Web Hosting Talk : Other Forums : Web Hosting Lounge : The future of DVD

[Acroplex]

Combine this:
http://news.com.com/2100-1026_3-1003889.html?tag=fd_top

..with that:
http://news.com.com/2100-1026_3-1003773.html?tag=fd_top

[epowerhost]

Puts an end to my habit

(I once kept a DVD for 2 months+)

[Matt]

The studios (at least some of them) are now offering downloads of their movies online. I posted this awhile back, but movielink offers movies for download...fairly recent ones like My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Jacka**, and such. They also have older ones like Breakfast Club.

You download the movie, cost is $3-5 dollars. You have 30 days to watch it, but only 24 hours after you actually begin the movie (can watch as many times in that 24 hour as you want).

Cool thing is for people like me who use my laptop almost exclusively, you save the movie on it, then watch it while you are travelling. My download time on DSL is around 25-35 minutes...I just let it run in the background. Plays full screen and sound is great.

I only wish they had more movies in it. I have probably watched 6 so far and I have only had it a few weeks. Hopefully as more people use it they will add more movies. Typical space it takes up is 500-600 MB.

I was always late returning movies so this works well for me. I wonder how the picture looks if you hook up to a regular tv. My screen in 15in so the picture may be distorted at a higher width.

I'm curious what they will be charging for the self destructing DVD's. I understand their concern, but two days is not going to prevent what they are wanting it to.

[volize]

500-600 MB? Doesnt that seem a bit small for a movie. Less quality?

[Acroplex]

New codecs are very effective these days.

[Matt]

I agree...I was concerned about the file size as well but there is no discernable difference I can tell, but like I said, it is on my notebook monitor so I have no idea how it would look on a larger tv.

[Serious Sam]

Even with more effective codecs, there will always be a quality sacrafice. Remember, these dvds are running around 2-3 mbits a second, which is roughly around 2000-3000kb a second.

In coding terms, that's very high, and consequently the file sizes will be large (usually "2cds" as 700mb or more is called).

[Dogma]

Wow, apparently Disney is trying to capitalize on the amazing success of Divx.

Wait...

[Acroplex]

Hey Dogma, long time no see

[akashik]

Nice to see how conservation minded these companies are until something bites into their profits. I can only imagine how many dead DVD's will end up filling our landfills if they go ahead with this crazy idea.

Greg Moore