While some people clearly disagree with the opinion that Blu-Ray discs don't really matter anymore, there are a number of viable alternatives, especially for users who don't have an HDTV and consume all of their media from their laptops or desktops.
1. Itunes
By far, one of the most popular ways of "renting" media is iTunes. The rented files will allow you to watch the movies and shows, but then the DRM files expire after 30 days, which is quite a long time. Prices start off at $0.99 and go up to $3.99 for movie rentals. By comparing costs to popular movie rental stores, it's safe to say that renting actual Blu-Ray discs is cheaper. However, there iTunes is very convenient and you are no longer location-dependent.
2. Netflix
Netflix recently offered a new streaming only service, which costs $7.99 a month. For this price, you can stream media directly from Netflix to your Xbox 360, PS3, internet-enabled HDTV, computer, and mobile devices. If you'd rather rent DVDs or Blu-Ray discs, then you'll find that their costs have gone up. The basic plan for 1 disc out at a time now costs $9.99. Netflix offers a 1-month free trial.
3. Hulu Plus
Hulu Plus offers the same service as Netflix, minus the actual Blu-Ray rental option. For the same price, $7.99, you basically get access to a bunch of TV shows. Hulu Plus offers a 1-week free trial.
4. Vudu
Boasting a library of over 3,000 movie titles in HD quality, Vudu is an interesting alternative to the big three mentioned. The price of rentals varies from $0.99 to $5.99, and you can even rent some movies that are in theaters. If you absolutely need HD quality, then this is the service to choose.
What's the big difference between Hulu Plus and Netflix? You'd think that they would easily duplicate content, but Hulu Plus has a bigger library of the current shows on TV while Netflix has a better archive of older TV shows. Netflix has a huge library of movies as well. Hulu's service benefits from a better quality HD streaming service, thanks to the fact that it features a lot of new shows, which are already broadcast in HD. Hulu's speed of delivery and notification of speed changes is more sophisticated than Netflix's. These two services complement each other quite well and many users have accounts with both to cover their rental needs.
[images via Elmada via CC license, Netflix and Sektorkind via CC license]
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Comments (8)
Quality of online media is still quite a few steps behind Blu-Ray though, so if that matters to you, Blu-Ray is still king.
How many times have we been over this? There is no alternative to Blu-ray. People buy blu-ray for the picture quality and sound. The only thing close is Vudo HDX, and that still is a noticeable difference. It will be years by the time internet connections and MOVIE PROVIDERS allow it.
netflix's streaming library is still poor/ok. They really need to step up the game and get newer movies streaming faster. however, i see this as a problem with the actual movie comapnies since that will take away from rentals.
i have heard pretty weak reviews of hulu + Yes it is starting out right now and needs to get it legs, but to make it in this market place they need to pick up their game quick.
me, i am going to be buying a new hdtv soon, been holding out, and a blu ray player and watch stuff in crystal clear HD. something online content can't seem to deliver on. Even if it could, then you are going to start having some problems with bandwidth caps from your internet provider. If you don't have them now, just wait til everyone starting streaming HD, then they'll probably add them.
Man, this place is just getting sloppy.
This can't be any simpler: Blu-Ray is digital, by definition. So are DVD and CD-Audio. These are all digital sources on physical media.
The argument could be made that downloadable media has certain advantages or disadvantages over physical media, but it's still all digital. So, unless you're going from vinyl or VHS to one of these formats, you're not "going digital".
Agreed with the above. We've re-hashed this several times over. Online media isn't an alternative to blu-ray. It MAY be an alternative to physical media, but there is currently (and won't be for quite a while) nothing streamable that comes anywhere close to the quality of movies on blue-ray.
You simply have no grasp of the differences in quality or the technologies involved. "HD" means nothing in terms of quality, only pixel count.
Agreed with dimwell and charmac.
Furthermore, with the bandwidth capping that's going on (as reported here on this blog by Anthony Nguyen) what happens then? In using the internet as the sole means of accessing their media, you are limited each month by the bandwidth cap that internet providers give you.
If my daughter wanted to watch a quick show of Dora the Explorer, going through Netflix is fine. But when I want to "300," there is no way the quality of streaming media comes anywhere close to the 7.1, high definition goodness of Blu-Ray.
Uh, Range, didn't you just post almost the exact article in October?
http://www.unplggd.com/unplggd/news/bluray-and-why-it-doesnt-matter-anymore-130213 </a href>
Oops, that link didn't work:
http://www.unplggd.com/unplggd/news/bluray-and-why-it-doesnt-matter-anymore-130213