With the recent news that Redbox is ready to jump into the already-crowded online video streaming game, is this the final bell tolling for physical media as we know it? Purists will talk about how physical media still has the highest available video and audio quality, as well as extra features, but is that enough to keep you tethered to physical discs, or have you made the jump to online only?
The biggest consideration in the Blu-ray versus streaming video debate is always going to be bandwidth. The official Blu-ray website lists a Blu-ray disc as having a 25 Gb capacity. Blu-ray discs have a maximum data transfer rate of 54 Mbps, 48 Mbps for audio and video data. Some of the newer fast internet connections, such as FiOS Quantum, advertise download rates of 15 Mbps to a whopping 300 Mbps, but chances are you're not able to get anywhere close to that rate. I tested the Comcast service at my office at 20 Mbps and my home connection at 25 Mbps. Even if you were able to use that *entire bandwidth consistently for the entire length of a movie, we're still nowhere near the 48 Mbps required to match the quality of Blu-ray. Not to mention your data usage would be through the roof.
Netflix reportedly streams videos at up to 8 Mbps, which is a far cry from Blu-ray's data rates. So streaming video services such as Netflix, Amazon, and soon Redbox have to select a way to make your movie "fit" into a smaller pipe, and it's the quality that suffers. Lowered picture and sound quality by way of compression, resolution and such. So you don't get that great high defintion picture and audio.
Blu-ray discs also tout bonus features and extended footage as part of their marketing, and you can't get those extras with streaming video. But how often do these features really get used anyway?
What's your plan? Are you sticking with Blu-ray and physical media until streaming video catches up in quality? Maybe those extra features are just totally worth it for you to get the disc? Are you willing to sacrifice quality for the convenience of streaming videos? Or perhaps you don't really care about the quality in the first place? Share your thoughts!
FURTHER BLU-RAY DEBATE ON APARTMENT THERAPY:
• Why I Don't Own a Single Blu-ray...and Probably Never Will
• Blu-Ray and Why It Doesn't Matter Anymore
• Tales of a Late Adopter: Update Now?
(Image: Shutterstock)
Before & After: Emily Henderson Transforms a Senior's Studio Space
Monica & Austin's Charming Bungalow
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
Ercol Bar Stool
How To Cook Fluffy, Tasty Quinoa
True Greek Recipe: Paximadi Bread Salad with Tomatoes, Feta and Capers
I think streaming is definitely on the way in with physical media on the way out. Sure, there will be bumps as we are in a transition, but that is to be expected. I can imagine people who spend many thousands on top notch systems will probably stick with Blu Ray for a while until technology catches up. But, I also think there is a rather small percentage of people who can legitimately discern the quality differences. Even then, streaming will catch up.
Look at CDs. Sure, you can still buy them and you will be able to for a long time to come, but, you know that the industry is heading in the direction to make them obsolete. There will be holdouts for a while but soon enough, most people will be streaming. I am pretty sure there will always be enough of a niche market for Blu-Ray, just as there is for vinyl, but I am not holding my breath on that being the main-stream for long.
Internet speeds need to catch up and I am sure they will soon (maybe not soon enough but soon never-the-less)
I don't think physical media will ever really go away, but not necessarily because of the video quality. As much as I do use streaming video, putting DVD or Blu Ray in the player without needing to be connected to the internet, let alone making sure I have a good enough connection, is nice. Especially living somewhere the cable/internet just isn't coming in correctly, it's nice to have the physical media.
I have already made the decision to never buy a physical movie ever again. I own enough physical media as it is.
It's often underestimated how widespread the "good enough" mentality is. Simply serving 90% of use cases 90% of the time goes a long way.
It explains meteoric rises in mediocrity. Starbucks is a prime example. The coffee is mediocre at best, but it's consistent. Patrons often think it's good enough. The third-wavers think it's awful, yet you can't deny their success.
Streaming is the Starbucks of digital media. Fantastic for some, good enough for most, and the third-wavers will stick to physical media.
I remember putting my first Blu-ray movie in my PS3 (connected to a 55" HDTV) and stopping it after a few minutes because I couldn't stop staring at the actors' and actress' pores. That was it for me. I just don't want to see that much detail. Maybe I am the only one. I have received some other movies as gifts on Blu-ray and as long as they are mostly rendered (animated) they are great. I am perfectly happy with the resolution I get from Netflix on my Apple TVs, PS3, XBOX, Wii, iPad, iPhone, etc. I think HD video is overrated; a feeling I do not share for audio.
I like quality audio/video. That's why I spent $K's on my equipment. I won't feed it a crappy signal and pretend it's ok. It's not enjoyable. But that's just me. Some people are ok with crappy quality I suppose. Good luck with that!