# Star Wars original trilogy FINALLY released on digital! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 8, 2015, 9:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-original-trilogy-finally-released-on-digital/717106 "2015-04-08T09:52:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![sparky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2015, 9:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-original-trilogy-finally-released-on-digital/717106/1 "2015-04-08T09:52:23Z")
Just saw on IMDB that the Star Wars original trilogy is finally being released on digital format. HD formats can be preordered on iTunes now, with expected availability April 10, 2015. This makes me very happy. I absolutely loathe DVD formats, and in fact never replaced my player that broke nearly 6 years ago. I didn’t bother to see which versions of the movies have been released. Hopefully the ones closer to the original theatrical releases and not the ones cluttered by Lucas. ---
**Author:** ![unwashed\_brain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/a9adbd/32.png) [@unwashed\_brain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/unwashed_brain)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2015, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-original-trilogy-finally-released-on-digital/717106/2 "2015-04-08T12:29:21Z")
> [@sparky\_1](#): > > I absolutely loathe DVD formats, and in fact never replaced my player that broke nearly 6 years ago. 😕That’s some oddly strong sentiment. I’ve been enjoying the pristine quality of my Blu-Rays for years. ---
**Author:** ![blue\_infinity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blue_infinity/32/2817_2.png) [@blue\_infinity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blue_infinity)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2015, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-original-trilogy-finally-released-on-digital/717106/3 "2015-04-08T12:39:50Z")
> [@sparky\_1](#): > > I didn’t bother to see which versions of the movies have been released. Take a wild guess. > [@](#): > > Hopefully the ones closer to the original theatrical releases and not the ones cluttered by Lucas. For that we might have to wait until after Lucas croaks. ---
**Author:** ![sparky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2015, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-original-trilogy-finally-released-on-digital/717106/4 "2015-04-08T12:42:20Z")
> [@blue\_infinity](#): > > Take a wild guess. > > For that we might have to wait until after Lucas croaks. Damn! ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2015, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-original-trilogy-finally-released-on-digital/717106/5 "2015-04-08T13:30:38Z")
DVDs aren’t digital? ---
**Author:** ![sparky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2015, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-original-trilogy-finally-released-on-digital/717106/6 "2015-04-08T13:43:43Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > DVDs aren’t digital? Digital download. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2015, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-original-trilogy-finally-released-on-digital/717106/7 "2015-04-08T19:16:56Z")
> [@unwashed\_brain](#): > > 😕That’s some oddly strong sentiment. I’ve been enjoying the pristine quality of my Blu-Rays for years. And I suppose it was on some 60" plasma screen with 7.1 surround sound? Get with it man, Star Wars on a tablet with earbuds is cutting edge these days. ---
**Author:** ![sparky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2015, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-original-trilogy-finally-released-on-digital/717106/8 "2015-04-08T20:24:26Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > And I suppose it was on some 60" plasma screen with 7.1 surround sound? > Get with it man, Star Wars on a tablet with earbuds is cutting edge these days. Nope. Star Wars in HD via Apple TV on my 60" is cutting edge. ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2015, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-original-trilogy-finally-released-on-digital/717106/9 "2015-04-08T20:33:59Z")
> [@](#): > > I absolutely loathe DVD formats, and in fact never replaced my player that broke nearly 6 years ago. So you prefer your access to the material to be at the mercy of someone else’s server, with the streaming speed subject to the vagaries of internet traffic over owning your own hard copy that will play identically every time you turn it on? ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2015, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-original-trilogy-finally-released-on-digital/717106/10 "2015-04-08T21:00:47Z")
Just this weekend I found a VHS set of the trilogy in excellent shape at a thrift store. I haven’t yet taken the time to see which version they are, but the release date was 1995. My daughter asked me if we even have a working VCR anymore. In fact, we have two! ---
**Author:** ![sparky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2015, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-original-trilogy-finally-released-on-digital/717106/11 "2015-04-09T00:25:47Z")
> [@cmkeller](#): > > So you prefer your access to the material to be at the mercy of someone else’s server, with the streaming speed subject to the vagaries of internet traffic over owning your own hard copy that will play identically every time you turn it on? Yes, that is precisely what I prefer. I mean, there’s obviously no way I could actually save the download to my own media, right? ---
**Author:** ![blue\_infinity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blue_infinity/32/2817_2.png) [@blue\_infinity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blue_infinity)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2015, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-original-trilogy-finally-released-on-digital/717106/12 "2015-04-09T02:53:07Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > Just this weekend I found a VHS set of the trilogy in excellent shape at a thrift store. I haven’t yet taken the time to see which version they are, but the release date was 1995. I’d guess it’s this one. Minor changes only. > [@](#): > > 1993: Definitive Collection > > Another audio remix was produced for the 1993 Definitive Collection Laserdisc (which was **repackaged in 1995 and known as the “Faces” VHS/Laserdisc release** ) and the 2006 bonus DVD release. This mix was a matrixed stereo version of the 1977 70mm 6-track mix, with brand-new sound effects added, such as glass shattering when Han and Luke shoot the cameras in the detention block. C-3PO’s tractor beam line is, again, not present in this mix. > > The color timing in the 1993 Definitive Collection was altered slightly in the scene with R2-D2 in the canyon before he is captured by the Jawas. The original version of the scene takes place in daylight, while the color in the 1993 Definitive Collection version is adjusted to make it appear more like twilight. The ‘Special’ edition came out in 1997. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2015, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-original-trilogy-finally-released-on-digital/717106/13 "2015-04-09T15:32:41Z")
I’ve bought quite a few copies of Star Wars over the years, and bootlegging the Despecialized Versions has been the best viewing experience of the movies I’ve had. It’s a shame it has to be illegal to see a clean, HD copy of the original movies. ---
**Author:** ![sparky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2015, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-original-trilogy-finally-released-on-digital/717106/14 "2015-04-09T15:49:20Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > I’ve bought quite a few copies of Star Wars over the years, and bootlegging the Despecialized Versions has been the best viewing experience of the movies I’ve had. > > It’s a shame it has to be illegal to see a clean, HD copy of the original movies. Agreed ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2015, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-original-trilogy-finally-released-on-digital/717106/15 "2015-04-09T15:59:13Z")
> [@sparky\_1](#): > > Yes, that is precisely what I prefer. > > I mean, there’s obviously no way I could actually save the download to my own media, right? I suppose, but the streaming format will definitely be compressed, so that Blu-Ray version is still going to be better. I guess the difference might not end up too noticeable, but it still strikes me as odd to get excited over a lower fidelity version. ---
**Author:** ![sparky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2015, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-original-trilogy-finally-released-on-digital/717106/16 "2015-04-09T16:05:29Z")
> [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > I suppose, but the streaming format will definitely be compressed, so that Blu-Ray version is still going to be better. I guess the difference might not end up too noticeable, but it still strikes me as odd to get excited over a lower fidelity version. I hadn’t considered the loss of fidelity. Really, for my setup, such a loss is not noticeable. What I’m happy about is finally having it digitally downloadable, in HD. For my setup at home, this makes it much easier for my viewing. As posted up thread, I haven’t even bothered replacing my broken DVD player. I just don’t see the point. Digital download is the wave of the future. ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2015, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-original-trilogy-finally-released-on-digital/717106/17 "2015-04-09T17:23:30Z")
> [@sparky\_1](#): > > I hadn’t considered the loss of fidelity. Really, for my setup, such a loss is not noticeable. > > What I’m happy about is finally having it digitally downloadable, in HD. For my setup at home, this makes it much easier for my viewing. As posted up thread, I haven’t even bothered replacing my broken DVD player. I just don’t see the point. Digital download is the wave of the future. Don’t remind me - apparently Al Jean sent out a Twitter message saying that there will be no more DVD (presumably, this includes Blu-Ray as well) releases of _The Simpsons_, although for those of you who - what? Oh, all right…for those of _us_ who like to listen to the commentaries, those will still be made for the unreleased seasons on the Simpsons Now website/app (and there could be an advantage in this, as the remaining seasons can be done more than one per year.) It remains to be seen what will be done concerning the deleted scenes and other special features. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2015, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-original-trilogy-finally-released-on-digital/717106/18 "2015-04-09T17:42:22Z")
> [@cmkeller](#): > > So you prefer your access to the material to be at the mercy of someone else’s server, with the streaming speed subject to the vagaries of internet traffic over owning your own hard copy that will play identically every time you turn it on? Don’t forget about data caps, which are coming more and more into fruition. Yeah, it’s Blu-ray for me for media that I want to own. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2015, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-original-trilogy-finally-released-on-digital/717106/19 "2015-04-09T17:59:11Z")
I just want to add _buffering_ _buffering_ _buffering_ !^&\*^$# Connection reset. Resume from beginning. ---
**Author:** ![sparky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2015, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-original-trilogy-finally-released-on-digital/717106/20 "2015-04-09T18:20:19Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > I just want to add _buffering_ _buffering_ _buffering_ !^&\*^$# Connection reset. Resume from beginning. Um, you know you can download to your own media and not suffer that, right? Having said that, I watch a ton of digital content via my Apple TV and never suffer streaming problems playing my media off iTunes. I occasionally get a hickup with Netflix, but even then it’s rare. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-original-trilogy-finally-released-on-digital/717106.md?page=2)