Streaming Vs Dvd/Blu Ray

[insanecow0]

Which one do you prefer and why? I'd say both have their advantages and disadvantages. DVD because I like physical copies, and streaming because everything's right at your fingertips.

[Nemoide]

My problem with streaming is that I INSTANTLY FORGET ABOUT THINGS. So yeah, some movie might be available streaming, but if so the odds are I'm going to let it fall out of my brain unless I'm struck with massive inspiration to watch something specific RIGHT AWAY.

So for me DVDs are ideal for rental, be it through Netflix or my library. When I've got a disc right there sitting in front of me on the shelf, I'll watch it!
If I'm buying something I typically prefer Blu-Ray, if it's available. But because I'm a weirdo, my second choice is usually laserdisc, assuming it's available in the original aspect ratio and the cost isn't too different from DVD.

But DVDs are my default medium; I buy it when it's the only option easily available to me!

[CRTGAMER]

Streaming will not always be available for a particular title so the DVD for me is the only way to go. The Disc also has the extras, although some studios such as Disney are purposely reserving extra footage on only the BluRay releases.

But because I'm a weirdo, my second choice is usually laserdisc, assuming it's available in the original aspect ratio and the cost isn't too different from DVD.

But DVDs are my default medium; I buy it when it's the only option easily available to me!

YES! Someone else besides me is insane!

Actually I rarely buy a Laser Disc unless a unique disc that makes use of the Laser exclusive capabilities.

[dsheinem]

some studios such as Disney are purposely reserving extra footage on only the BluRay releases.

What's wrong with that? A lot of new footage, documentaries, etc. are filmed in HD anyway and BR has been the lead platform for at least the last 6 years or so now. HDTV is ubiquitous. I wouldn't be surprised if DVDs become niche fairly soon (before the decade is over), and won't mourn the format's passing too much.

[Fragems]

I love physical media but with DVDs I might watch them at most 2-3 times a year if that so they end up just wasting space on a shelf 99% of the time. So any more I prefer streaming.

However steaming has a number of downsides for me.
1. The navigation system on netflix especially for the PS3 sucks . They seem to have fun scrambling the categories so that you have to scroll through pages of random genres it thinks you like before finding the New Release/Recently Added area .

2. Data Caps. Seeing as they have a monopoly on the market Armstrong Cable popped a 150gb cap on us in 2013 . So until we switched back to cable television service which netted us another 100gb to our cap we were pretty much getting right up against the 150 gb ceiling thanks to streaming, and regular usage .

[Jagosaurus]

For those who have never watched laser disc I really recommend checking it out. Very clean analog video (no pixels) with digital audio. Great mix. My uncle had a giant (back then) 50" projection TV, one of the satellites that moved when you changed the channel, & an awesome horror LD collection. Man... miss the early 90s.

Today, I prefer blu ray on the cheap but if a DVD is $5 & the BR $20... I'm spending $5 lol. Most of my BR collection has been Christmas gifts.

No streaming services @ the moment for me.

[Bradtemple87]

I prefer bluray over everything else. Quality had always been the most important over instant convenience to me.

[Cronozilla]

BluRay is about as good as you can get, especially in audio.

DVD was really at the mercy of the studio that did the transfer. Most audio on DVD is also garbage.

LaserDisc is wonderful. Uncompressed video. Highest quality you can get without it being digitally restored.

Streaming is pretty great, depending on the movie and audio encoding.

I would say BluRay is number 1. I mean you can't really beat lossless audio (unless you don't have the equipment), and the video is pretty unparalleled for most things.

Streaming would be a close second. It's got convenience, and it's got better resolution than DVD, usually, and comparable audio.

LaserDisc would be cool, but it's actually kind of difficult to get into.

DVDs are sort of a relic for me now. I didn't get rid of any of my DVDs, but it's mostly for TV shows and special features (and all those cool collector cases). For actual films, I'll just buy a budget $5 bluray and combine everything.
The actual transfer quality on DVDs for movies was pretty bad usually. It's astonishing looking at some of them.

Iron Man, for example, on DVD ... looks like complete garbage.

What has been people's experience with those 4K Source BluRays? Are they more like the IMAX shots in Dark Knight quality (On BluRay)?

[Jagosaurus]

Only 4K I've seen was 4k material streaming off the 4k output device that comes with the Sony units. Won't lie... I was impressed.

Someone asked above, 1080p looked great on the same 4K TV. My father-in-law has one. When technology catches up (cameras, studios, direct TV, output devices), it'll be awesome. Just too far ahead today. Will be interesting to see if it holds ground & gains market share.

[SirGawain]

I gotta go with hard media vs. streaming, especially now with the quality of a good led tv and blu ray player. I think of it the same way as my video game collection, in that I like to display it. I have Netflix but that is mostly for the significant other and the kid. I am now in the process of converting all of my dvds that I actually care about to blu ray.