5 ms·

Between iTunes and Netflix, why are people still using physical media? * Cost? (Not all of Netflix is streaming and non-streaming iTunes content is between $0.

by aditya 16y ago

Between iTunes and Netflix, why are people still using physical media? * Cost? (Not all of Netflix is streaming and non-streaming iTunes content is between $0.99 and $4.99 on an AppleTV that's $99) * Convenience? (I can't imagine anything being more convenient than the AppleTV setup, especially now that 1mil+ devices have been sold)

mikeryan 16y ago
No one can stream with Blu-Ray quality yet. Consider most blu-ray encoding bitrates are at between 25-45Mbps. Netflix's best HD Streams I think are about 3Mbps, maybe slightly higher. Even if you're streaming at 1080p (which Roku now supports) that stream is going to be smashed to bits to get that resolution out of it. Also no one is streaming 5.1 surround sound yet either. You'd chew up your whole bandwidth allotment on audio. Blu-Ray is still a considerably better format for video then streaming.
- barclay 16y ago
  > Also no one is streaming 5.1 surround sound yet either. While NF streaming is great, this is one thing that it's really missing.
watty 16y ago
I agree, I think it's a waste of money. My brother however collects DVDs and Blu-rays. He's got a huge library of movies that can be watched any time (and probably cost a fortune). I think it's on the decline but I also think we'll be paying more for bandwidth due to excessive streaming.
orangecat 16y ago
1080p for BR, and the ability to rip DVDs and access them anywhere?
pkulak 16y ago
It's the best picture and with Netflix it's also really cheap. I'd only have to watch 2 movies a month on Apple or Amazon to hit my Netflix subscription price, and I'd be watching overly compressed 720p instead of 40Mbps 1080p. Plus, I've yet to have a single issue with using my PS3 as a Blu-Ray player. Maybe the rest suck, but for me, it's just like watching a DVD.
ams6110 16y ago
$4.99 is too much for a movie that you can't keep.
- hexis 16y ago
  Considering the price of movie tickets, does that mean you also don't go to movies at theaters?
  - durin42 16y ago
    Part of the promise of a theater is a movie before it's on DVD or streaming, and for most people the picture and sound is perceived to be better than what's in their home.
  - chc 16y ago
    I think the assumption is that movies on iTunes are not available on day 1 of theatrical release and that you don't have a 70-foot TV. Standard movie ticket prices would indeed be too high to bear if the movies were all long gone in other theaters and you watched on a 32-inch screen.
mhb 16y ago
Not all of Netflix is streaming is quite an understatement. Trying to find something worth watching that they stream is a task which conjures up memories of trips to the video store of yore. (Although Amelie was very good.)
sp332 16y ago
Netflix doesn't have "extras" like: multiple audio tracks or subtitle tracks (for commentary or foreign languages etc.), alternate endings, or behind-the-scenes footage.
robryan 16y ago
Hardly anyone here in Australia is on a connection that could stream a full quality blu-ray, not that there are any services that I know of that provide it. When we get to the point that you can stream first time and keep for a decent price compared to physical media, the connection is fast enough not to be any issue at all and probably even slight bigger hard drives become the norm I think the physical media will be done away with. Right now that it's far easier for me to pickup blu ray disks that which can be around $10-$15 in sales here for anything not overly new.
cloudwalking 16y ago
It's a lot easier to give my parents a disc as a present.
dkarl 16y ago
Insufficient bandwidth at home for great quality, plus better selection at the video store. Also, it's kind of fun to stop at the video store with a friend and browse the shelves.

by aditya 16y ago

mikeryan 16y ago

No one can stream with Blu-Ray quality yet. Consider most blu-ray encoding bitrates are at between 25-45Mbps. Netflix's best HD Streams I think are about 3Mbps, maybe slightly higher. Even if you're streaming at 1080p (which Roku now supports) that stream is going to be smashed to bits to get that resolution out of it. Also no one is streaming 5.1 surround sound yet either. You'd chew up your whole bandwidth allotment on audio. Blu-Ray is still a considerably better format for video then streaming.

barclay 16y ago
> Also no one is streaming 5.1 surround sound yet either. While NF streaming is great, this is one thing that it's really missing.

watty 16y ago

I agree, I think it's a waste of money. My brother however collects DVDs and Blu-rays. He's got a huge library of movies that can be watched any time (and probably cost a fortune). I think it's on the decline but I also think we'll be paying more for bandwidth due to excessive streaming.

orangecat 16y ago

1080p for BR, and the ability to rip DVDs and access them anywhere?

pkulak 16y ago

It's the best picture and with Netflix it's also really cheap. I'd only have to watch 2 movies a month on Apple or Amazon to hit my Netflix subscription price, and I'd be watching overly compressed 720p instead of 40Mbps 1080p. Plus, I've yet to have a single issue with using my PS3 as a Blu-Ray player. Maybe the rest suck, but for me, it's just like watching a DVD.

ams6110 16y ago

$4.99 is too much for a movie that you can't keep.

hexis 16y ago
Considering the price of movie tickets, does that mean you also don't go to movies at theaters?
- durin42 16y ago
  Part of the promise of a theater is a movie before it's on DVD or streaming, and for most people the picture and sound is perceived to be better than what's in their home.
- chc 16y ago
  I think the assumption is that movies on iTunes are not available on day 1 of theatrical release and that you don't have a 70-foot TV. Standard movie ticket prices would indeed be too high to bear if the movies were all long gone in other theaters and you watched on a 32-inch screen.

mhb 16y ago

Not all of Netflix is streaming is quite an understatement. Trying to find something worth watching that they stream is a task which conjures up memories of trips to the video store of yore. (Although Amelie was very good.)

sp332 16y ago

Netflix doesn't have "extras" like: multiple audio tracks or subtitle tracks (for commentary or foreign languages etc.), alternate endings, or behind-the-scenes footage.

robryan 16y ago

Hardly anyone here in Australia is on a connection that could stream a full quality blu-ray, not that there are any services that I know of that provide it. When we get to the point that you can stream first time and keep for a decent price compared to physical media, the connection is fast enough not to be any issue at all and probably even slight bigger hard drives become the norm I think the physical media will be done away with. Right now that it's far easier for me to pickup blu ray disks that which can be around $10-$15 in sales here for anything not overly new.

cloudwalking 16y ago

It's a lot easier to give my parents a disc as a present.

dkarl 16y ago

Insufficient bandwidth at home for great quality, plus better selection at the video store. Also, it's kind of fun to stop at the video store with a friend and browse the shelves.