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> It has never been cheaper or easier That's exactly the thing though. It has been easier. We all remember it being easier, when we pirated something. The act
by cyborgx7 7y ago
> It has never been cheaper or easier
That's exactly the thing though. It has been easier. We all remember it being easier, when we pirated something.
The actual sentence should be "it has never been easier while also getting to pay for it". That's just not a very compelling case.
- alistairSH 7y agoIs pirating something really easier? Maybe I've been out of that game for too long, but between finding good/complete torrents of content, avoiding my ISP finding out I was doing it (and sending me nastygrams), needing to keep a server up and running to download/store media, juggling front-ends as they evolved (Plex hasn't always been around), ... Today, I have a single device (AppleTV), a single remote, and can stream just about anything I want. And that content is either bundled with Netflix or Amazon, or available to rent for $5 or so. And I don't have to break the law to do it.
- cyborgx7 7y agoHere in Germany, Torrenting legally is distribution, so I don't do it. But find yourself a decent streaming link aggregator, install an adblocker and you are golden. Anything with a webbrowser can play it. No major legal streaming platform can claim this. Also, you are comparing effort it takes to set-up something, with effort it takes to use it, which I'd argue isn't entirely fair.
- alistairSH 7y agoSetting up my Apple TV took 5 minutes. Plug in the power, set up the wifi, and add a few apps. Much easier than buying a HTPC + NAS + finding the best software to install. Using is as easy as a smart-phone. Click the search app, find content, hit play. Everything auto-updates, so there's no maintenance. VS a HTPC + NAS which take (slightly) more care+feeing to keep current on software versions.
- cyborgx7 7y agoI feel like you are being dense on purpose here. I talk about anything with a webbrowser and you argue about the complication of htpc and nas.
- alistairSH 7y agoAlso, you are comparing effort it takes to set-up something, with effort it takes to use it, which I'd argue isn't entirely fair. I thought you were talking about setting up some sort of torrenting/media server system with this part of your comment. I agree, using a browser is easy enough. But, why would I when the AppleTV is already connected to my TV and I can do everything with a simple remote and voice commands?
- cyborgx7 7y agoThen don't if it's easier for you. My usecase is I want to watch things on a reltively low powered Linux laptop. They have nothing for me.
- pgwhalen 7y agoPirating is easier in the same way an FTP server is easier than Dropbox.
- lotsofpulp 7y agoIt’s easier to walk out with groceries than stand in line and pay for them also. There is no purpose to comparing pirating with legal means.
- cyborgx7 7y agoTry walking out with your groceries sometime and tell me again it's easier.
- chipotle_coyote 7y agoI think I'm with allstairSH here, sorry; I just didn't find piracy to be easier than paying for content. Your "all you need is a web browser" case is fine as long as there's something you can browse to that has the content you want -- and as long as the use case is something like what you want, which I think you said was watching stuff in a web browser on a low-end Unix laptop. My use case is very often watching on a 4K television in my living room. And, frankly, I'm not sure what piracy method is easier even in the only-web-browsing case for me compared to "browse to streaming site with desired content."
- cyborgx7 7y agoI'm sure their approach is either for a lot of people. But it is a huge burden for me. And if they just gave me access to the files and maybe an api, it would work for both of us, instead of just for you.