Same here. Helps me avoid the Non-OAR discs. ;)

The original release of The Decalogue came in 2 versions.

Version 1: 2 double sided dvd's in cardboard snapper cases
Version 2: 3 single sided dvd's in amaray cases

Why do people go to high-end restaurants and have a meal when they could eat Burger King every night for a fraction of the cost.....

Why do dvd collectors buy other rerion dvds when they could have a poorer "domestic" version?

Pro-B

Pro-B: Excellent point!

Well, the Farscape Starburst editions are dual-sided, and since it's saving me money (over the current season set releases), I can deal with the dual-sided DVDs, even with their negatives w/r/t single-sided DVDs.

I do not like the double-sided discs, but that fact alone will not prevent me from buying a movie that I want.

The DVD-18s (two sides, both dual layer) cost more to manufacture than 2 DVD-9s (single-sided, dual layer). Presumably, there used to be a similar situation with the DVD-14s (two sides, one single layer, one dual layer) and possibly also the DVD-10s (two sides, both single layer) initially, though this doesn't seem to be the case now.

I wish more of the TV boxes were double sided. Could save a bunch of shelf space.

Well-designed packaging is all you need for that. The M-Lock cases used with Fox releases (at least in the UK, not sure about in the US) are superb for that.

The R1 DS9 and VOY sets are quite slim. Holds 7 discs and are only just over an inch wide. Wished the TNG sets were that way for a uniform look across all Trek series.

Well this revelation pretty much kills the other forum complainer's argument. His argument was that he didn't like "cheap" manufacturing. Saying that a double-sided disc is cheaper than two single-sided discs [with disc art]. So if it costs more to make double-sided discs, then his whole argument is bunk.

I don't care for flippers (because of how easy they are the scratch, and because it defeats the purpose of a multi-disc dvd player) but i would never pass up on a title because it is a flipper. Take ER for example; The first 6 years I conisder the second best TV show of all time, so im buying the DVD's even if it was made up of 12 double-sided dvd-minis.

Your analogies are just slightly off the mark. Presumably, the draw of a DVD is its actual contents, not its packaging. Choosing a DVD because of its case would then not be akin at all to eating at Burger King instead of a high-end restaurant. The food is presumably the actual draw of a restaurant, so choosing a restaurant with a completely different quality of food is not at all like buying a DVD based on packaging alone. The better analogy would be going to a restaurant with a plain presentation that serves the exact same food as a high-end fancy restaurant for a much lower price. And, if such a choice existed and was presented to consumers, I'm sure many would choose the plain restaurant. On most days, I'm sure I would. And, of course, some would choose the fancy restaurant because some care more about style than substance.

And what is the difference between the import disc and its "poorer" domestic counterpart? Unless its packaging and disc count (but not content) alone, it's irrelevant to Damien666Omen's query.

DJ

Not a fan of double sided - I keep 90% of my collection in binders, so the double sided can get scratched up on the non-felt side of the binder. I eventually decided that most double sided had full screen or special features on one side and the widescreen on the other and just stuck the widescreen on the felt.

I am going to have to disagree with you based on two facts:

First of all, people DO care about attractive presentation (and let's assume the content is identical) when it comes down to DVDs. A quick look at the international forum could prove my point. Maybe not so in the US (which I still refuse to believe) but certainly overseas. Assuming the actual content is the main and perhaps only selling point is also false esp. in America where advertisement is crucial. A good indicator would be the "big heads" syndrome which we have discussed around here quite a bit.

Second of all, your analogy, or shall I say suggestion, that a somewhat similar content (food/dvd etc) is offered at the same quality level is also impractical as well as impossible (as price will be a factor). In fact nowhere in my original post did I indicate that packaging alone is the main selling point. A well, intelligently designed dvd package however would draw much stellar attention as is the practice in many European countries, Japan, etc. But then we touch upon the entire corporate-mentality issue and its influence on the American consumer which is clearly not the focal point of this post.

As to domestic DVDs and the equal importance of content/design a good example would be the notorious around here Criterions...with lots of extras, excellent cover designs (approved by the majority of collectors on this site at least) and last but not least top-notch presentation. So, at least for me, and I hope for every serious collector, content and presentation are inseparable. As to your last remark...you are either naïve or simply ignorant when it comes down to collecting. There are plenty of instances (including members on this forum) where style/design has been the ONLY factor that warrants a dvd purchase from another region. Not logical but certainly common occurence between collectors.

Cheers,
Pro-B

There's no disagreement on that point. Such people obviously do exist. That they exist was assumed in Damien666Omen's question of why some people behave that way. My disagreement with you was whether or not your Burger King analogy sufficed as an explanation of such behavior, not whether anyone exhibits that behavior.

Why? Well-paid waitstaff, expensive furnishings, high rent, and elegant place-settings all factor into the cost of food at expensive restaurants. Restaurants also sometimes artificially inflate the cost of their food to attract a certain class of clientele. Removing these fancy extras can reduce the cost to the consumer while keeping the food identical. Here in New York City alone, I could buy a burger platter of identical quality and easily pay anywhere between $5 and $35. I can guarantee you that the $35 platter will not contain better meat, potatoes and garnishings, nor would it be prepared any better.

But the practicality of the analogy isn't the issue. Practical or not, I believe my analogy was more correct than yours in light of the issues presented. Comparing the choice between a fancy restaurant and Burger King to choosing a DVD based upon packaging alone doesn't cut it.

You've still presented nothing to defend your original Burger King analogy. I really don't think you understood a word of my post. You seem like you want to argue about something with me, so you're just kind of making random arguments on the topic.

And if the same exact disc content were offered by another company (legally, of course, and all other things being equal - distribution, availability, public awareness) with a very bland cover for $15 less, do you think it would sell less copies than the Criterion? This would get to the heart of Damien666Omen's query.

And you obviously have no clue what I said at all in my post. Again, I wasn't debating whether such people exist. This is assumed. I was questioning whether choosing between a fancy restaurant and Burger King is the same thing as choosing a DVD based solely upon packaging. I rejected that analogy and presented an alternative one. Your response didn't move that discussion forward.

DJ

I'm the opposite- I've held off buying some titles that come on 2 single-sided discs when they should have been one 2-sided. Of course if it's a title I really want I'll still buy it no matter what, but it can be the deciding factor in something I'm on the fence about. I was sick of Terminator 2 having seen it on laserdisc hundreds of times, but bought the T2 disc BECAUSE it was a DVD-18. I just think it's neat how they were able to put all that content on one disc.
They DO need to come up with a better way of labeling 2-sided discs though. I can read the labels printed around the edges, but why not use the entire center of the disc? That way they could use bigger print and even include a picture or something. (The Nine Inch Nails Dualdisc with CD on one side and DVD-Audio on the other has this, and even clearly says "This side up" for which one you would want to play.) I use Ritek 2-sided blank DVDs for some of my own stuff, and have a labeling kit that puts a printed label over the center of the disc, it looks very nice.
I have to wonder what Fox and Universal are thinking though when they put NO label whatsoever on side 2! A lot of recent Fox discs say "Foolscreen on this side, widescreen on other side", and Universal's discs also have print only on one side and is a little confusing to tell which side is which. Looks awkward putting a disc with no label facing up in your player too.