Anti-Bluray Drive *Having a Good Old Rant*

[Michael CM1]

This post closes in on one of the dumbest arguments against Blu-ray drives being put on computers. I mean really really close.

First of all, WE JUST WANT THE DARN OPTION. BD drives won't become standard on anything for a few years, just like DVD drives did the same. The fact that you totally ignore the history of CDs and DVDs is beyond stunning. I paid $200 for a CD-R drive about a decade ago. The discs were pretty expensive. Now, CD-RW drives are standard, DVD-RW drives are getting there, and the discs for both are dirt cheap.

I just made your whole point utterly useless, but I'll go on.

Don't start assuming what people need to use some new technology for. I wouldn't burn any Blu-ray Discs to begin with because the discs are too costly and I don't have any material to do so with. But what if there was some major breakthrough in which Apple had come up with a way for you to download HD movies and burn them to a Blu-ray Disc for play in any BD player? This is nowhere near technologically impossible, it's just legalities and copyright issues that hold it back. Similar uses could be developed, so don't start guessing what BDs will be used for in their infant stages.

As far as players, I friggin want to play BD movies on my computer. Yes, they probably suck up a lot of battery...but what if my laptop is plugged up? What? You didn't think of that? HOLY SMOKES, BATMAN! Yes, I keep my MBP plugged up more than 95% of the time as a desktop replacement. I would need a new one with all the necessary hardware for a BD drive, but I would get one eventually.

The main point I'd like to make to everyone is give it up with the "nobody needs Blu-ray because we'll all download movies." Please compare sales of movies on DVD and BD at stores versus online. It's not even close. It is just within the past 12 months than iTunes took the top music seller spot nationwide, and Amazon is creeping on its heels. Nearly a decade after the height of Napster, legal online MUSIC downloads are dominating. Files that are about 1MB/minute. No problem on broadband.

Now, go check out the size of movies. About 1.5GB for a 90-120 minute movie. Takes a few hours to download, even on the fastest DSL and cable systems. The smallest of HD movies would top 4GB at 720p. Do the math and you may figure out that Blu-ray will have its decade.

 

[SilentGreg]

This post closes in on one of the dumbest arguments against Blu-ray drives being put on computers. I mean really really close.

First of all, WE JUST WANT THE DARN OPTION. BD drives won't become standard on anything for a few years, just like DVD drives did the same. The fact that you totally ignore the history of CDs and DVDs is beyond stunning. I paid $200 for a CD-R drive about a decade ago. The discs were pretty expensive. Now, CD-RW drives are standard, DVD-RW drives are getting there, and the discs for both are dirt cheap.

I just made your whole point utterly useless, but I'll go on.

Don't start assuming what people need to use some new technology for. I wouldn't burn any Blu-ray Discs to begin with because the discs are too costly and I don't have any material to do so with. But what if there was some major breakthrough in which Apple had come up with a way for you to download HD movies and burn them to a Blu-ray Disc for play in any BD player? This is nowhere near technologically impossible, it's just legalities and copyright issues that hold it back. Similar uses could be developed, so don't start guessing what BDs will be used for in their infant stages.

As far as players, I friggin want to play BD movies on my computer. Yes, they probably suck up a lot of battery...but what if my laptop is plugged up? What? You didn't think of that? HOLY SMOKES, BATMAN! Yes, I keep my MBP plugged up more than 95% of the time as a desktop replacement. I would need a new one with all the necessary hardware for a BD drive, but I would get one eventually.

The main point I'd like to make to everyone is give it up with the "nobody needs Blu-ray because we'll all download movies." Please compare sales of movies on DVD and BD at stores versus online. It's not even close. It is just within the past 12 months than iTunes took the top music seller spot nationwide, and Amazon is creeping on its heels. Nearly a decade after the height of Napster, legal online MUSIC downloads are dominating. Files that are about 1MB/minute. No problem on broadband.

Now, go check out the size of movies. About 1.5GB for a 90-120 minute movie. Takes a few hours to download, even on the fastest DSL and cable systems. The smallest of HD movies would top 4GB at 720p. Do the math and you may figure out that Blu-ray will have its decade.

Awesome post man!

Anyway. As for me, I'm on the fence. Sure 1080p is nice but I can't (as a college student) afford a BD player or the actual movies. Until the prices level off in a few years (my guess) I'll stick with DVD and CD disks for my choice of media.

 

[MattZani]

Not this year, but next year, maybe not nehalem (or whatever its called) but the late '09 upgrade, we will start seeing it in the Mac Pro, as BTO. The iMac 24" As Standard, and the 17" MBP as standard. And as screen res increases, more and more people will want blu-ray to use the increased res.

 

[Michael CM1]

Awesome post man!

Anyway. As for me, I'm on the fence. Sure 1080p is nice but I can't (as a college student) afford a BD player or the actual movies. Until the prices level off in a few years (my guess) I'll stick with DVD and CD disks for my choice of media.

I got one for $299 at Christmas with $100 of it a present. I kinda wish I had ponied up for a PS3 since they can play the BD Live stuff, but I still LOVE the thing. It has new tech issues (takes a while to load, doesn't let you resume play if you leave it for more than about 15 or 20 minutes), but just watching the opening credits of "Superman Returns" makes you go "ooooohhhhh."

Right now, they're kind of a splurge purchase. I'd still recommend a PS3 since you get so much more for about the same price, although some players are dropping well below $400. You should see some $300 players again this year, maybe even $250. Just make sure it's got the most current BD profile, which I think is 1.3 (BD Live). As time goes on, people will buy them to replace DVD players that go bonk or if they want a new disc player. The upconverted movies look pretty nice, but they're not BD quality.

As far as movies, check out Amazon.com and DeepDiscount.com. Those seem to be the best overall online. Fry's Electronics has a lot of good deals around here, usually having some movies on sale for about $14 at some point each month. Until then, enjoy Blu-ray's push down on DVD prices. I love finding DVDs at $4. Why the heck rent when you can buy at $4?

 

[Michael CM1]

Not this year, but next year, maybe not nehalem (or whatever its called) but the late '09 upgrade, we will start seeing it in the Mac Pro, as BTO. The iMac 24" As Standard, and the 17" MBP as standard. And as screen res increases, more and more people will want blu-ray to use the increased res.

They at least need to start including HDCP-compatible hardware (video adapters, screens/monitors) so the computers are upgradable. This is extremely true for the MacBooks, which aren't very video card upgradable.

 

[sushi]

Now, go check out the size of movies. About 1.5GB for a 90-120 minute movie. Takes a few hours to download, even on the fastest DSL and cable systems.

Some folks have FTTH where they can DL movies that size in less than 3 minutes.

Even with my cheap slow ADSL connection, I can DL a movie like that in well under 30 minutes.

Internet speeds will become faster in the future. FTTH is 100Mbps. FTTH2 is expected to be close to Giga speeds. So DL times will continue to decrease over time.

Granted, there are many places in the world where the DL speeds are much slower. But that will change.

Until then, enjoy Blu-ray's push down on DVD prices. I love finding DVDs at $4. Why the heck rent when you can buy at $4?

Exactly.

DVDs are getting cheap.

 

[tri3limited]

Great post Michael CM1! Love your fighting style

I too keep my lowly MacBook plugged in a lot of the time as the battery is so pathetic (i actually take the charger with me as a portable!). I can see why you would want it as an option, but as to a point i made previously, wouldn't you prefer something else for that money!

For the cost of a Bluray drive they could go for a quad-core option (not that they will as it hits into the Mac Pro lineup) with decent cooling and all. Not to mention allowing for more RAM, or bigger HDDs or better graphics. A longer battery could be handy as, while I'm sure most people probably leave their MacTops plugged in, it's still a portable computer made for portability.

We'd like all of them as an option without a price increase! Although I can see your point here.

Maybe a Bluray reader drive would be a nice option (still 110% anti-burner and there's been no great argument yet as to why you'd want or need one). You could then watch your films, and it would be a nice option on the iMacs but still, the technology is emerging and i for one wouldn't want to be stuck with an old profile version!

I can sort of see your argument though


EDIT: Wow! I just noticed there's been nearly 1000 views... Thanks everyone for your involvement! Especially sushi who's trying to keep the debate going with some great responses! I'm in the UK so the cheapest Bluray discs are about $38 with DVDs down at $8. No point in us going Bluray, we've only got about 20 HD channels by subscription only. 4xHD will be here soon enough to save the day!

 

[Michael CM1]

You guys only have 20 HD channels? SHEESH! The satellite companies here are nearing 100. The problem is you can get really jacked on the prices. I mean who can pay $80 for all that TV a month?

I don't think the BD writers would be too bad of an option because LG has a model that will read and write almost anything for $280. Read-only drives are about $150. I would just like the read option and don't think it's too much for Apple to at least put this option on Mac Pros and iMacs.

 

[jb60606]

In regards to multimedia - as long as my eye-sight is only average, I could care less either way. I tend to pay more attention to the contents of the disk, rather than the quality in which they are displayed on the screen.

It's data back-up capabilities are intriguing, but thumb drives and other SSD devices on the horizon make more sense to me.