I’m expecting to switch to a 1080p display next year, but in the interim, I’ve just about stopped buying DVDs (BSG being a notable exception) because I expect them to be re-released in HD, probably at an initial premium. So why buy twice?
How about you?
I have no interest in HD. It’s too early for me to worry about, the technology will need to go through its teething stage, and anyway you need a whole new home theatre to appreciate it, which is not something I can afford.
So I am getting just as many regular DVDs as ever.
In any case, the DVD quality is just fine. Watching VHS movies is a bit grating now, but I’m not expecting the same ‘leap’ in feeling. I might be wrong, but that’s the impression I’ve got.
I haven’t stopped because of HD, I stopped because of Netflix. Well, and I don’t work part-time at Suncoast anymore.
I’m buying less of everything fun/entertainment-related, not just DVDs. I’ve cut out buying monthly comic books cold turkey, I get graphic novels via inter-library loan, and I don’t have the discretionary income to purchase CDs and DVDs like I used to. When I do treat myself, I wait for deals, either by using my Amazon.com Visa gift certificates, buying used stuff from the Amazon Marketplace or eBay, or trading things in at any number of stores for new stuff. That, and I realize I just don’t rewatch a lot of my DVDs, defeating the purpose of owning them. That said, I’ll buy a box set of Angel seasons 1-5 as soon as such a thing gets released, and I usually can’t avoid buying movies I like for under $6.
Oh yeah, and I also wait for more new release movies to hit the dollar theaters (we have three locally), which is cheaper than even renting them. Usually if I see something once, I get it out of my system.
HD players are going to have to skittle down to the $200 range before I get one, never mind the format wars. It’ll be a while.
Lately, when I do buy, I buy used, unless it’s something I must have for the shiny newness. And there haven’t been many of those lately; I think King Kong was the most recent, and that’s been months.
Also, my purchases seem to have moved from “whatever’s coming out this month” (which is how I ended up with The Wedding Singer) to “stuff there’s no chance I’ll ever get to see unless I specifically order it over the net.” That category is mostly the rare horror flicks that I’ll never find locally for rent. One came in the mail yesterday. Halloween, here I come!
But the whole HD-DVD or Blu-Ray thing hasn’t affected my buying decisions. DVD is pretty damn good to begin with, so I don’t see myself feeling cheated when I eventually upgrade my player.
I still buy DVDs occasionally, but less so because of Netflix. (Most movies cost $15-20, and that’s about what a Netflix subscription costs. And the fact is that there are few movies I want to see repeatedly.) I still buy DVDs occasionally, in particular when they’re only available in Region 2 format and then I get them through Amazon.co.uk.
Semi-hijack
I buy my DVDs used, on Amazon & through a local store.
Nice savings.
I’m still buying DVD’s. I’m a classic “late embracer” so it’ll probably be five years before I switch from DVD to any new format on the horizon.
What is the difference in clarity/resolution? Can you provide actual numbers?
I joined the Columbia House DVD club and built up a small collection of most of my favorites a few years ago. Now I just buy the occasional new release that I REALLY want, or very infrequently I’ll find something I like in a discount bin and can’t pass it up.
I’m probably down to buying about 4 or 5 DVD’s a year, if that. I’m much better now about knowing which movies will have a lot of replay value for me. I never “blind buy” – I use Netflix for movies I haven’t seen before.
Even though I won’t be an early adapter, the introduction of HD-DVD/Blu-ray has made me think twice about double-dipping on new releases of movies I already own, or shelling out big bucks for a set of TV series DVDs.
If all things are perfect, a standard DVD will give you 480p resolution (that’s either 854x480 on a 16x9 TV or 640x480 on a 4x3 (note that you need a progressive DVD player. I find it easier to think of the differences as 640x480 and so on, since I’m more used to them after many years of dealing with computers.) A 1080p setup (which, in theory, both HD-DVD and BluRay will provide) is a 1920x1080 resolution, which is only 16:9. In theory, it’s a big difference, with approximately four times as many pixels. I’m still not sure the technology is worth the hype. In any case, I think the OP is somewhat misguided as the format war has to sort itself out, something is going to happen with the DRM, not much is available right now anyway, and there is always the question of whether or not the public will actually care. It’s kinda like that Sony commerical with the little figures doing The Play. It’s not like that game was broadcast in HD to begin with–heck, considering that it was almost 25 years ago it’s not like the picture was all that great in any case.
No, but I am buying fewer.
Pet peeve.
I used to buy tons of them, but switching to Netflix has proven to be a much more cost-effective method.
As Asterion said, standard DVD has a resolution of 854x480. 1080 - i or p - has a resolution of 1920x1080. This is not 4 times as big but 5 times as big - and more if you’re stepping up from a 4:3 CRT. The difference in clarity is simply astonishing. Sometimes it’s too good as you can see the hairs on hands etc. You owe it to yourself to go to a shop and see for yourself.
THANK YOU !! So you beat me to it but word for word you wrote my post.
Yep, but because of Netflix. I only buy really weird indy stuff now (and it has to be pretty out there for Netflix not to have it).