CombatEffective - Where has my country gone? - Tech tangent: why doesn't anyone want a Blu Ray player?

Tech tangent: why doesn't anyone want a Blu Ray player?

Friday, 19 June 2009

I can answer that one: due to the fantastically high resolution you have to have a really nice TV to really take advantage of it. Furthermore, there's no way in "heck" I'm going to drop $30 or $40 to watch just any movie in Blu Ray. True to form, these companies have taken to pushing out older movies on Blu Ray in the hope of soaking consumers for more dollars. MASH in Blu Ray format? Not happening.

Comments (21)

blah blah blah : Magellan AIC

First, did you drop $20 to watch "just any" movie on regular dvd? No, you got the good ones or ones you wanted to collect, right? So why would you think you would just go buy Mall Cop for $30? And you do know that they play regular dvd format too? I just got Gran Torino, but no need for that to be in 1080p, so I got the regular widescreen for $15. Blu ray players upconvert a regular dvd to 1080i, so you are getting better quality than on a regular dvd player. I wouldn't buy MASH on regular dvd, but Iron Man or Transformers is amazing on blu ray. I just got Top Gun and Terminator for $10 each the other day, so not all older mnovies are gonna set you back $30 either. And lets not forget, it isn't just picture quality, it is sound too. You can pick up the players on the cheap now, and 1080p TV's are dropping in price.

So in conclusion smilies/cheesy.gif

, if you like watching movies or TV shows on DVD, then it is really worth it to do it. And to answer your question of why, its because people resist change. Why did people buy cassettes after CD's came out?

June 20, 2009 :: 09:04AM

one more thing : Magellan AIC

Whether you go blu ray or not, if you haven't already tried Netflix, you should.

June 20, 2009 :: 09:12AM

re: blah? : combatrob_on_the_move

Well then, I suppose I stand corrected. smilies/grin.gif

June 20, 2009 :: 09:31AM

...and... : combatrob_on_the_move

I agree on Netflix. Outstanding service.

June 20, 2009 :: 09:32AM

it may happen : TRex : http://crypto-corinthian.blogspot.com/

I was recently forced to move from my old comfortable 600x800 (resolution) monitor format to 768x1024, when less than 10% of the computer using public was still using the old format. Combat Effective hasn't displayed properly on 600x800 for about 3 years now, despite Rob going to some great lenths to keep it working in that mode (mostly for me).

But I can remember when most of the world used 600x800 (or less) and we thought it was great. (OK, that was 1994) Now, even though I use 768x1024, I know I am still in the bottom half of the population for monitor resolution. Give it a few more years, and this too will go away.

In the same way, Blu-Ray will eventually kill off regular DVD. Analog is already dieing. It is just a matter of time. I will say out loud, though, that re-releasing old format movies in higher resolution than the original material is just lunicy for profit.

TRex

June 20, 2009 :: 04:09PM

budget : dw : http://youfindmysitepleasetellmewhereitisiwanttopostsomething

I give up on quality. I went from hundreds of VHS to DVD's and I don't want to replace my whole collectio again. I down loaded many you tube doc's and special interest. The poor quality does not bother me cuz I half blins anyways. Budget is the name of my game now.

June 20, 2009 :: 06:34PM

I know where your site is : TRex : http://crypto-corinthian.blogspot.com/

But not how to get into it. Did you lose your password?

I understand completely on budget.

TRex

June 22, 2009 :: 03:35PM

Rex ur 2 good a guy : dw : http://ifyoucanlogintomysiteyoucanhaveit

Yes. Lost password and maybe even lost screen name. I no longer have the e-mail address I signed up with and they send the password to that obsolete e-mail. At least that is what I think the problem is. I have e-mailed Blogger on two occasions trying to explain but got no answer.

REX YOU ARE BUSY and that site is sophmoric at best anyways. Had two comments in three years. LMAO

I just felt guilty cuz Rob links me here and I cannot return the favor. And to prove my regrets towards Rob, I come here to comondeer whole threads. It's perfect. I get to rant all day without regard to topic and without having to maintain anything, and Rob still likes me. I love freedom! smilies/grin.gif

June 24, 2009 :: 02:05PM

lol : combatrob_on_the_move

You're the man, DW. Rant away. smilies/grin.gif

June 24, 2009 :: 07:04PM

A matter of economics (IMHO)... : BissBoss

The way I see it; the Blu-ray disc is the last (or damned near) physical media form for movies. Companies like Sony and JVC know this even more than John or Jane Q. Public.

They sank buckets of cash into the format to have it win out over HD-DVD. It wasn't until the Porn industry through in with Blu-ray that the writing was on the wall.

That being said, those companies have to get their investment back so you will not see the price of players or movies change significantly like we see with DVDs. Hell, I can buy a quality DVD player for $30.00 and movies for $5.00. Perfect for stocking stuffers! smilies/cheesy.gif

Blu-ray players and burners are coming onto the market for the PC just now. Still kinda pricey but will help in the long run to drive the price down. And while I'm on the subject. The world is starting to fundamentally change the way it gets its content for entertainment.

I go entire weeks without turning on the television and get to watch what I want, when I want in the order I choose WITHOUT commercial interruption! If that ain't the consumer Holy Grail I don't know what is!

Sorry... I'm a bit "ranty" about this subject!

-BB- smilies/grin.gif

June 27, 2009 :: 10:18PM

... : dw

BB I have been interested in internet TV but read lotta stories about scams and disappointment. What do you use and how is it?

June 28, 2009 :: 12:20PM

Ummmmmmmmmmmm... : BissBoss

dw,

Without getting into the specifics (you guys live in the CONUS where ISPs aren't as... "Liberal" with copyright law interpretation)I download tons of content from the net.

Takes about 30 minutes to install the software and configure the ports on the router and I can d/l a 1-hour television show in about 20 minutes. They come without commercials and are available in regular or HDTV versions. Check RLSLOG.net for more details....

Of course, there is always the beloved Slingbox device. It turns your PC into a television DVR and allows you to "time-shift".

-BB- smilies/cool.gif

June 28, 2009 :: 09:21PM

Full Disclosure... : BissBoss

I feel it necessary to add that I recently purchased a laptop computer... It came with an enhanced video card and a Blu-ray player!

Although I'm not inclined to purchase a Blu-ray player at current market prices... It would seem that I have inadvertently paid 3X that amount for one! smilies/cheesy.gif

I am not either unimpressed or dissatisfied with its output!

-BB- smilies/cool.gif

June 28, 2009 :: 10:45PM

On a side note... : BissBoss

You heard it here first... IMHO - The keyboard and mouse are the next BIG hurdles to overcome! Home computing is advancing in leaps and bounds and the mouse and keyboard are becoming arcane and outdated as information input devices.

They are the next thing to be revolutionized!

Just my two cents!

-BB- smilies/wink.gif

June 28, 2009 :: 10:48PM

thanks for the info : TRex : http://crypto-corinthian.blogspot.com/

Especially the tip about porn being the final vote on Blu-Ray.
He he he ... Porn in HD. To me that is just about as illogical
as its opposite - porn on the half inch cell phone screen.

Just out of curiosity, I would wonder what you (BB) think
might have a chance at replacing the keyboard. I remember
when they all thought voice recognition would be the key,
but I still don't what my computer listening to what I say.

TRex

July 02, 2009 :: 10:08AM

On the future of data input and technology... : BissBoss

Upon first thought... I guess I see the keyboard "evolving" into a more integrated device...

Keyboards are already on the market that allow each key to have a separate function - They are equipped with LCD (tiny) displays that are programmable as well... This allows users to assign a function, program or website to the key! The keyboard will turn into more of an access device than the data input device we use now.

For broader application - voice recognition is WAY better than it was in the recent past! My wife has a program that learned to recognize he voice patterns in about a week... She can input almost as fast as she can read with VERY few mistakes by the software. Interestingly enough, I have to keep the television and or radio down when she is working to avoid confusion and because my wife has a British accent, the thing work like crap for me!

Another angle can be seen in the gaming platforms... The XBox 360 has a new device that allows control and interaction using Infrared mapping and facial recognition. You can surf the web and play games, watch movies and select music without the use of a controller.

My daughter says that I old and out of touch. I contend that our generation is probably the most technologically flexible in the history of the planet. We have seen the greatest change in how things are accomplished in society! Just think of the differences in how you did banking and bill paying, accessed music and movies, shopped and compared prices and educated yourself (I actually saw an encyclopedia salesman the other day and winced)from when you were a kid until today!

-BB- smilies/cool.gif

July 02, 2009 :: 10:10PM

the very definition : TRex : http://crypto-corinthian.blogspot.com/

Thanmks for the update on tech. I still pay bills and bank the old fasioned way (except I do have direct deposite). I do occationally use my credit card on the net, but don't have a Pay Pal account (yet).

The colloquial definition of technology is that stuff that wasn't around when you were born. I was near the edge of tech in the 80's. Mainstream in the 90's, and now find myself somewhat of a luddite.

I guess I did know that voice recognition has come a long ways, since my former pastor (now retired) had an accident and for some time he was restricted on use of his hands. He used something like that to do his writing for a couple of years. I guess it is ok, as long as I can turn it off. I definitely don't want my computer watching my ugly face though, and even more since having a battle with Bell's Palsy. Too much twitching and winking going on. The computer might think I am getting fresh with it, and run away.

TRex

July 03, 2009 :: 03:44PM

... : dw

BB thank you for the feedback. I discovered my puter is too antiquated for dealing with long streams but awsome for what I normally do.

July 05, 2009 :: 05:38PM

The answer to you computer blues..? : BissBoss

BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front):

Quit screwing around and buy a new machine... Take the great leap into the 21st Century... It really ain't that bad and some of the stuff is pretty cool!

Staying in your old machine means you are missing out on the advances technology offers and generally subjecting yourself to a cycle of diminishing returns as you loose (generally) twice the computing power in your machine every 18-24 months!

Moore's law describes a long-term trend in the history of computing hardware. Since the invention of the integrated circuit in 1958, the number of transistors that can be placed inexpensively on an integrated circuit has increased exponentially, doubling approximately every two years.[1] The trend was first observed by Intel co-founder Gordon E. Moore in a 1965 paper.[2][3][4] It has continued for almost half a century and in 2005 was not expected to stop for another decade at least.[5]

Almost every measure of the capabilities of digital electronic devices is strongly linked to Moore's law: processing speed, memory capacity, sensors and even the number and size of pixels in digital cameras.[6] All of these are improving at (roughly) exponential rates as well.[7] This has dramatically increased the usefulness of digital electronics in nearly every segment of the world economy.[8] Moore's law describes this driving force of technological and social change in the late 20th and early 21st centuries.

-BB-

July 15, 2009 :: 10:35PM

... : dw

Thanx, and bear with me BB. I only need internet and common video sream form the web. No need for laptop and want a new PC.

Have seen PC's that are as little as 500 designed for pretty much web only. Would they do what I need if I am not concerned about adding new hardware? I don't really understand the different CPU's and their capability and my last experience asking for help while buying was dishonest. But this VAIO has help up very well aside from all the SONEY bull that came with it.

July 16, 2009 :: 12:28AM

Bearing with... : BissBoss

dw,

I have no doubt that the $500.00 machines will do just fine for you. Sony makes great consumer electronics!

I think it's worth noting that you "should" "consider" what a brand new mid-level ($800.00 - $1,000.00) machine would allow you to expand into!

Faster web browsing, more powerful photo and graphic manipulation, digital media management... THe list is only limited to what your hobbies and interests are!

For the record (Rob can vouch for me on this) - I am NOT a salesman! I am a Techie though! This is a very exciting time in home computing...

-BB-

July 16, 2009 :: 09:48PM

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