Comments on: Trade in Warner DVDs for Blu-Ray

By: Warner DVD2BLU Trade-In Program Extends to TV Show Sets » DVDs Worth Watching

Mon, 23 Aug 2010 17:33:05 +0000

[...] Home Video has announced that their DVD2BLU trade-in program (whereby you can upgrade DVDs to Blu-ray versions for a small fee) now includes TV show [...]

By: Warner DVD to Blu-Ray Trade-In Program Drops Prices » DVDs Worth Watching

Warner DVD to Blu-Ray Trade-In Program Drops Prices » DVDs Worth Watching — Thu, 06 May 2010 23:28:00 +0000

[...] before the holidays at the end of last year, Warner announced the DVD2BLU trade-in program. Now, they’re relaunching the program with lower [...]

By: Dwight Williams

Dwight Williams — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:52:48 +0000

Amen, Charles. It’s not really a free or just/fair(your choice) market. Not yet. The work of making it become such is an ongoing effort.

By: Charles RB

Charles RB — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:06:05 +0000

“But not everyone had DVD players when they quit making VHS films…they essentially forced people to make a choice then. And they could do it again.”

This is why the term ‘free market’ makes me snigger.

By: Thom

Thom — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:10:18 +0000

Yeah, I think it’s definitely convenient for those people…but I do think the people predicting the future where everything is digital are missing the point that there is a fair number of people who will want to own movies they really like is a solid form. I watch stuff on in demand and over netflix, but if I really like a movie, I want to own it. And not just digitally. I want a hard copy. Full of special features. Most everyone I know has movies they want to own in a tangable sense, and would be satisfied with just watching them via a download. Plus, if cable companies are going to charge more for monthly bandwidth, are people going to want to pay a fee for the film and then routinely get hit with fees for going over their monthly alloted bandwidth? For not quite hi-def quality in picture and audio?

By: Johanna

Johanna — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:13:30 +0000

I’m with you on downloading, Thom. I like owning (which provides backup in case of a crash) and special features. But there is a significant part of the general public that likes renting, in whatever form, so they don’t have to store objects. And digital renting — whether iTunes, pay-per-view, or otherwise — means not having to leave the house to get what you want.

By: Thom

Thom — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:17:50 +0000

One point I would make…I don’t think that if they stopped manufacturing DVD it is any worse than when they finally said, “Listen, if you want to watch movies…get a freaking DVD player. We are done with VHS.”

But even if it does happen, I cannot imagine it will be soon. It would be a few years down the road, if Blu-Ray became the more dominant player. That is entirely possible, as it has already avoided the fate of laser disc. They are hardly high end electronics at this point and rapidly have entered affordability-faster than DVDs did. Laserdisc always stayed a niche market. But Blu-Ray has managed to penetrate the mainstream. It may be limited at this time, but I suspect that as more people buy hi-def TVs, that will change.

VHS held on, I suspect DVD and blu-ray will co-exist for awhile.

By: Thom

Thom — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:07:02 +0000

What sucks about the era of digital though? You know those special features we all like? Gone. As far as I am concerned, digital downloads are two steps back. Why pay $14.99 for just a download of the film, when for the same price or slightly more, I can get a hard copy I own with commentary tracks, multiple language options, closed caption, featurette, etc. Digital downloads are aimed at people who watch a movie once and walk away. Not people who buy DVDs and Blu-Rays.

By: Johanna

Johanna — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:34:34 +0000

Thom, if they stop making DVDs, I’ll do these things:
* Make my own of movies I love by recording TV showings (as I’ve done with favorites when TCM airs them)
* Buy closeout DVDs at big discount prices

If companies stop making DVDs, I’ll stop buying from them. If they think they can force the upgrade, I think they might be very disappointed. Like Xeno says, I may try Blu-Ray if/when my current equipment quits, but that shouldn’t be any time soon. Many observers think that the era of plastic discs is ending, anyway, with plenty of customers moving to digital versions.

By: Xenosphobatic

Xenosphobatic — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 08:39:16 +0000

I’m kind of two minds about Blu-Ray players and discs. On one hand, I realize that eventually the market will move on and abandon DVDs altogether.

On the other hand, I don’t plan on buying hardware (TV, receiver, etc) that can support or even come close to justifying the expense of a Blu-Ray player, so until I’m forced to buy a new player, I’ll do without.

By: Thom

Thom — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 05:02:16 +0000

I think this is a nice way to do it. I essentially purchased the Ultimate Matrix collection twice, and still paid $30 less to buy the set on Blu outright once.

For a person like Dwight who presumes they will not adopt up in technology, this is, of course not useful. For others? It is.

I am curious…what if, in three or four years, studios start phasing out DVD’s-just like they did with VHS. Are people going to accept it, as they did with VHS? Or will we see people refusing to change anyways? I am not saying it *will* happen… but it is a distinct possibility, considering how quickly Blu-Ray prices have dropped- and far more quickly than they did with DVD. But not everyone had DVD players when they quit making VHS films…they essentially forced people to make a choice then. And they could do it again.

By: Dwight Williams

Dwight Williams — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:11:39 +0000

Since I’m still not planning to buy Blu-Ray players, let alone discs…sorry, WB. You’re just going to have to keep making DVDs.