Topic: Right time to go into Bluray?

[boybi]

I'm an early adapter of DVD titles and have since collected more than 300+ titles in my library. But I held off on bluray when it was first introduced because during that time, there was still no industry standard on which format between HD-DVD and BluRay to support. And the prices for these formats costs like a new DVD player already.

Now that HD-DVD is out of the game, and prices for BluRay titles are in the low P1,000.00s, should I start collecting Bluray copies already?

For those who are already into bluray, do you still buy DVD titles?

Is it still worth it to collect bluray movies now, knowing that HD copies can be easily downloaded from the internet, and media boxes are cheaper than bluray players?

[FrancisS]

The time is now.  I have a good number of DVDs in my library as well. At first I too was hesitant to buy BLU discs, but when I watched BD, clarity was like night and day compared to DVD. I even "double dipped" on some titles that I already had in DVD and bought its BD counterpart. Picture quality is really awesome, and with the PinoyDVD forums, I am able to get a lot more BDs as compared to the ones available at the mall at a lower price.

Try BLU RAY, you won't regret it.

[Macmon]

I started getting bluray but still getting DVD.
Reasons.
1. Not all bluray transfers are created equal.
Check out the reviews in blu-ray.com if the quality is great.
If not, then dont get it
2. If the movie is not that great or for collectors item
I get the DVD
3. If the quality is great and the price is great and something I can keep. I get a blu-ray
4. If I believe I will watch it also aside from my home gears, then I get the combo BD/dvd pack. Particularly for cartoons that the family watch.

[barrister]

For those who are already into bluray, do you still buy DVD titles?

Is it still worth it to collect bluray movies now, knowing that HD copies can be easily downloaded from the internet, and media boxes are cheaper than bluray players?

Go ahead and buy Blu-ray.

I get the impression that you prefer to have a one-format video collection.  It doesn't have to be that way.  Why not have a video collection in DVD, BD and media files?  Multi-format na ang mga collectors ngayon ...    

I have a few BD titles, for my all-time favorite movies.  I also have DVD titles, for the not-so-great titles and for the ones not yet released on BD.  For new movies that i didn't catch at the cinema, I use media files since I just want to try them out to see if I'm going to like them.
    

[Blu-devil]

I've been Blu since September 2007 and haven't bought a DVD since around that time, unless I specifically wanted a Steelbook Casing (Indiana Jones Trilogy, Bourne Trilogy, Terminator TSCC) then I will dump the DVD (family, friends) and keep the Steelbook. I still watch DVD's (I have over 500 still) But as soon as I get the Blu-ray I donate the DVD to family. It's Blu all the way for me. Can't beat Lossless Audio, even more so in 2 days when my 9.2 receiver arrives from the US. Hate the idea of digital down loads, love to have physical media.

[Othan]

I started getting bluray but still getting DVD.
Reasons.
1. Not all bluray transfers are created equal.
Check out the reviews in blu-ray.com if the quality is great.
If not, then dont get it
2. If the movie is not that great or for collectors item
I get the DVD
3. If the quality is great and the price is great and something I can keep. I get a blu-ray
4. If I believe I will watch it also aside from my home gears, then I get the combo BD/dvd pack. Particularly for cartoons that the family watch.

we have the same principles/reasons  

[boybi]

What bluray player is good yet cheap?

[Blu-devil]

If you want a truly versatile player, one that will also play 3D (upgrade this month) plays games and browses, choose PS3

[Lopio]

If you want a truly versatile player, one that will also play 3D (upgrade this month) plays games and browses, choose PS3

+1 PS3 120G thin cost around 13.6k at GH, i plan to buy one for cebu so that i can bring my BD collection every time i go home on xmas and newyear.

[boybi]

A PS3 sounds good. But I think I prefer a stand alone bluray player.

[FrancisS]

What bluray player is good yet cheap?

I'd recommend a PS3 as well.

[mattia]

Go bluray, especially if you have the equipments like hi-def screen and home theater.  Go maximize your LCD, LED, Plasma!    Your home theater's gonna be smoking with bluray.  For a good BD player, simply check out the threads here for discussions and reviews and you can't go wrong.  

Don't worry about your DVD collection. DVD is here to stay.   The DVD format, IMO, will still be around for quite some time maybe even longer than we think.  I still buy DVDs mind you.  There are still some good movies that are not yet in BD format so you might want to keep those DVDs of yours.  

Budget-wise, I spend about P700 average per BD.  Still quite expensive so just be selective on your purchases.  For me, I decide to buy BDs (1) if I really love the movie/ a keeper! (2) outstanding PQ and SQ ( check out bluray.com for reviews ) (3) if price is right meaning within my budget.   If not, then I just go DVD.

 

[pchin]

Go ahead and buy Blu-ray.

I get the impression that you prefer to have a one-format video collection.  It doesn't have to be that way.  Why not have a video collection in DVD, BD and media files?  Multi-format na ang mga collectors ngayon ...   

I have a few BD titles, for my all-time favorite movies.  I also have DVD titles, for the not-so-great titles and for the ones not yet released on BD.  For new movies that i didn't catch at the cinema, I use media files since I just want to try them out to see if I'm going to like them.

I'm in a very similar situation. However, lately I'm into mostly BD (those that I like) & media files (those I don't really like or for review purpose before getting BD)

[FrancisS]

It's a good time to start now, habang may SALE sa Astrovision, hehe.

[pchin]

Go bluray, especially if you have the equipments like hi-def screen and home theater.  Go maximize your LCD, LED, Plasma!    Your home theater's gonna be smoking with bluray.  For a good BD player, simply check out the threads here for discussions and reviews and you can't go wrong. 

Yes, once you have HD display it's very tempting to go BD. Sayang kc if you don't maximize the full HD benefit eh... 

Nowdays with the drop of BD players & LCD prices, it's much affordable to get into BD unlike 2 years ago where every gear still very expensive. A few months back, I imported a BD player with a landed cost of 10k only plus free 3 BD pa.  

[av_phile1]

If you've watched an HD film, chances are you wouldn't ever want to go back to DVDs, even if upscaled.

Personally, it's the HD content I want.  Not the physical media.  Not that it matters, but the history of Blu Ray is really about the history of corporate greed where the studios have grown tired of the DVD format that no longer made money for them and wanted something more robust against being hacked. 

A new product cycle will always be more profitable. If all they wanted was HD, even a DVD-9 can contain a full-length 720p HD file with the more efficient compression technology.   But then you'd still need new players for HD so might as well go full 1080p with a new set of standards and players.  No problem.  Consider it the march of technology which it is.

Is today the right time to go BD?  It never really occurred to me that it is.  After 3 years in the market, it still couldn't go more than a 15% market penetration in the US.  The prognosis is that it will have parity with DVD by 2015.  But by that time, the parity level will only be a fraction of DVD purchases at its height in 2004.

Despite the fact the BD sales nearly doubled in 2009, they are so small that they didn't help counter the decline in total sales of packaged video media by 7%.  2009 was DVD's 3rd straight year of continued decline.  In the meantime, total sales of internet video downloads surged by a whopping 23% over the same period.     

Oh well, enough said, If you like to collect titles in their physical form, or what they call package media, by all means do so. Most titles are now priced at about the same level as those early DVDs.   But if you just want the HD content, the internet offers the option. Just be sure your connection is broadband.

[Clondalkin]

Is it still worth it to collect bluray movies now, knowing that HD copies can be easily downloaded from the internet, and media boxes are cheaper than bluray players?

Sorry not in my case.  I love to go to the moviehouse and watch at home using the ever dependable PC and the increasingly reliable NMT.

I dont like to repeat-watch most movies unless Ive practically forgotten the story.   I feel that sayang yung limited time to chill out if I simply re-watch a popular movie.  Id rather play a totally obscure title or something from National Geographic or Discovery Channel.

I can no longer appreciate the value of buying a catalogue title for cheap, or a cool steelbook version, but never really know when Id actually have the urge to even open the seal.

Of course, the general public should support the BD market.    Pero sa cine nalang ako ($20 per viewing din naman yung contribution ko.)    

[Moks007]

Yes, once you have HD display it's very tempting to go BD. Sayang kc if you don't maximize the full HD benefit eh... 

Nowdays with the drop of BD players & LCD prices, it's much affordable to get into BD unlike 2 years ago where every gear still very expensive. A few months back, I imported a BD player with a landed cost of 10k only plus free 3 BD pa.  

Yup totally agree here. When I upgraded my display, the more I really want to watch everything in blu. Imo pic and audio of blu is simply the best. I also have an nmt player and I also use it for movie previews. If I like it the movie then I will buy it in blu . However, its so tempting to do blind buys especially when I haven't seen the movie. I sometimes want to watch a kick butt movie (if I missed it in the movies) for the first time with the best audio and video .

I have been downloading 720p movies (1.5 to 3 gig) and playing it on my xtreamer. Recently, I tried comparing 3 movies  to the blu versions. It's no match. This is just my eyes and ears. Now those 1080p (7 to 8 gig versions) I really can't comment on it bec. I never compared them. Files are too big for me to download It may be close, so imo its down to if you are a collector or not. Physical discs takes lots and lots of space. That's what I hate the most and of course the cost.

[av_phile1]

Sorry not in my case.  I love to go to the moviehouse and watch at home using the ever dependable PC and the increasingly reliable NMT.

I dont like to repeat-watch most movies unless Ive practically forgotten the story.   I feel that sayang yung limited time to chill out if I simply re-watch a popular movie.  Id rather play a totally obscure title or something from National Geographic or Discovery Channel.

I can no longer appreciate the value of buying a catalogue title for cheap, or a cool steelbook version, but never really know when Id actually have the urge to even open the seal.

Of course, the general public should support the BD market.    Pero sa cine nalang ako ($20 per viewing din naman yung contribution ko.)    

In 2009, for the first time since 2000, theater sales actually picked up to compensate for the declining DVD sales. Studios were very happy.   It must be due to those 3D movies.

Now, studios are banking on the start of a new product life cycle - the 3D home viewing.  Just when you thought your new 42-inch LCD or plasma bought last year brought you to state-of-the art home entertainment, it's suddenly obsolete without the HDMI 1.4 receptacle and 120Hz refresh rate.

I also no longer see any need to spend money on package media. In all my home video watching experience since 1982, i can count on one hand the few video titles I've repeated watching.  And most of them were porn.  

[puffalan84]

In 2009, for the first time since 2000, theater sales actually picked up to compensate for the declining DVD sales. Studios were very happy.   It must be due to those 3D movies.

Now, studios are banking on the start of a new product life cycle - the 3D home viewing.  Just when you thought your new 42-inch LCD or plasma bought last year brought you to state-of-the art home entertainment, it's suddenly obsolete without the HDMI 1.4 receptacle and 120Hz refresh rate.

I also no longer see any need to spend money on package media. In all my home video watching experience since 1982, i can count on one hand the few video titles I've repeated watching.  And most of them were porn.  

But if you just want the HD content, the internet offers the option. Just be sure your connection is broadband.
i can count on one hand the few video titles I've repeated watching.  And most of them were porn. 

NIce.. AV-phile1 is the kobe of NBA, great "closer".. Like it..  .. cheers sir keep it coming..

[tonedeaf]

In av_phile's words, I like having the "package media" of my favorite movies. I like the 2 disc-editions, the special features etc. But I'm picky with the DVDs I buy.

Since 2002, I've collected around 120 DVDs (counting boxsets as 1). I stopped buying DVDs around 2008, when HD-DVD and Blu Ray first started to appear thinking that the days of the DVD would be over soon.

However, at least in the Philippines, DVD looks like it will be staying around for a few more years. I recently started buying DVDs again, mostly Region 2 stuff, the editions which never get released here (for example, Hellboy 1&2 in steel book, the movie Once etc).

But my DVD player (not the upscaling kind, mind you) is just about ready to conk out. And blu ray players seem to be getting cheaper. So now, I'm tempted.  I figure, maybe I should buy a blu ray player now. Buy blu ray copies of new movies from hereon in. Buy blu ray copies of movies I already own ONLY if the discs get damaged or rot.

I was listening to an episode of TWIT (This Week in Tech with Leo Laporte) a few days back. Leo was of the view that the days of physical media (like DVDs, blu rays etc) would be over soon. With the advent of Netflix, iTunes, the Kindle  and similar sites, it's all about streaming or having digital copies stored somewhere. So "collecting" DVDs or blu rays or CDs or any form of physical media will soon be a niche market.

I wouldn't mind having a Netflix-like service in the Philippines. That way, I just watch a movie online and not have to buy it if I don't like it. Pero matagal pa yata maging reality yan sa Pilipinas. The internet isn't as prevalent here, at least outside Metro Manila (unlike physical stores selling physical items). Copyright restrictions prevent us from accessing Netflix. Heck, I'm not even sure if our internet here can handle the traffic if everyone started watching HD movies by streaming.