Blu-Ray's - How many do you buy?

Gomo on 04/12/2012 - 10:06

Just curious about fellow ozbargain peeps,

I myself say 2 years ago wasn't the type that admittedly purchased movies, however since ozbargain has popped up and awesome bargains have been linked to, I found myself soon purchasing movies as well as TV series! I have a whole book case now full of movies plus another half filled with movies!

Some weeks I will purchase 4 or more movies… then have a break for a month of not buying any :)

I haven't done an actual count but I would gather I have a huge collection now :)
I think this is a positive move for both myself and the movie industry, I'm happy to purchase movies and tv series at good prices :)

Do you also maybe have a similar scenario?

Entertainment

Comments

  • scotty on 04/12/2012 - 10:12
    +4

    How many do you buy?

    More than I have time to watch :(

    • Gomo on 04/12/2012 - 10:21

      I'll have to agree with you on that one too, I have so many I don't get enough time to watch alot of em.. I just purchased the starwars box set and the super man set! :)

    • BuyoTheCat on 04/12/2012 - 10:24
      +1

      I have not bought any movies or video. but I definitely have too many games.
      I think I need to go on holiday to play my games

    • edgar28 on 05/12/2012 - 14:30

      same here :(
      + all the games…..
      90% still wrapped.

    • umoddbro on 06/12/2012 - 19:01

      Agreed. I have a lot of blurays and I'd say I haven't watched more than half of them. Most are still sealed! I'll get to them someday though :o

  • _Bruce_ on 04/12/2012 - 10:20

    I have a server running XBMC on the TV and rip all movies/tv shows to there. As I have no method to rip Bluray discs they are nothing but coasters to me.

    • Gomo on 04/12/2012 - 10:23

      XBMC are definitely good for easy access to media quickly and efficiently! The main reason I choose to buy the movies is the size of the download that would be required.. especially on bluray

      • _Bruce_ on 04/12/2012 - 10:24

        Yes it is very painful. When the studios sell products in stores that are of any use, I will consider buying them.

        • punk on 06/12/2012 - 19:26

          If you haven't considered by now, I doubt you'll bother any time soon. You can get blu-rays for 5 dollars but then again that is an expensive coaster.

          Im not sure what you're appreciation is for movies but I definitely have added movies to my collection that have had a lot of work done to restore them or include certain tidbits like the making of (im a fan of those) E.G Blade runner, Jaws with some awe-inspiring documentaries like human planet. The commentaries for Total Recall is awesome :P these type of things are worth buying in store if you're into that sorta thing.

    • samfisher5986 on 04/12/2012 - 12:45

      I use XBMC as well.

      I pirate all my movies because the alternative is buying a bluray player and then having to worry about ripping them all and then encoding them all.

      I can get a 1080p Movie in 10-20mins, I couldn't even buy the movie in that time, encoding/ripping would take hours.

      • _Bruce_ on 04/12/2012 - 13:06

        Encoding isn't the issue, you can't even rip the disc without a paid tool. And doing so is a criminal offence (unlike just downloading it).

        • Chux on 04/12/2012 - 17:06
          +2

          I use DVDFab free HD Decrypter tool to rip a blu-ray disk and then Handbrake to encode to x264 .mp4 format. while it takes a while to encode, its a free and relatively simple process

        • _Bruce_ on 04/12/2012 - 18:11
          +1

          Thanks for the info. Still think I will be avoiding this option.

        • netsurfer on 05/12/2012 - 12:43

          If you don't mind having 1:1 copy, you don't have to re-encode. You can use the mkv just as a container. So, it takes 45-60 minutes to rip and save a blu-ray as mkv (depends on how fast your blu-ray ROM drive is). I think you cannot keep the special features (you can choose subtitles to keep) if you go down the mkv path.

          However, I wouldn't bother. Just rent the blu-ray for $2. How often do you watch the same movie multiple times? I normally watch a movie only once. Ones I intend to watch multiple times, I would just buy them. Though, I found I don't actually watch them anymore so sold most of them on feeBay.

          As for downloading bdrips, generally a waste of time, and they are the re-encoded version (sorry, but I generally can see the compression losses so not a fan of those rips).

        • _Bruce_ on 05/12/2012 - 13:04

          To rip to mkv without reencoding still requires breaking the DRM, which is the whole issue.

          As for low quality reencoder, sure some are, but in most cases I know that I wouldn't pass a double blind test.

        • samfisher5986 on 05/12/2012 - 19:39
          +1

          To store 1:1 copies of blurays on a hard drive is very expensive…

        • BetterValue on 08/12/2012 - 08:29

          For the little they ask to rent, it is best option IMHO. You just end up with noodles of movies which you are not watching anyway.

  • Shout It Out on 04/12/2012 - 14:31

    I don't buy too often. But I did grab a bargain from Zavvi that was posted on here. I mainly grab kids movies for my son on special. Adult movies I don't have time to watch.
    If there really is a movie I want to see, I'll download the trailer and if it is any good, I'll buy it after checking OB for a bargain lol. The only movies I have bought outright are the blokcbusters like The Matrix Trilogy, Resident Evil 1-4, etc.

  • ethereal88 on 04/12/2012 - 16:55

    None. Just download them, ready to go. Either a very good quality 10GB+ 1080p .mkv or a 1:1 BD .iso. No mess, no problem. Virtually everything on blu-ray has been uploaded to the internet (minus some porn), from splatter to action.

    • _Bruce_ on 04/12/2012 - 18:11
      +2

      Virtually everything on blu-ray has been uploaded to the internet (minus some porn)

      I find that hard to believe!

      • KBZ on 05/12/2012 - 00:30

        Seriously if you look hard enough, virtually everything on BD is on the internet, even before they are released to the public sadly

        points at The Dark Knight Rises Blu-Ray

        • _Bruce_ on 05/12/2012 - 07:43
          +4

          I think you misunderstood the part that I don't believe.

      • samfisher5986 on 05/12/2012 - 00:50

        I think the only problem you might have is an Australian Bluray, these are quite rare though… I haven't even seen one myself, most of our movies are only in DVD.

  • netsurfer on 05/12/2012 - 12:26
    +1

    I buy blu-rays (mainly because I couldn't be bothered downloading HD movies), watch them, then sell them on feeBay.

    Generally prefer to rent them. I only watch a movie once normally. Used to have a local video store where I can rent blu-ray discs for $1 each on Tuesday. I used to visit the store a lot, but it closed down.

    Thanks to OZB, too busy playing around with the toys I bought… haven't got much time for movies.

  • tsunamisurfer on 05/12/2012 - 13:13
    -1

    I could add all the freebies and kick @ss bargains and discounts I have ever got from ozbargain / word of mouth together, and it wouldn't even come close to the money saved from downloading moviez / TV showz / mp3z instead of buying.

    I have zero Blu-rays, and I might have one DVD in the house somewhere.

    • Windows7forever on 06/12/2012 - 07:42
      +1

      You are very complacent and self-assured about illegally downloading content aren't you?

  • skyva on 05/12/2012 - 15:50
    +1

    Given the choice I watch blurays. I have a ps3 and a htpc with bluray player. If I buy the bluray, I rip it to the htpc using makemkv. I recently cleaned out my study with boxes of dvd's and blurays, and put them in the shed as they take up too much room and xbmc presents them better if you want to browse.

    A pc bluray player is about $60, makemkv is free, so it is worth it to me to get rid of all the hard copies, they take up a surprising amount of room.

    • Windows7forever on 06/12/2012 - 07:41

      But now you have to pay for hard drive space.

      • _Bruce_ on 06/12/2012 - 08:32
        +3

        Storage is about 5c/GB currently, most rips sit around 10G, so 50c (plus power). Even if you have a 4 disk RAID 5 array the price goes up to 67c. The same array of green drives will consume 1.52W at idle for 9TB, which is around 0.01c/year/movie (if run all the time).

        Just FYI. Personally my shelf space is worth this.

        • punk on 06/12/2012 - 19:20

          you must live in a box lol :P

          but yeah you're right storage is cheap but you make it sound like these movies take up so much room haha. my desktop takes up more room than my collection but im assuming you probably have a pretty kick arse set up to stream your movie content.

  • punk on 05/12/2012 - 23:14

    I have a fair amount of Blu-rays and I think i'm pretty much ib the same level as you Gomo. I got my blu-ray player about 3 or so years ago and since then I've seen Blu-ray prices drop to a level where it's affordable - I like the fact some copies will bundle a dvd and digital version which solves a lot of my problems - though I'm not to keen on the drm on the digital versions. I'm no saint but I will pay for a copy on blu-ray because I don't mind supporting the movie industry (especially if it's superior to the dvd release). Seeing the movie in all it's Hi-Def glory is pretty sweet too.

    Glad you can "save" so much on your movies and music, tsunamisurfer. lol

  • Windows7forever on 06/12/2012 - 07:46

    I have a huge DVD collection which I have built up over the last 10 years but it is slowing down now, even though prices are falling. I have most of the movies I could ever want or need, apart from the new releases.
    DVD players are ubiquitous and I have one in every room of the house so it is convenient to watch them on the big screen, through my xbox, or on the PC. I don't own blurays yet.

    • Dazzler42 on 06/12/2012 - 08:02

      I'm in the same position as you, Wolfenator87 - I have a huge DVD collection that's reached the tipping point of having just about everything I want that's been released to date, and now only pick up new releases. There's a couple of TV series that I might need to complete, and a couple I'm waiting on - will I ever get the 60's Batman series on official release?

      If a DVD's cheap enough, I might buy a TV show or movie unseen to watch, then leave it on the shelf. I think you can tell a lot about people by their collections of anything - whether it be books, DVDs/blurays, collectable plates - whatever.

      As to Blu-rays, if they're available I'll generally buy the Double or Triple Packs, for convenience. And if I see something I've already got really cheap - like the recent Matrix Trilogy blu-rays for just over AUS$16 - I pick them up.

      And yes, I do watch movies and television shows multiple times.

  • AlanHB on 06/12/2012 - 08:09

    It's interesting the comments above about preferring to download movies than watch them on blu-ray. I'm personally yet to see a blu-ray quality rip from the internet, both in sound and picture, and if I did see it, it would probably cost more than the physical disc and destroy my download quota. We know the free stuff just can't compare.

    I am also a big fan of special features, and sometimes even the box that special editions come in. So the benefits of quality and features make them worth the extra cost to me.

    • _Bruce_ on 06/12/2012 - 08:35

      We know the free stuff just can't compare.

      As I stated earlier, most of the rips I can't tell the difference, without pausing and closely examining compression artifacts, so it really depends on the person. Some people don't seem to notice/care about the difference between DVD and blu ray. More still put up with complete rubbish on Youtube.

      • AlanHB on 06/12/2012 - 17:18
        +1

        Well if you can't tell, then obviously you don't own a 50 inch TV or surround sound. The difference is huge. Arguably in dramas and anything else with a slow camera (cartoons?) it is less of a difference, but chuck on an action movie and sometimes you won't even be able to tell what is going on with the rip.

        However I've found that most people who say "I can't tell the difference" don't own any blu-rays. It's only when you shove them infront of one they go "ooohhhh".

        • _Bruce_ on 06/12/2012 - 18:22

          You lost me with the audio comment. No good rip will sound ANY different.

          I don't agree with your other comments (yes I have done back to back comparisons), but the audio argument is what really devalues your position.

        • punk on 06/12/2012 - 19:11

          Well the case could be made for mp3s but generally I dont think audio can be noticed much on these 'quality' rips. you know the 44.4 gigs uncompressed stuff, but then look at the size! then you head into the BD rips that are aroud 4/8 gigs. the differences are probably not noticeable by most people and you'll generally get 5.1/7.1 setups but those type of rips leave you missing out on the other content and if you're happy to have 'degraded' copies then so be it. I still think going all digital is still a pain in the arse cause you still have to pay for storage and the cost for internet. today I just bought a 10 dollar BD of beneath hill 60. Awesome stuff. No need to buy blank BD's or portable drive all for 10 bucks.

          Still if you're after quality, unless you go for those uncompress rips, buying blu-ray at reasonable price is still the way to go - both formats have their limitations but hey at least someone is buying right? we still need these types of people to make more stuff :)

        • AlanHB on 07/12/2012 - 11:05

          Bruce I assumed I would have lost you with the video comment too, considering you can't tell the difference.

          That's cool though, one of the bi-products of the digital age is that we're now pretty much offered the choice to pay for quality or not pay and get a lower quality product that effectively does the same thing. I don't condone piracy, but the market will always go the cheapest route, and if this means a lesser product which is still perfectly acceptable on a small screen and stereo sound (which most people would own), so be it.

    • samfisher5986 on 06/12/2012 - 10:17
      +3

      Well if you are downloading 700mb AVI's then the quality is going to be bad.

      Get a bluray in 1080p with DTS sound and you won't be able to tell the difference.

      And if you are in the 0.1% of the world who can, just get the 40GB original image.

      Unlimited Internet starts at $20 a month if you have a phone line.

      • punk on 06/12/2012 - 19:15

        So true and there's a lot of positives about digital content but there's always something about physical stuff that I still enjoy and until internet speeds and storage/clouds continue to improve I'll be happy to support the stuff you don't.

        • T1OOO on 06/12/2012 - 22:46

          I'd lose disks and having to get te case open it and put it in sort of kills it for me…. The full blurays looks shit coz of graininess. Rips smooth it out nicer. I mean watching dark city on the chicks face close up do I really need to see a bad make up job with he pimples and blemishes and facial hair around her lips? Sort of ruined it for me :-(

        • punk on 12/12/2012 - 20:25

          fair enough but get dvds but then that ruins the whole point of getting up and putting it in other than getting up and turning on your computer (waiting to boot) or media player is a whole different right? But yeh losing the disks would be a pain in the arse but I generally dont lose them if you put them back case after watching yeah?
          It's just as annoying if your hdd fails and well that could be a whole lot more movies in one space unless it's easily retrievable via a bought an online eco-system offered by places like amazon and apple.

          Unless they offer SD digital content for you, you're not going to escape the HD content that'll eventually come out for digital distribution channels but then again piracy rips will help you too

  • andy19363 on 06/12/2012 - 09:05
    +2

    I tend to buy two types of blu ray…

    1. Classic movies/tv that I will watch over and over again, (I still enjoy the Bourne Trilogy after numerous viewings for example….)
    2. 'Cheap' movies that I thought looked interesting at their time of cinema release but couldn't get to see them for whatever reason. I try not to spend more than $10 a movie in this category, (so the jb 2 for $20 has been good for me). I figure I would probably have been happy to spend the same amount watching it at the movies…. this way I get to keep the movie too…. Bonus if it's a good movie…. no harm done if it's not.
    • Windows7forever on 06/12/2012 - 18:22
      +1

      Go to cash converters. You can buy lots of 2nd hand dvds in good condition for around $4 per film. This is where I buy most of the movies.

      • sparkles on 09/12/2012 - 17:12

        My local cash converters sells movie DVD's for $2. But I only ever buy DVD if it is not on Blu Ray. There is a considerable difference visually to me, and I notice and find it annoying it when I watch DVD.

        Overall, I buy a lot of Blu Rays, some secondhand, some eBay, some Amazon, some JB, whatever. I have recently started renting two movies each week on $1 Mondays, and it has saved me money from buying complete duds, like the latest Spiderman - which I would have bought, sure glad I didn't.

  • Gomo on 06/12/2012 - 22:37

    Just added to my collection the bond set on bluray and die hard trilogy :)

  • T1OOO on 06/12/2012 - 22:43
    -1

    Stopped buying disks b4 blurays came out. I prefer digital for convenience……

  • bluey47 on 06/12/2012 - 23:07
    +1

    I have been buying a lot of TV Seasons on Bluray of shows that I had downloaded. Now I can watch them again without the guilt. :-)

  • Grish on 06/12/2012 - 23:09

    FTW: NAS, USENET, Sick Beard, Couch Potato and TPG

    • samfisher5986 on 07/12/2012 - 01:04
      -1

      100mbit cable is better :D

      10GB in 16 minutes.

  • auna on 10/12/2012 - 00:42

    It's not very feasible to not get Blu ray. Other versions always have issues mostly quality.

    Getting the best quality, the menus, the deleted scenes and more plus not using my hard drive space and Internet quota makes Blu rays worth buying.

    Nearly everything else involves a sacrifice of some sort and is probably illegal to boot. Blu ray and possibly whatever is next is here to stay.

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