Do you still buy physical media?

[HDFan]

Here's another reason to get physical media. Bought a movie with a digital code. Turns out to redeem the code you have to run an app on an included digital disk. The app won't run on my M1 because it is Mac Intel. Disney's response is that the redemption code has expired and I have to get a refund. So not exactly the same thing but that likely implies that redeemed codes can be revoked as well. So I always get the physical media.

Hello , Thank you for your email about your Digital Movie code. Digital Movie activation codes are subject to expiration. Regretfully, Digital Movie codes requiring the use of a Digital Copy Disc have expired and are no longer eligible for redemption. Please enjoy the discs or refer to the seller for a refund or exchange. If you have any other questions or concerns, please reply to this email or visit www.RedeemDigitalMovie.com. Thank You, Eurus Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment Customer Relations For answers to Frequently Asked Questions, please visit our Guest Service Center here. ]]>

 

[phrehdd]

I like to buy UHD discs when they are at a good price. I prefer those with digital copy as well.

 

[HDFan]

I like to buy UHD discs when they are at a good price.

Good place to check is

Best 4K Blu-ray Deals

www.blu-ray.com

right now Assassins Creed is $5.99 with digital copy which is about the price of just the digital code.

Best prices of the year in the U.S. are in the 2 weeks before Black Friday when a lot of titles drop <$10.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

I can’t be dealing with storing the discs and this is why I think the format is a bit outdated now. Having unnecessary cupboards full of discs is just messy for me.

 

[phrehdd]

Good place to check is

Best 4K Blu-ray Deals

www.blu-ray.com

right now Assassins Creed is $5.99 with digital copy which is about the price of just the digital code.

Best prices of the year in the U.S. are in the 2 weeks before Black Friday when a lot of titles drop <$10.

Thanks for the heads-up. I recall back when visiting their site pre - UHD.

 

[phrehdd]

I can’t be dealing with storing the discs and this is why I think the format is a bit outdated now. Having unnecessary cupboards full of discs is just messy for me.

Yep fully get your take on how storing for some is troublesome. I do recall the days of LP records and the shelves it took to store them. Some considered it their pride and joy. Later Laserdisc too was the same. Others were ecstatic when cassettes came out which were far smaller and more portable. I guess to each their own. I tend to "archive" my discs to drive and make all my disc movies available to me wherever I am at home. The discs in turn are boxed and stored away. Both video and audio from disc has yet to be matched by any streaming.

 

[monstermash]

Not everyone places the same value on "media". Personally, my attitude is that if I can watch/listen to something, great. If not, oh well, I'll watch something else. If nothing is available, the real world is always available.

 

[HDFan]

if nothing is available, the real world is always available.

The real world right for me right now is upsetting. Need escapism and my media collection provides it. Now watching the Peter Sellers classic "Being There" which allows me to forget what is going on out there for a couple of hours.

 

[Grade]

So here in Portugal, there are no stores selling DVDs and Blu-rays for over 6 months or more. We are a very tiny market, and that ain't worth it for movie studios to sell them here.

This last week, I went to Barcelona to those multinational stores that sell all kinds of physical media and when found the DVDs and Blu-ray section (a still very big one, like 3 aisles worth), it was like I enter heaven.

 

[AL2TEACH]

I can’t be dealing with storing the discs and this is why I think the format is a bit outdated now. Having unnecessary cupboards full of discs is just messy for me.

If one appreciates the audio quality and video with equipment to see and hear the disc, then the storage of a few discs is not a problem. If streaming matched the discs, the internet bill would probably be more expensive than buying discs.

 

[Shanghaichica]

I can’t be dealing with storing the discs and this is why I think the format is a bit outdated now. Having unnecessary cupboards full of discs is just messy for me.

I agree. I was thinking about getting a UHD blu ray player as I’m going to give my blu ray player away as I’ve not used it for years. I only have a few discs left now. I gave hundreds away to the charity shops years ago. However, the thought of storing all the discs puts me off. It’s so inconvenient. If I bought a new blu ray player I’d have to invest in new discs.

 

[Shanghaichica]

If one appreciates the audio quality and video with equipment to see and hear the disc, then the storage of a few discs is not a problem. If streaming matched the discs, the internet bill would probably be more expensive than buying discs.

I do accept that the quality is better on a disc due to it being less compressed but it’s so inconvenient.

 

[Shanghaichica]

Yup. People are different.

I try to own as little as possible.

People think they own stuff. At some point, they find out their stuff owns them.

To that end - I have some 400 CDs for sale. Anyone wants them for $250 and lives anywhere nearish Pittsburgh, they're all yours

I couldn’t even be bothered to sell mine. When I got the HomePod back in 2018 I just gave mine away to a charity shop. Couldn’t wait to see the back of them lol

 

[HDFan]

It’s so inconvenient.

Can't you just rip them before disposal?

 

[Shanghaichica]

Can't you just rip them before disposal?

I could but that would require time and effort lol About a decade ago I used to rip DVDs and Blu rays but I don't have the energy to do it.

 

[Shanghaichica]

We need some video comparisons of iTunes 4K vs UHD blu rays.There are a few out there but they are quite old. I was surprised in many of them how the iTunes version was not that bad compared to the UHD. Obviously it depends on a lot of factors but I was surprised. I thought that an iTunes 4K version would be similar in quality to a standard Blu ray. I can still pixel peep when I want to though.

 

[Edd70]

We’re able to look at the last 60+ years with some perspective when it comes to buying media. I’m 53 so I clearly remember vinyl being the primary method of acquiring music.

But we’ve seen one format after the next come and go. Around 2008 I ripped every CD I own to a hard drive. I never use that data. Just not worth the hassle.

I‘ve no burning need to own much of anything, certainly not media. I’d make books a possible exception for consumption alone, but even physical books float in and out of your life, lending or giving them to someone. I’m just a fan of living small and simple.

 

[monstermash]

We’re able to look at the last 60+ years with some perspective when it comes to buying media. I’m 53 so I clearly remember vinyl being the primary method of acquiring music.

But we’ve seen one format after the next come and go. Around 2008 I ripped every CD I own to a hard drive. I never use that data. Just not worth the hassle.

I‘ve no burning need to own much of anything, certainly not media. I’d make books a possible exception for consumption alone, but even physical books float in and out of your life, lending or giving them to someone. I’m just a fan of living small and simple.

The older I get, the less stuff I want.

 

[MarkC426]

The older I get, the less stuff I want.

I must be a 'hoarder' then......🤪
The older I get the more 'retro' I feel, and want to relive my old music/tv shows etc.
Especially considering new TV/Films are generally crap (with the odd exception).....😬

 

[Edd70]

I must be a 'hoarder' then......🤪
The older I get the more 'retro' I feel, and want to relive my old music/tv shows etc.
Especially considering new TV/Films are generally crap (with the odd exception).....😬

TV is better than it’s ever been. Still some great films and music being made, they just need to be sought out. It’s not served front and center the way it used to be and the sheer content volume is overwhelming.

For older TV shows, Hulu, Amazon, and Peacock are extraordinary sources collectively. And much of the content has been remastered.

 

[HDFan]

We need some video comparisons of iTunes 4K vs UHD blu rays.

Aladin 4k plays at ~25 Mbps video ~770kps on my Apple TV from my library.

The 4k optical file is 49 Mbps ~4900 kbps audio.

Some people will see/hear a major difference. Others may not.

 

[AL2TEACH]

I don't have the energy to do it.

Lol, likewise and I never rip discs.

 

[AL2TEACH]

We need some video comparisons of iTunes 4K vs UHD blu rays.

They are extremely close.

 

[HDFan]

They are extremely close.

Not in bitrates. Snatch plays in my Apple Library at ~12 Mbps video, 770 kbps audio.

The 4K optical version clocks in at ~83.1 Mbps video and 4687 kbs audio. Thats almost 7 times more video and 6 times more audio data.

Depends on the viewer/listener.

 

[Shanghaichica]

Not in bitrates. Snatch plays in my Apple Library at ~12 Mbps video, 770 kbps audio.

The 4K optical version clocks in at ~83.1 Mbps video and 4687 kbs audio. Thats almost 7 times more video and 6 times more audio data.

Depends on the viewer/listener.

With a stereo pair of OG HomePods for my audio output I would be unlikely to be able to notice the differences in sound quality.