View Poll Results: Would you pay a normal rental price for a dvd that self-destructs in 48 hours?
yes
14
9.03%
no
126
81.29%
maybe
10
6.45%
other
5
3.23%
Voters: 155. You may not vote on this poll
Self-Destructing Dvds to arrive at a store near you? (new Disney product)
05-19-03 | 11:59 AM
#1
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From: So Cal
Self-Destructing Dvds to arrive at a store near you? (new Disney product)
http://www.cnn.com/2003/TECH/ptech/0...eut/index.html
not sure what this solves, unless Disney is bothered by theft at rental stores.
48 hours is a short window to view the movie if they're planning on charging Blockbuster prices - $4.50 in the L.A. area.
Disney to rent 'self-destructing' DVDs
Monday, May 19, 2003
LOS ANGELES, California (Reuters) -- This disc will self-destruct in 48 hours.
That is the warning The Walt Disney Co. will issue this August when it begins to "rent" DVDs that after two days become unplayable and do not have to be returned.
Disney home video unit Buena Vista Home Entertainment will launch a pilot movie "rental" program in August that uses the self-destruction technology, the company said on Friday.
How it works
The discs stop working after a change in color renders them unreadable. They start off red, but when they are taken out of the package, exposure to oxygen turns the coating black and makes it impenetrable by a DVD laser.
Buena Vista hopes the technology will let it crack a wider rental market, since it can sell the DVDs in stores or almost anywhere without setting up a system to get the discs back.
The discs work perfectly for the two-day viewing window, said Flexplay Technologies, Inc., the private company which developed the technology using material from General Electric Co.
In talks with other companies
Chief Executive Alan Blaustein said he was also in conversations with other companies to use the self-destructing discs.
The technology cannot be hacked by programmers who would want to view the disc longer because the mechanism which closes the viewing window is chemical and has nothing to do with computer technology.
However, the disc can be copied within 48 hours, since it works like any other DVD during that window.
Buena Vista did not disclose pricing plans but said the discs, dubbed EZ-D, would be available in August in select markets with recent releases including "The Recruit," "The Hot Chick," and "Signs."
Monday, May 19, 2003
LOS ANGELES, California (Reuters) -- This disc will self-destruct in 48 hours.
That is the warning The Walt Disney Co. will issue this August when it begins to "rent" DVDs that after two days become unplayable and do not have to be returned.
Disney home video unit Buena Vista Home Entertainment will launch a pilot movie "rental" program in August that uses the self-destruction technology, the company said on Friday.
How it works
The discs stop working after a change in color renders them unreadable. They start off red, but when they are taken out of the package, exposure to oxygen turns the coating black and makes it impenetrable by a DVD laser.
Buena Vista hopes the technology will let it crack a wider rental market, since it can sell the DVDs in stores or almost anywhere without setting up a system to get the discs back.
The discs work perfectly for the two-day viewing window, said Flexplay Technologies, Inc., the private company which developed the technology using material from General Electric Co.
In talks with other companies
Chief Executive Alan Blaustein said he was also in conversations with other companies to use the self-destructing discs.
The technology cannot be hacked by programmers who would want to view the disc longer because the mechanism which closes the viewing window is chemical and has nothing to do with computer technology.
However, the disc can be copied within 48 hours, since it works like any other DVD during that window.
Buena Vista did not disclose pricing plans but said the discs, dubbed EZ-D, would be available in August in select markets with recent releases including "The Recruit," "The Hot Chick," and "Signs."
48 hours is a short window to view the movie if they're planning on charging Blockbuster prices - $4.50 in the L.A. area.
05-19-03 | 12:23 PM
#3
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It would only be a good idea if you could return said burned out disc for an equal value credit on buying a normal version. Then this program would rock. Otherwise, I don't care.
05-19-03 | 12:39 PM
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Originally posted by BigPete
It would only be a good idea if you could return said burned out disc for an equal value credit on buying a normal version. Then this program would rock. Otherwise, I don't care.
It would only be a good idea if you could return said burned out disc for an equal value credit on buying a normal version. Then this program would rock. Otherwise, I don't care.
$5 off the $20 purchase price would be fair
05-19-03 | 01:06 PM
#9
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I just don't see this as being a good value, because they will need to include the cost of making and packaging the disks.
If you do buy one, you could probably prolong it's life by storing it in a tight plastic wrap in your freezer.
Blockbuster only charges $3 around here (too much competition to charge more).
If you do buy one, you could probably prolong it's life by storing it in a tight plastic wrap in your freezer.
Blockbuster only charges $3 around here (too much competition to charge more).
05-19-03 | 01:10 PM
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From: Texas
Actually, Disney plans to charge a dollar or two more than normal rental price for these discs, so your poll question
is not that in line with what is going on.
Would I pay a normal rental price ($3-4) for a disc that will self destruct in 48 hours ? Probably, since it would save me from having to return it.
Would I pay a little more ($6-7 total) to "rent" a disc for 48 hours and not have to return it ? No way.
"Would you pay a normal rental price for a dvd that self-destructs in 48 hours?"
Would I pay a normal rental price ($3-4) for a disc that will self destruct in 48 hours ? Probably, since it would save me from having to return it.
Would I pay a little more ($6-7 total) to "rent" a disc for 48 hours and not have to return it ? No way.
05-19-03 | 01:32 PM
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From: So Cal
Originally posted by sn9ke_eyes
Would I pay a normal rental price ($3-4) for a disc that will self destruct in 48 hours ? Probably, since it would save me from having to return it.
Would I pay a normal rental price ($3-4) for a disc that will self destruct in 48 hours ? Probably, since it would save me from having to return it.
So chances are I wouldn't watch some of these before they oxidize.
edited: with my most recent rental the ADD kicked in - took me 4 days to watch all of Cleopatra
Last edited by BigStinky; 05-19-03 at 01:42 PM.
05-19-03 | 01:36 PM
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Disney's going need to hire extra people to handle all the complaints:
"My kid opened the movie and now it's turned black before we had a chance to watch it"
"My kid opened the movie and now it's turned black before we had a chance to watch it"
05-19-03 | 01:51 PM
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From: Northern Virginia
Not a great idea. Disposables of any sort should not be introduced as a concept in today's environment.
But a question about the poll itself.
I understand the yes, the no and the maybe answers .... What would "other" signify?
But a question about the poll itself.
I understand the yes, the no and the maybe answers .... What would "other" signify?
05-19-03 | 01:58 PM
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From: So Cal
Originally posted by jblackie
I understand the yes, the no and the maybe answers .... What would "other" signify?
I understand the yes, the no and the maybe answers .... What would "other" signify?
sn9ke_eyes made a good point - and maybe the poll question could be better
05-19-03 | 02:22 PM
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I chose other because I normally wouldn't. On the other hand, if I were traveling with a portable DVD player, I definitely could see myself paying normal renting prices.
Then again, I rarely travel far or often enough for it to be of any use to me anyway.
Then again, I rarely travel far or often enough for it to be of any use to me anyway.
05-19-03 | 03:13 PM
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No friggin way
I voted NO because the disc may have malfunctioned while being made, or the disc might ruin your much more valuable player. I wouldn't take *any* chances period!
05-19-03 | 03:29 PM
#22
Um, no.
05-19-03 | 07:17 PM
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Re:Would you pay a normal rental price for a dvd that self-destructs in 48 hours?
I voted no.   The $5 and higher price too much, plus it's going to be a nightmare for the environment.   Make it $3.00 and recyclable and maybe they'll have something.
I voted no.   The $5 and higher price too much, plus it's going to be a nightmare for the environment.   Make it $3.00 and recyclable and maybe they'll have something.
05-19-03 | 07:35 PM
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I voted No since there's no way they can make this more economical than Netflix. Like most people here, I'm a movie freak so I'm averaging about $1.30/rental with Netflix right now.
Also, I have this sneaking suspicion that anything new we learn about this product will have an anti-customer quality to it. Disney is not known for being an early adopter for anything that's customer friendly but they're in the front line for their corporate welfare if it means screwing with the customer. Examples: P&S only releases, support of DMCA, lack of DVHS support, and on and on.
Also, I have this sneaking suspicion that anything new we learn about this product will have an anti-customer quality to it. Disney is not known for being an early adopter for anything that's customer friendly but they're in the front line for their corporate welfare if it means screwing with the customer. Examples: P&S only releases, support of DMCA, lack of DVHS support, and on and on.
05-19-03 | 07:45 PM
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From: on a river in a kayak..where else?
Originally posted by matome
No, because I don't rent and even if I did, I would go out of my way not to support this dumb-ass idea.
No, because I don't rent and even if I did, I would go out of my way not to support this dumb-ass idea.
