http://money.cnn.com/2003/09/09/tech...reut/index.htm

If anything it would INCREASE the incentive to copy it because

1) you have a cheap and easy source

2) It goes bad after 48h, so that alone is a reason to make a copy.

This is gonna fail so bad! Really funny how those on the Internet can see things so much clearer than multi million dollar executives (and not just for disposable DVDs, I mean in general).

Yep.. they're pretty stupid alright.

Basically, putting the product out in a copyable lower-cost format is really ........ just lowering the bootlegger's cost of doing business.

Do these jokers ever think things through before they launch a product????

No, they don't have to think. That piece of paper hanging on their walls with the Wharton or Harvard MBA stamp on it give them power to know better and more than anyone else.

If the product is a loser, some underling gets the blame. It becomes a tax write off or some line item absorbed into the net.

Of course, they are on the cover of Business Week if it's a huge success.

I still can't wrap my mind around why ANYONE would ever think this is a good idea.

DVDs are CHEAP FOR A REASON. It's a BUYERS market.

Seems to me that they'd want to encourage further out-right DVD purchasing instead of promoting this crap.

I'm sure they must have some sort of "theory model" that tells that people will joyfully buy this drek... but I don't see how/why.

But then... I can't understand renting DVD either.

I dunno. This does look like it's not targeted at DVD buying, but rather renting. From that perspective, it sounds like a semi decent idea, except for the fact that it'd be a lot of wasted material.

do you think this disposable dvd will make sense with company like netflix? it might save them a bundle on shipping cost. I'm not sure tough.

I know if I could only pay once for the material and copy it instead of buying it every time I wanted to watch it, I will be copying a great deal. the real business that will be getting my money will be Blank dvd-r companies.

It wouldn't make so much sense for netflicks when you factor that they advertise "See it as much times as you want" more so then the whole return it whenever you want. some changes would be taken on their part to fit the need for it if they wanted it.

Also note that I'm sure video rental stores might not be to pleased with this since the majority of their revenue is brought in by late fees

Sounds like someone is trying to bring back that "brilliant" idea that was DIVX.

"will carry a suggested price of $6.99."

I don't know where the average consumer rents... but... isn't this price ridiculously high? That's about twice the average price of a rental around me... and about $5.99 more than I usually pay at Netflix.

Hell, the grocery store near me rents DVDs for $1/night. Granted the selection is awful, but... well, I can't imagine the selection of FlexPlay is going to be amazing.



Also... "will begin stocking the disposable DVDs including titles such as 'Signs' and 'The Recruit.'"

So, they're test marketing a new disc technology... by using titles that 99% of their market has already seen or owns? Dear Lord, Signs has already played on cable... how about some new releases?


This has failure written all over it.

Rent hell, I've *bought* new for less than that.

Wait till some poor shnook watches part of a movie, gets interrupted, and goes back two days later to find out how it ends... don't think he'll be too happy!

If these are release, i think we should all go and poke holes in all the bags...

The end is near... we must all repent fast

Who comes up with this crap???

Actually, this marketing trend was *my* idea. I'm the one to blame.

I don't know *what* I was thinking, as I was like, totally wasted at the time.

Indeed.
Here's a good example. $1.00 less to own a non-disposable copy.

Then there's always the "environmental issues" these disposables present. A fellow pitching these on CNN today says the consumer can request a pre-addressed mail-in envelope to mail the used disc to a place for proper disposal. Or: the customer can mail it in themselves (so: more $$ spent).

Now...tell me how this trip to the post office is any less burdensome than that dreaded trip back to Blockbuster to drop off a non-disposable DVD?

(Mail it in for recycling?? Yeah, right! Everybody's gonna pitch 'em in the kitchen wastebasket.)

If they were able to get it down to $2-$4, get it into supermarkets, and deal mainly with new releases then I could see this catching on, at least somewhat. Especially for the niche rental market at hotels and the like.

I don't see it as such a bad idea for DVDs. It's not going to effect my DVD buying or renting, and I don't see why it's upsetting to some people. Not like it's going to make regular DVD's go away. The only thing I don't like about it is the environmental impact. It's totally irresponsible to to make this product. If it becomes popular there will be thousands of these (and eventually millions) taking up space. They should include a mailer in the package and ask for them to be sent back that way.

Does anyone live in a test market for these? I would like to have a couple to add to my collection.
I still have a sealed copy of This World, Then the Fireworks on DIVX. Which still hasn't shown up on DVD.

Are you aware that sealed copy is worth around $0? What are you saving it for?

IIRC, ALL Divx titles expire after a certain time. Since it's been in the tank for years, they should all be crap by now.

I'm not keeping it because I think it will be worth loads of money. I have it because it was a failed format and interesting topic to discuss. I'm strange I guess. I never even owned a DIVX player and couldn't watch it if I wanted to.
Everyone collects strange things, this happens to be one of mine. Kinda of like having both versions of the Lord of the Rings.

Just for fun, march into your local Circuit City and ask them where the DIVX DVDs are. Remember when they had managers pushing the players like crazy in the aisles?

How about we try and get AOL to stop mailing out a million "800 free hours PLATINUM SUPER SLOW-SPEED EXTRA SPAM" cds every day and then maybe tackle the disposable dvd impact.

Great point Sn9ke_eyes,
I was just waiting for someone to bring this up. What does everyone do with their AOL discs? I bet the same people who are complaining about how this is going to affect the environment just toss those AOL discs into the garbage without thinking twice. If not, what do you do with them? How do you discard of the disc? At least BVHE is setting up a recycling center to collect these. It is just up to the people if they are going to take advantage of it or not. Instead of attacking BVHE for this product, get on the people who don't recycle. You won't because the people that don't recycle are such a smaller target.

oxonce

Ahhhh, yes. The early days of dvds. Brings back some wonderful memories. Still warms my heart recalling the horrible death DIVX suffered. Might we get to relive this with this disposable dvd idea?

I write return to sender on them and put them in the mail box. Not sure what happens to them after that---but they don't come back to me.