I’m tired of pretending [piracy of lossless rips of] physical media isn’t still better than streaming digital.
It is fun to own a physical version for my favorites though. Especially when effort goes into crafting an actual souvenir and not just a money-grab.
I like collector’s editions that are actually nice. I have an edition of Dune (1984) on DVD that includes multiple versions, the soundtrack and an actual frame from a movie roll.
Yeah, I haven’t dealt with actual physical media before Netflix was even an option. Piracy is becoming the best experience again.
Physical media without DRM is better than streaming.
There’s a funny story about DRM on physical media.
When Sony/Philips/etc. were first designing the Audio CD format, they didn’t bother adding any DRM or copy protection schemes, as they figured that no one would have the capability to rip them to their devices. And then CD burners/rippers entered the market, which proved them terribly wrong. In later years, the record companies tried adding DRM to CDs, but that came back to bite them when someone sued them, because the CD wouldn’t work in their player.
So, long story short, CDs are legally prohibited from having DRM of any kind.
My not-so-funny story is: about a decade or so ago I had an Xbox with a blu-ray drive. I wanted to watch one of my discs on it, but couldn’t because the Microsoft DRM servers were down.
The end.
The irony is that some folks probably skipped Blu-Ray on purpose because they didn’t like the DRM. Then they got streaming instead, partly because Blu-Ray sales flattened which allowed the industry to more quickly focus on streaming and subscriptions.
Had more people bought into Blu-Ray despite the DRM, it would be more difficult for the industry to get away from physical media.
But this is a common trick, also. Both streaming and DRM are bad. The optimal solution (physical media without DRM) is something the industry just won’t do.
The irony is that some folks probably skipped Blu-Ray on purpose because they didn’t like the DRM.
Yep! I sure did!
Then they got streaming instead, partly because Blu-Ray sales flattened which allowed the industry to more quickly focus on streaming and subscriptions.
Yeah. That too. Damn it.
Now I’m buying DVDs, again.
I would be amazing at piracy, but I have too much to lose.
It is probably worth mentioning that Blu-Ray DRM at this point isn’t the pain it used to be – in fact Blu-Ray can also be ripped like DVD, so it’s still an option if you want a hard copy of something in HD (specifically 1080p Blu-Ray – 4K Blu-Ray is a different beast).
That’s good to know. Thanks.
That sucks, I’m sorry to hear.
The Blu-ray DRM isn’t as bad now, because everyone’s focused on digital and streaming.
That is a fun story
What commercial physical video media doesn’t have DRM?
DVD extras forever.
I got a special edition of ‘Buckaroo Banzai’ with an added on-screen commentary that is hilarious.
In the original, we see BB get into his JetCar with a brief case. Thanks to the subtitles, we know he’s heading into the 8th Dimension carrying Einstein’s brain and a tuna fish sandwich.
That must be in case he needs to stop for lunch on the way to delivering that sandwich
As I’ve been getting more physical copies of my favorites, I’ve been looking into backing up all my physical dvds on digital storage so I don’t have to handle the actual dvd and risk scratching it.
I rip my dvd’s to use on my media serve, they then go in a plastic, water-resistant container stored in a dark, cool storage area.
But plug it on at least once a year or you face data corruption.
That’s way too much work tho
Not that there aren’t significant advantages to things like ownership comparing to licensing fees, but this article seems like satire.
People without kids liking bluey?
People like it enough, that they buy the soundtrack to a tv show for toddlers, one that they have no nostalgia for, and also buying it on vinyl?I have a friend who unironically watches it and me with a child does not.
Bought my daughter a multi region blu ray player along with Gravity Falls, Over the Garden Wall, The Mist and a handful of Ghiblis for her birthday next year.
I love the fact you can get films and shows for next to nothing from the charity shop / eBay etcRegion-free players are the way to go!
But most of them are 10 - 20 years old, will soon fail. Which is why i kept the player to rip the disks and give her a fancy thumbdrive once she’s 5.
Streaming digital, and owning digital, are two different things.
Does anyone really “own” digital?
Unless you’re talking about piracy.
I mean, a digital copy of your physical media isn’t piracy, and is ownership.
Unless you’re talking about piracy.
What about it?
I have a simple rule: if I love it, I buy a physical copy
Yes, but there’s no reason it can’t be streamed at exactly the same bitrate if you have a decent connection. They’re both just data.
Here in Australia physical media releases are becoming more rare, or we don’t get the 4k releases. Disney and Disney owned studios are gone, and paramount is becoming rare. I understand we are a smaller market, but it still a pain, I subscribe to Disney+ but the day might come when I dont want to, and only want the movies or shows I actually want to watch again. I understand there is a component of manufacturing and shipping in a reduced market, seriously just sell me the file DRM free in AV1, I’ll throw it on my jellyfin server, if ebooks and music can do it, what makes TV and Movies so special - but that’s it, its about control
With streaming video, I don’t have to sit through unskippable do not pirate warnings, ads, unresponsive and annoying menus. Oh wait, the only difference is the piracy warning.
With ripping neither.
