Do you think Blu-Ray / 4k BR optical media's days are numbered?

[K1052]

The only segment of physical sales showing growth is 4K UHD. Studios have noticed and have boosted this output. Kind of mirrors what's happened with vinyl in the music industry.

As for me my perspective is if you want to watch it more than once then you better own it. Streaming is not a replacement in terms of quality, cost (if you have to chase something down on a different service because it moved), or access. There is nothing to stop a company from simply acquiring the rights to a property and yanking it either temporarily or permanently from release. Worse they could make changes to existing properties that fundamentally alter the experience/narrative.

 

[Brainonska511]

Not Blu-ray, but something to watch for if you get DVDs of older TV shows. TLDW: original releases were often dual-layer disks; re-releases were reencoded to be single layer to save some pennies, but potentially have worse quality and playback issues.

 

[mikeymikec]

Not Blu-ray, but something to watch for if you get DVDs of older TV shows. TLDW: original releases were often dual-layer disks; re-releases were reencoded to be single layer to save some pennies, but potentially have worse quality and playback issues.

People in the comments are saying that the video author probably bought bootleg discs and that's the reason why they were single layer. This seems like a much more plausible explanation to me than saving... how much by switching from dual-layer DVD discs to single layer? It also doesn't make a great deal of sense that the discs were so poorly produced that most peoples' players can't read them, surely the rate of returns back to the manufacturer would make the whole exercise a complete waste of time and money. Bootleggers on the other hand aren't likely to give a crap.

 

[nakedfrog]

People in the comments are saying that the video author probably bought bootleg discs and that's the reason why they were single layer. This seems like a much more plausible explanation to me than saving... how much by switching from dual-layer DVD discs to single layer? It also doesn't make a great deal of sense that the discs were so poorly produced that most peoples' players can't read them, surely the rate of returns back to the manufacturer would make the whole exercise a complete waste of time and money. Bootleggers on the other hand aren't likely to give a crap.

As a Technology Connections watcher, it would seem odd to me for him to miss out on a major detail like that. He tends to be very detail-oriented. Very.
Not perfect, mind you, and he does tend to follow-up when he's incorrect on something.

Edit: I see this is a fresh video, so he will likely see the comments and check into it.

 

[purbeast0]

People in the comments are saying that the video author probably bought bootleg discs and that's the reason why they were single layer. This seems like a much more plausible explanation to me than saving... how much by switching from dual-layer DVD discs to single layer? It also doesn't make a great deal of sense that the discs were so poorly produced that most peoples' players can't read them, surely the rate of returns back to the manufacturer would make the whole exercise a complete waste of time and money. Bootleggers on the other hand aren't likely to give a crap.

You could press 2 layers, but you could only burn 1 layer.

Hence bootlegs were single layer.

 

[mikeymikec]

People in the comments are saying that the video author probably bought bootleg discs and that's the reason why they were single layer. This seems like a much more plausible explanation to me than saving... how much by switching from dual-layer DVD discs to single layer? It also doesn't make a great deal of sense that the discs were so poorly produced that most peoples' players can't read them, surely the rate of returns back to the manufacturer would make the whole exercise a complete waste of time and money. Bootleggers on the other hand aren't likely to give a crap.

Having said this, as Star Trek DS9 complete (it's DVD only) is on my want list, I thought I'd check up on the reviews after watching that video. Quite a few people were complaining that every second episode from every season from season 2 wouldn't read (even after getting the product replaced), though there are also lots of complaints about poor packaging and scratched discs.

 

[Brainonska511]

Having said this, as Star Trek DS9 complete (it's DVD only) is on my want list, I thought I'd check up on the reviews after watching that video. Quite a few people were complaining that every second episode from every season from season 2 wouldn't read (even after getting the product replaced), though there are also lots of complaints about poor packaging and scratched discs.

If it's from Amazon, it could always have the issue that they mix inventory. If it was a bootleg issue, all it takes is a single supplier to throw their "stock" into the general supply at Amazon to mess it up for all.

 

[lxskllr]

If it's from Amazon, it could always have the issue that they mix inventory. If it was a bootleg issue, all it takes is a single supplier to throw their "stock" into the general supply at Amazon to mess it up for all.

Didn't I just hear they were gonna stop mixing inventory? It's pretty fresh news, but I wasn't paying super close attention.

 

[Brainonska511]

Didn't I just hear they were gonna stop mixing inventory? It's pretty fresh news, but I wasn't paying super close attention.

It looks like they announced it last month, so it has not had time to work it's way into complete practice.

I still will not buy things like SD cards from them though - I just don't trust them (and also largely trying to limit my Amazon buying anyway, because fuck Jeff Bezos).

 

[sdifox]

Didn't I just hear they were gonna stop mixing inventory? It's pretty fresh news, but I wasn't paying super close attention.

Amazon to end commingling program after years of complaints from brands and sellers

Amazon revealed at its annual Accelerate seller conference in Seattle that it is shutting down its long-running “commingling” program.

www.modernretail.co

 

[mikeymikec]

I ended up buying DS9 complete (older editions) second-hand off ebay

 

[K1052]

I ended up buying DS9 complete (older editions) second-hand off ebay

This is where I got mine.

 

[Brainonska511]

This is where I got mine.

There is a used/new media store near me that I have store credit at (I sold a bunch of old CDs that were taking up space and just traveling from apartment to apartment; plus, they were all backed up as flac). Need to go back at some point to look through what they have - maybe find some gems.

 

[lxskllr]

The thriftshop near me gets pretty good dvds on occasion. Not a ton I'm personally into cause I don't watch a lot of video, but they get high status material for pennies on the dollar. Might not be able to get a complete series unless you get lucky, but it could fill in blanks with the rest purchased elsewhere a season at a time. Worth looking into.

 

[mikeymikec]

The thriftshop near me gets pretty good dvds on occasion. Not a ton I'm personally into cause I don't watch a lot of video, but they get high status material for pennies on the dollar. Might not be able to get a complete series unless you get lucky, but it could fill in blanks with the rest purchased elsewhere a season at a time. Worth looking into.

I was dropping off some stuff at the local charity shop and had to do a double-take when not only did I see BRs on their shelf but 4K BRs... I picked up a David Attenborough 4k+BR boxset that's currently going for >£30 on Amazon for £3.75!

On a separate note, as I mentioned in the OP, I decided to go ahead with 2001 and Enter The Dragon on 4KBR because they were a bit cheaper than usual. The BR quality of 2001 is immaculate, and Enter The Dragon is a pretty damn good restoration and a huge upgrade over the DVD version (which was poor quality for a DVD, no cleanup whatsoever before digitisation seemingly; I think I spent more on the DVD back in the day than this 4K+BR version!). I've spent a bit of time in awe of the quality of these two titles, then the DS9 DVD boxset arrived in the post yesterday... if I had seen it in the era of VHS, I could have mistaken it for very good quality VHS. <sad clown noises>

 

[nakedfrog]

I've got a couple of those David Attenborough 4K sets, they look spectacular.

 

[mikeymikec]

All optical drives are out of stock with my two usual UK suppliers, and have been out of stock for a couple of weeks or so.

My DVD drive was also acting a little squirrelly in that it had trouble reading some of my wife's audio CDs for ripping, the same discs that my BR drive handled without issue. I think I might try to buy a second SATA BR drive in an attempt to delay the maybe inevitable day that I won't have a working optical drive any more. I inadvertently have a few spare old DVDRW drives.

Can other people here around the world check optical drive availability with your typical suppliers please?

 

[AnitaPeterson]

All optical drives are out of stock with my two usual UK suppliers, and have been out of stock for a couple of weeks or so.

My DVD drive was also acting a little squirrelly in that it had trouble reading some of my wife's audio CDs for ripping, the same discs that my BR drive handled without issue. I think I might try to buy a second SATA BR drive in an attempt to delay the maybe inevitable day that I won't have a working optical drive any more. I inadvertently have a few spare old DVDRW drives.

Can other people here around the world check optical drive availability with your typical suppliers please?

Amazon Canada shows just one SATA Blu-ray player/DVD burner in stock, at around C$90.
There seem to be a lot of laptop BD drives available, on the other hand...

Edit: Scratch that. All the sellers are dubious third-parties. This sucks.

 

[gorobei]

gruv.com has a sale on blu-rays: 3xBR for $20 or 3x4K for $30.
they are a joint venture between universal and wb. shipping was free for me. prices were on par or better than amazon.

GRUV Entertainment

GRUV Entertainment

gruv.com

i used to worry about the 4k vs 2k purchase choice but if you look at the BR sites you find out the majority of movies are mastered at 2k so you arent getting the benefit of 4k unless it is a movie meant for imax theaters.

right now im just filling out my back catalog of movies i know i like/want, i should really be stockpiling recordable BR to burn backups.

the whole owning your movies/media should keep BR alive for a while. unless streaming services find a better compression scheme that is better than BR, people who want the original image quality should always be buying physical.

 

[bbhaag]

All optical drives are out of stock with my two usual UK suppliers, and have been out of stock for a couple of weeks or so.

My DVD drive was also acting a little squirrelly in that it had trouble reading some of my wife's audio CDs for ripping, the same discs that my BR drive handled without issue. I think I might try to buy a second SATA BR drive in an attempt to delay the maybe inevitable day that I won't have a working optical drive any more. I inadvertently have a few spare old DVDRW drives.

Can other people here around the world check optical drive availability with your typical suppliers please?

I looked on Newegg US and right now they only have two external units in stock that are shipped and sold by them. There are other units available but they are from oversees third party sellers.

 

[IronWing]

That second one is just the enclosure.

There are thirty employees in my office. I am the keeper of the sole DVD reader/burner. We have a ton of old work and data on DVD and CD that management has no plan to preserve. Maybe it will never be needed.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Was checking a few of the Canadian sites we have here and there's really not much as far as internal drives go. It's not THAT surprising though, even myself I hardly ever use optical media anymore. I still like to install a drive if I build a PC but it's been a while since I did a build so maybe I won't bother next time.

 

[bbhaag]

That second one is just the enclosure.

There are thirty employees in my office. I am the keeper of the sole DVD reader/burner. We have a ton of old work and data on DVD and CD that management has no plan to preserve. Maybe it will never be needed.

Good catch I didn't even notice that the second was just an encloser.

 

[Exterous]

gruv.com has a sale on blu-rays: 3xBR for $20 or 3x4K for $30.
they are a joint venture between universal and wb. shipping was free for me. prices were on par or better than amazon.

GRUV Entertainment

GRUV Entertainment

gruv.com

i used to worry about the 4k vs 2k purchase choice but if you look at the BR sites you find out the majority of movies are mastered at 2k so you arent getting the benefit of 4k unless it is a movie meant for imax theaters.

right now im just filling out my back catalog of movies i know i like/want, i should really be stockpiling recordable BR to burn backups.

the whole owning your movies/media should keep BR alive for a while. unless streaming services find a better compression scheme that is better than BR, people who want the original image quality should always be buying physical.

I picked up a few movies from the sale which should be delivered today/tomorrow

 

[balloonshark]

Digital Star Trek movies and tv shows are on sale from fanflix. DS9 is $40 for sd as an example. You may be able to use code GOBBLE10 to get 10% off.

FanFlix - This campaign is no longer available

Must be signed in with a FanFlix account to receive discount. Limit 1 promo code use per transaction. Promo code expires 11/19/2025 11:59pm PT. Requires a participating provider account to redeem your order

I'm starting to sour on digital media.

Other fanflix deals. https://fanflix.co/