DVDs, Materialism, & the Concept of Ownership
#126
Senior Member
Re: DVDs, Materialism, & the Concept of Ownership
Like all media markets, there is a bottoming out period. Not sure if we've hit it with DVD yet as it usually occurs once the replacement tech is firmly in place. Regardless, after this bottoming out, the used market actually picks up steam. Particularly once folks start to see just how many titles are going to be left off the replacement tech.
That being said, I have what I have because I want it and not because of what I think I can get for it.
That being said, I have what I have because I want it and not because of what I think I can get for it.
#127
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Re: DVDs, Materialism, & the Concept of Ownership
I think most people eventually just want the technology to level off to a point where they're happy and confident with what they bought instead of feeling their purchases are second-rate after a few years.
For me, I'm happy with DVD. The improvements of Blu-ray are not enough to compel me to re-purchase what I already have unless it's replacing a non-anamorphic DVD of a title I really liked or has several additional extras.
With audio, I think the technology has leveled off, quality-wise. The CDs I bought 20 years ago haven't been replaced by a superior-sounding commercial format with the exception of some re-mastering of certain titles.
Last edited by orangerunner; 10-06-10 at 11:15 AM.
#128
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Re: DVDs, Materialism, & the Concept of Ownership
For me, I'm happy with DVD. The improvements of Blu-ray are not enough to compel me to re-purchase what I already have unless it's replacing a non-anamorphic DVD of a title I really liked or has several additional extras.
I think why BR works in my particular case is that I have certainly not gone out and bought title after title. I've only "replaced" perhaps less than two dozen of my favorite films. That's it. Of course, I buy new stuff that I have not owned before as well in BR.
With audio, I think the technology has leveled off, quality-wise. The CDs I bought 20 years ago haven't been replaced by a superior-sounding commercial format with the exception of some re-mastering of certain titles.
#129
DVD Talk Special Edition
Re: DVDs, Materialism, & the Concept of Ownership
![Thumbs Up](/images/smilies/thumpsup.gif)
I'm a huge audio fan, and you are right about original master CDs. The Pink Floyd CBS discs are a good example of superior sounding, early release CDs. The Wall first release, Columbia CK36185/C2K36183, is preferred over MFSL for quality, and blows away the sound quality for all subsequent digital remasters.
This also is my biggest complaint with streaming. I value sound over picture with my movie watching. You'll be lucky if you get 5.1 from streaming, and I doubt we'll get lossless over streaming anytime in the near future. Those files are simply massive.
#130
DVD Talk Reviewer & TOAT Winner
Re: DVDs, Materialism, & the Concept of Ownership
That is going to be the biggest sticking point with me. If I buy the right to download a movie or content via a studio's server, just what does it actually entitle me to?
Bottom line- it's just a bad idea.
#131
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Re: DVDs, Materialism, & the Concept of Ownership
![Thumbs Up](/images/smilies/thumpsup.gif)
I'm a huge audio fan, and you are right about original master CDs. The Pink Floyd CBS discs are a good example of superior sounding, early release CDs. The Wall first release, Columbia CK36185/C2K36183, is preferred over MFSL for quality, and blows away the sound quality for all subsequent digital remasters."
![Smilie](/images/smilies/smile.gif)
This also is my biggest complaint with streaming. I value sound over picture with my movie watching. You'll be lucky if you get 5.1 from streaming, and I doubt we'll get lossless over streaming anytime in the near future. Those files are simply massive.
#132
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Re: DVDs, Materialism, & the Concept of Ownership
The way it works right now with services like Vudu and Amazon, you're entitled to watch the movie from their servers any time (and those who prefer this method say that frees them from shelf space and having to sort through discs)- BUT, as I pointed out before, there's always the possibility of a title being taken offline for any reason as has happened with Vudu's adult movies. Even if you got a refund or credit, that just doesn't sit well with me..
#133
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Re: DVDs, Materialism, & the Concept of Ownership
When I first started this thread, I had hundreds of DVD and no children. Now that I have kids, my collector's mentality has evaporated. Shelves full of DVDs seem like a pain in the ass to me now. I've sold off most of my DVDs and the ones I kept were transferred to slim cases, and are in a plastic bin in the garage. If I cared enough, I'd transfer them to a hard drive, but it's not really worth the effort.
I just bought a Blu-Ray player that plays 3D content, but even with recent price drops for BD discs, for me, there's little need to own. I'll probably buy a few discs that the kids like and some concert BDs to show off my system, but I will not be collecting to collect. (Yes, I'm talking to you, Criterion Spine collectors.)
Once you become a collector, it feels like your stuff begins to own you. I don't want to go there again.
I just bought a Blu-Ray player that plays 3D content, but even with recent price drops for BD discs, for me, there's little need to own. I'll probably buy a few discs that the kids like and some concert BDs to show off my system, but I will not be collecting to collect. (Yes, I'm talking to you, Criterion Spine collectors.)
Once you become a collector, it feels like your stuff begins to own you. I don't want to go there again.
#134
DVD Talk Legend
Re: DVDs, Materialism, & the Concept of Ownership
Hmm, I see where you're coming from but for me it's a little different. I too had a kid since this thread began, and my wife and I have tried to embrace the ideals of simplicity living. One thing I've mentioned before in threads like this is how I regret buying so many DVDs that I only had a passing interest in, mainly from reading reviews or comments on forums such as this.
Now we've started trimming down our collection and we hardly buy anymore, especially since getting Netflix. I'm still keeping a lot of DVDs but I'm trying to narrow down the focus considerably. Some things I'm never getting rid of like Star Wars and Star Trek, and more recently Doctor Who. Even with Trek and Who being on Netflix, there's still too many instances where they've taken something out of circulation for whatever reason.
I certainly don't feel the need to collect things like Criterion spines. After all these years I still have less than a dozen Criterions and most were purchased on the strength of the title.
Now we've started trimming down our collection and we hardly buy anymore, especially since getting Netflix. I'm still keeping a lot of DVDs but I'm trying to narrow down the focus considerably. Some things I'm never getting rid of like Star Wars and Star Trek, and more recently Doctor Who. Even with Trek and Who being on Netflix, there's still too many instances where they've taken something out of circulation for whatever reason.
I certainly don't feel the need to collect things like Criterion spines. After all these years I still have less than a dozen Criterions and most were purchased on the strength of the title.
#135
DVD Talk Hero
Re: DVDs, Materialism, & the Concept of Ownership
![Up](/images/smilies/thumpsup.gif)
Not only has getting rid of stuff felt good, I don't even recall what it was that I got rid of, and it makes the remaining smaller collection more streamlined and specific to my tastes.
#136
DVD Talk Legend
Re: DVDs, Materialism, & the Concept of Ownership
I recently visited the home of one of my wife's friends, and I was talking to her husband in his office/mancave. He had one wall covered with his boardgame collection (like those long, involved board games). A bookshelf full of his RPG books and a good sized bookshelf of his DVDs. The DVD collection was mostly scifi, and it was very streamlined. All of Babylon 5, a good chunk of Star Trek, a few things like The Matrix boxset. Basically someone could look at the titles and not see anything way out of place.
Now I've got things that just the wife likes and things for the little one, but there's still just too much "other" stuff that I'm still working on getting rid of.
#137
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Re: DVDs, Materialism, & the Concept of Ownership
I submit that the best evidence for keeping a collection of physical DVDs is what happened to the Paramount catalog. Two years ago, Paramount got out of the DVD business and took their back catalog with titles like L'il Abner, Seconds, The Naked Jungle, and Detective Story, out of print. Today, those titles are simply . . . gone. Netflix doesn't have them . . . Hulu doesn't have them . . . you can't buy or rent them. . . and "illegal" downloads are usually 2nd- or 3rd-generation rips that look like a digitized monkey's ass. The general public has no interest in movies produced more than 5 minutes ago, so those older films will never be re-released on Blu-Ray. If you didn't buy those movies when you had the chance, they will be forever out of your reach.
That's why I'm happy I own a large collection with obscure movies that were lucky to briefly see the light of day in the golden age of DVD.
That's why I'm happy I own a large collection with obscure movies that were lucky to briefly see the light of day in the golden age of DVD.
#138
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Re: DVDs, Materialism, & the Concept of Ownership
I submit that the best evidence for keeping a collection of physical DVDs is what happened to the Paramount catalog. Two years ago, Paramount got out of the DVD business and took their back catalog with titles like L'il Abner, Seconds, The Naked Jungle, and Detective Story, out of print. Today, those titles are simply . . . gone. Netflix doesn't have them . . . Hulu doesn't have them . . . you can't buy or rent them. . . and "illegal" downloads are usually 2nd- or 3rd-generation rips that look like a digitized monkey's ass. The general public has no interest in movies produced more than 5 minutes ago, so those older films will never be re-released on Blu-Ray. If you didn't buy those movies when you had the chance, they will be forever out of your reach.
That's why I'm happy I own a large collection with obscure movies that were lucky to briefly see the light of day in the golden age of DVD.
That's why I'm happy I own a large collection with obscure movies that were lucky to briefly see the light of day in the golden age of DVD.
BTW, in the case of your examples, L'il Abner, Seconds, and The Naked Jungle are available for instant download on Amazon - albeit they're priced between $6 and $10. Detective Story is still available for sale on DVD for under $10 new.
#139
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Re: DVDs, Materialism, & the Concept of Ownership
Of course, if there's something obscure there's a chance it will go out of print. Buy it if you love it and want to rewatch it. However there's no need to ever keep a DVD of Jerry Maguire.
BTW, in the case of your examples, L'il Abner, Seconds, and The Naked Jungle are available for instant download on Amazon - albeit they're priced between $6 and $10. Detective Story is still available for sale on DVD for under $10 new.
BTW, in the case of your examples, L'il Abner, Seconds, and The Naked Jungle are available for instant download on Amazon - albeit they're priced between $6 and $10. Detective Story is still available for sale on DVD for under $10 new.
Good news that Detective Story can be bought new online, but the other titles, as well as many others, are still unavailable physically (unless you want to pay ~$50 to a 3rd-party vendor), barring a miracle at Big Lots or Ross.
#140
Re: DVDs, Materialism, & the Concept of Ownership
I submit that the best evidence for keeping a collection of physical DVDs is what happened to the Paramount catalog. Two years ago, Paramount got out of the DVD business and took their back catalog with titles like L'il Abner, Seconds, The Naked Jungle, and Detective Story, out of print.
That's why I'm happy I own a large collection with obscure movies that were lucky to briefly see the light of day in the golden age of DVD.
That's why I'm happy I own a large collection with obscure movies that were lucky to briefly see the light of day in the golden age of DVD.
#141
Senior Member
Re: DVDs, Materialism, & the Concept of Ownership
I submit that the best evidence for keeping a collection of physical DVDs is what happened to the Paramount catalog. Two years ago, Paramount got out of the DVD business and took their back catalog with titles like L'il Abner, Seconds, The Naked Jungle, and Detective Story, out of print. Today, those titles are simply . . . gone. Netflix doesn't have them . . . Hulu doesn't have them . . . you can't buy or rent them. . . and "illegal" downloads are usually 2nd- or 3rd-generation rips that look like a digitized monkey's ass. The general public has no interest in movies produced more than 5 minutes ago, so those older films will never be re-released on Blu-Ray. If you didn't buy those movies when you had the chance, they will be forever out of your reach.
That's why I'm happy I own a large collection with obscure movies that were lucky to briefly see the light of day in the golden age of DVD.
That's why I'm happy I own a large collection with obscure movies that were lucky to briefly see the light of day in the golden age of DVD.
My point is, regardless of how rare the disc is, it doesn't mean crap if you don't actually watch it.
#142
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Re: DVDs, Materialism, & the Concept of Ownership
Funny thing. I have gone cold turkey from buying new stuff (with RARE exceptions- mainly for my daughter) and am quickly going through my unwatched pile.
As I file these away in my binders, I look at the other movies I have in my collection and frequently go "wow! I forgot I had THAT!! Cool!" and then will watch it.
Granted, there is a price to be paid for that experience. But I don't consider any $ wasted. Even if i were to rent every single movie I have, I honestly felt I would have spent MORE money. And, like a previous poster, a large % of my collection is pre-1950's films. I do not download, netflix, hulu, etc. Perhaps one day I will get into that technology. But one of my joys is the special features with these old films.
For example, I haven't gone through all the commentaries from my WB sets. I DO listen to these occassionally. Will I be able to do that from these download technologies?
Watching some of the old shorts that are supplments to old films are a real treasure to me. Will downloading/netflix'ng give me those features, too?
Once a year or two, I go through my collection, pick out those that I KNOW I will never see again, and donate them to friends and the local library. I still have about 1300.. A lot are box sets and TV seasons that yes, we do watch over again.
Would I do things differently starting over again? probably would be a little more selective and eliminated all impulse buying at big lots and BBV sales. 99% of the movies I give away come from those purchases.
But I have enjoyed 90% of the movies I have bought, and am currently re-enjoying them with my daughter as she is getting old enough to appreciate these.
No regrets here.
As I file these away in my binders, I look at the other movies I have in my collection and frequently go "wow! I forgot I had THAT!! Cool!" and then will watch it.
Granted, there is a price to be paid for that experience. But I don't consider any $ wasted. Even if i were to rent every single movie I have, I honestly felt I would have spent MORE money. And, like a previous poster, a large % of my collection is pre-1950's films. I do not download, netflix, hulu, etc. Perhaps one day I will get into that technology. But one of my joys is the special features with these old films.
For example, I haven't gone through all the commentaries from my WB sets. I DO listen to these occassionally. Will I be able to do that from these download technologies?
Watching some of the old shorts that are supplments to old films are a real treasure to me. Will downloading/netflix'ng give me those features, too?
Once a year or two, I go through my collection, pick out those that I KNOW I will never see again, and donate them to friends and the local library. I still have about 1300.. A lot are box sets and TV seasons that yes, we do watch over again.
Would I do things differently starting over again? probably would be a little more selective and eliminated all impulse buying at big lots and BBV sales. 99% of the movies I give away come from those purchases.
But I have enjoyed 90% of the movies I have bought, and am currently re-enjoying them with my daughter as she is getting old enough to appreciate these.
No regrets here.
#143
DVD Talk Legend
Re: DVDs, Materialism, & the Concept of Ownership
http://electronics.shop.ebay.com/8-T...=p3286.c0.m282
If I can still buy an 8-track player (not that I want to), I have no doubt I'll still be able to buy DVD players for at least the next few years. -kd5-
#144
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: DVDs, Materialism, & the Concept of Ownership
I look at it this way. Collecting and burning stuff of tv not released is the best guarantee to be able to watch anything, at any time, for the rest of your life.
#145
DVD Talk Legend
Re: DVDs, Materialism, & the Concept of Ownership
When I first started this thread, I had hundreds of DVD and no children. Now that I have kids, my collector's mentality has evaporated. Shelves full of DVDs seem like a pain in the ass to me now. I've sold off most of my DVDs and the ones I kept were transferred to slim cases, and are in a plastic bin in the garage. If I cared enough, I'd transfer them to a hard drive, but it's not really worth the effort.
I just bought a Blu-Ray player that plays 3D content, but even with recent price drops for BD discs, for me, there's little need to own. I'll probably buy a few discs that the kids like and some concert BDs to show off my system, but I will not be collecting to collect. (Yes, I'm talking to you, Criterion Spine collectors.)
Once you become a collector, it feels like your stuff begins to own you. I don't want to go there again.
I just bought a Blu-Ray player that plays 3D content, but even with recent price drops for BD discs, for me, there's little need to own. I'll probably buy a few discs that the kids like and some concert BDs to show off my system, but I will not be collecting to collect. (Yes, I'm talking to you, Criterion Spine collectors.)
Once you become a collector, it feels like your stuff begins to own you. I don't want to go there again.
Wow, I hope I never feel like that. That's depressing...
![Sad Banana](/images/smilies/sad.gif)
#147
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Re: DVDs, Materialism, & the Concept of Ownership
Here's a more depressing thought: You are going to die and all of the stuff you collect, including your Steelbook sets, lenticular slipcases, and your limited edition of "Dude, Where's my Car?" will eventually end up in a landfill or recycling facility. Only you care about your shit and almost no one is impressed by the way you've organized your DVDs on a shelf. Then again, perhaps I've assumed too much?
I used to fantasize about how blown away people would be when they saw my collection. The actual result was that no one cared and my wife was annoyed by the sight of the DVDs, which, in her mind, represented a substantial amount of money spent.
I used to fantasize about how blown away people would be when they saw my collection. The actual result was that no one cared and my wife was annoyed by the sight of the DVDs, which, in her mind, represented a substantial amount of money spent.
#148
DVD Talk Special Edition
Re: DVDs, Materialism, & the Concept of Ownership
Here's a more depressing thought: You are going to die and all of the stuff you collect, including your Steelbook sets, lenticular slipcases, and your limited edition of "Dude, Where's my Car?" will eventually end up in a landfill or recycling facility. Only you care about your shit and almost no one is impressed by the way you've organized your DVDs on a shelf. Then again, perhaps I've assumed too much?
I used to fantasize about how blown away people would be when they saw my collection. The actual result was that no one cared and my wife was annoyed by the sight of the DVDs, which, in her mind, represented a substantial amount of money spent.
I used to fantasize about how blown away people would be when they saw my collection. The actual result was that no one cared and my wife was annoyed by the sight of the DVDs, which, in her mind, represented a substantial amount of money spent.
#149
DVD Talk Legend
Re: DVDs, Materialism, & the Concept of Ownership
Here's a more depressing thought: You are going to die and all of the stuff you collect, including your Steelbook sets, lenticular slipcases, and your limited edition of "Dude, Where's my Car?" will eventually end up in a landfill or recycling facility. Only you care about your shit and almost no one is impressed by the way you've organized your DVDs on a shelf. Then again, perhaps I've assumed too much?
I used to fantasize about how blown away people would be when they saw my collection. The actual result was that no one cared and my wife was annoyed by the sight of the DVDs, which, in her mind, represented a substantial amount of money spent.
I used to fantasize about how blown away people would be when they saw my collection. The actual result was that no one cared and my wife was annoyed by the sight of the DVDs, which, in her mind, represented a substantial amount of money spent.
While I live and breathe, I will do what makes me happy. I'm sorry you feel the way you do, I think they make a pill for that. -kd5-