox...because the movie I want isn't always available in that format. IMO, a DVD movie upconverted is still good...but BR is better. No streaming for me. I'm too lazy to do the necessary work to get the network to my TV, and unfortunately, my TV isn't network compatible anyway...maybe the next one.

 

[DrPizza]

Yep, and 20 years ago, we were bitching about the price of those new-fangled compact discs..HOW can they be $15.00? Hell, a good vinyl LP is only $9.99!

(and I remember buying the latest vinyl LP's for $1.99! Outrageous!!

Then we found out after a few more years that there was price fixing going on.

 

[JackBurton]

A lot of people really could care less about quality. Most people even hook their DVD player up with the composite cables that come with the player. Hell, many Americans still have tube TV's.

Bluray won't catch on until you have $15 movies and players in the $50 range. That's when VHS took off, that's when DVD's took off, and there's no reason not to believe that's when Bluray will finally take off. The fear is that with streaming apps on players, and the popularity of Roku, Apple TV, and sites like Hulu, Bluray will be a short lived format.

I know you hate to hear it, but picture quality only matters to a certain point, then most people could care less. We passed that point with DVDs. Now people just want more convenient ways to get the content at that quality.

BD is at a point now that it is profitable enough. If it doesn't catch on with the "common folks," I don't give a shit. As a matter of fact, I hope it stays a niche market. That way when a new movie comes out, I don't have to worry about it selling out or people crowding my BD area.

If the general public is cool with crap DVDs, that's ok with me. Some people have higher standards than others, and that's what BD caters to. Again, BD is at a point now that it doesn't have to fully kill off DVDs. I'm sure movie studios would LOVE to see that happen, but it doesn't really have to to be considered successful. As a matter of fact, BD is so successful now that you don't have to worry about it going away anytime soon.

I'm a believer that you have to pay for quality. If you don't care about it or don't want to pay for it, cool. There's a lot of Wal-Mart junk out there for you to choose from, so have at it. However others that DO care about quality WILL pay for it.

 

[0roo0roo]

A lot of people really could care less about quality. Most people even hook their DVD player up with the composite cables that come with the player. Hell, many Americans still have tube TV's.

Bluray won't catch on until you have $15 movies and players in the $50 range. That's when VHS took off, that's when DVD's took off, and there's no reason not to believe that's when Bluray will finally take off. The fear is that with streaming apps on players, and the popularity of Roku, Apple TV, and sites like Hulu, Bluray will be a short lived format.

I know you hate to hear it, but picture quality only matters to a certain point, then most people could care less. We passed that point with DVDs. Now people just want more convenient ways to get the content at that quality.

oh they care, even if they are ignorant about technical details. its why there are walls of hdtvs even at walmart...never mind blurays. the folks that really don't care are watching their 19-26" lcd or crt and shouting at kids on their lawn. those are the folks that don't matter...the ones still on dial up..if that.

 

[Fritzo]

oh they care, even if they are ignorant about technical details. its why there are walls of hdtvs even at walmart...never mind blurays. the folks that really don't care are watching their 19-26" lcd or crt and shouting at kids on their lawn. those are the folks that don't matter...the ones still on dial up..if that.

Unfortunately you're describing a huge fraction of consumers, so they do matter.

 

[0roo0roo]

Unfortunately you're describing a huge fraction of consumers, so they do matter.

They don't, else their rejection of the iphone would have sunk apple.

 

[Riverhound777]

Amazon has a bunch of great deals on BR right now. Just picked up 4 for $34.

http://slickdeals.net/permadeal/421...-9-per-season-prison-break-12-per-season-more

 

[RavenSEAL]

I was at Bestbuy looking some movies and I think that the prices for Bluray discs are ridiculous. Even the older movies are $22.99; the newer movies can cost upward of $40! What's even more absurd is the trend of packing a lot of stuffs that I don't want with the package of a new movie, thinks like a regular DVD, a digital copy and other junks.

What the hell happened to just put a freaking movie on a disc and sell it? And why does a Bluray disc cost x3 times a regular movie?

I think the cost of producing Bluray should have been absorbed a long time ago, and now it's just gouging for profits with the pricing. What do YOU think?

(no, I don't pirate movies).

Ever heard of "The Internet"? Amazon is having B-R movies for sale for $8 right now.

 

[Fritzo]

Ever heard of "The Internet"? Amazon is having B-R movies for sale for $8 right now.

Most people don't shop for Bluray movies online.

 

[CZroe]

Most people don't shop for Bluray movies online.

"Most" BD owners are more tech savvy than the average DVD-only consumer and, thus, is more likely to buy and shop online. Also, I find similar deals in stores all the time too. Don't forget that the typical "2-disc edition" of a DVD that get's two editions at launch is about $22.xx MSRP. Blu-Ray will coexist with DVD as the premium format. Basically, it is the new "2-disc edition" to suppliment the "movie only" value DVD so it is only natural for it to occupy that price point at launch. Just like DVD prices drop and go on sale in a matter of weeks, so do BD if you actually care to shop around.

 

[alrocky]

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

Black Friday Week sale starting at $7.99 !

I usually chek blu-ray.com for prices and almost exclusively purchase online from Amazon. No tax and no shipping cost.

 

[AMDZen]

A lot of people really could care less about quality. Most people even hook their DVD player up with the composite cables that come with the player. Hell, many Americans still have tube TV's.

Bluray won't catch on until you have $15 movies and players in the $50 range. That's when VHS took off, that's when DVD's took off, and there's no reason not to believe that's when Bluray will finally take off. The fear is that with streaming apps on players, and the popularity of Roku, Apple TV, and sites like Hulu, Bluray will be a short lived format.

I know you hate to hear it, but picture quality only matters to a certain point, then most people could care less. We passed that point with DVDs. Now people just want more convenient ways to get the content at that quality.

You make many great points, but for people like me its not that I "Couldn't care less about quality", its that the quality is good enough. Everything I watch is well above SD quality and is HD, it doesn't have to be full 1080p and DTS audio to be "good quality". Everything I watch is around 720p quality and is still PLENTY GOOD!

 

[Fritzo]

They don't, else their rejection of the iphone would have sunk apple.

Despite their popularity, only a small percentage of people own smartphones, and a smaller percentage own the iphone. Those crappy flip phones outsell the iphone 8:1 on ATT.

The new stuff is cool, but the general population doesn't take advantage of new tech until it gets cheap. When it gets cheap, it becomes mainstream.

 

[JackBurton]

Despite their popularity, only a small percentage of people own smartphones, and a smaller percentage own the iphone. Those crappy flip phones outsell the iphone 8:1 on ATT.

The new stuff is cool, but the general population doesn't take advantage of new tech until it gets cheap. When it gets cheap, it becomes mainstream.

You are aware the "general public's" acceptance of BD is not critical to its success, correct? Apple products only make up a small fraction of the market, and they have no intention of targeting the "general public" (AKA Wal-Mart Joe). Wal-Mart Joe can wait all he wants for the prices to come down, but he's going to be waiting a loooong time. In the meantime, everyone else will be enjoying the products like smart phones and Blu-ray.

 

[JackBurton]

Most people don't shop for Bluray movies online.

And a LARGE amount of them do. So large that BD sales go through the roof when Amazon has a sale.

 

[TheVrolok]

Most people don't shop for Bluray movies online.

I shop for BRDs near exclusively online.

 

[zinfamous]

that's just silly. cost of production is paid from sites like isohunt and torrentreactor.

Everytime you download the first 36 minutes of Hp7a, JK Rowling gets a quarter. Everyone knows this.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Most people don't shop for Bluray movies online.

True, anyone with a computer just downloads them for free.

 

[Fritzo]

I shop for BRDs near exclusively online.

Oh, you do?? Well, then, I'll need to change my facts!

 

[Fritzo]

You are aware the "general public's" acceptance of BD is not critical to its success, correct? Apple products only make up a small fraction of the market, and they have no intention of targeting the "general public" (AKA Wal-Mart Joe). Wal-Mart Joe can wait all he wants for the prices to come down, but he's going to be waiting a loooong time. In the meantime, everyone else will be enjoying the products like smart phones and Blu-ray.

No, it will get passed over for something else. In the case of the iPhone, it will eventually be Android phones, in the case of Macs, it was PC's, and in the case of Bluray, I'm convinced it will be streaming.

 

[Fingolfin269]

No, it will get passed over for something else. In the case of the iPhone, it will eventually be Android phones, in the case of Macs, it was PC's, and in the case of Bluray, I'm convinced it will be streaming.

What is your definition of 'passed over'? A quarter of the movies in your local Best Buy are devoted to BRD. Sure a new tech will eventually sunset BRD but like it or not it is here and it will be for years to come. I agree that streaming will eventually take over but why wait 5-10 years for infrastructure to support it when I can enjoy it now?

 

[Muse]

No, the prices are out of control and that's why I only buy about one per year. Inception in just a few weeks!

(yes, I do pirate movies).

I don't have a BluRay player yet, or a burner, obviously. I've never watched one. As a matter of fact, I'm unaware of ever having witnessed a demo in a store, but maybe I have unwittingly. What a 1/2 wit! :biggrin: I stopped buying DVDs, Jeez, a couple of years ago at least. My shelves are full of them, there's no room for more. They are piled up here and there. Nowadays, I borrow DVD's from my local library. I don't know if they have any BluRay. One day they will, I suppose, and that's when I'll seriously look into buying a player and display device (likely another projector, one capable of more than the 720p of my current PJ). I'll also be looking to get a burner then.

 

[lxskllr]

I'll never never own a BD player unless that's the only way they come in the future. I only buy a few movies I really like, and otherwise don't even watch much in the way of video. In the last couple years I've probably watched more public domain movies from InternetArchive than modern movies.