I don’t understand how companies can improve a product in one area, and break it in others. Because, you know, that isn’t an improvement at all.
Being a big movie fan (I have like 900+ DVD’s in my collection), I take an interest in news about the video business and the like. And I’ve been reading that Blu Ray sales are getting softer. It’s almost as if the public really doesn’t like them all that much. And executives are puzzled as to why.
Well, here’s my .02 – they aren’t that big a leap. And they are a significant downgrade in other areas. I have a Playstation 3 (which is supposedly one of the best Blu Ray players available) and I’ve bought more than my share of Blu Rays to play in it, so I feel qualified to talk about it (note: whether I feel qualified to discuss something usually never enters into it anyway… just thought you’d want to know that.)
Ok, back to Blu-Ray. Here are the strengths: The picture looks a little better (and in some cases, a lot better.) And some of the new online type features are neat. Those are largely what they are selling you with Blu-Ray.
But there are three annoyances that make me pause when reaching for a Blu-Ray:
Blu-Ray Annoyance #1 – It doesn’t remember where I stopped– Ok, I usually like to watch a movie the whole way through. But it’s not always possible. So I hit stop, and will come back to it later. 9 out of 10 Blu Ray discs have to start over. Seemingly every DVD in my collection can remember where I left off – even after a year or two!! Why can’t Blu-Ray? I honestly don’t care what the reason is – this is a massive fail.
Blu-Ray Annoyance #2 – Blu-Ray’s have VERY inconsistent sound –The explosions (etc) are very loud on most Blu-Rays. And the dialog is painfully low. I have to constantly see-saw the volume level, unless I want to wake up Maryellen (I don’t). This happens regardless of equipment used and/or sound settings. Again, massive fail.
Blu-Ray Annoyance #3 – Too much pre-movie crap– DVD’s used to do this as well, but Blu-Ray’s have taken it to an entirely new level. Can I please just watch the friggen movie????
I can’t believe that untold millions were spent on making Blu-Ray the chosen format of the future, and they missed/ignored these painfully simple things. Things that an inferior technology handled with ease. It’s a marketing/design goof that I would have pointed out in an afternoon.
Before I opened your link fully, I thought “Well they aren’t that big of a difference like there was with DVD and VHS”. Looks like you touched on that.
Here’s the differences I remember.
DVD: Smaller shelf space than VHS tapes.
DVD: More portable.
DVD: More rugged. While I’m careful of scratching the surface, I don’t have to worry about breaking the plastic part or breaking the tape. I left VHS out of the package but DVDs never just lay out. My choice to do that which gives the advantage to DVDs but still…
DVD: Space for extras. VHS usually didn’t have extra features like a director’s commentary, or behind the scenes.
DVD: I can play it on my computer. I’ll buy the player later if needed. (This is when DVD players were more pricey.)
DVD: It looks better. VHS video had a sort of washed out look.
DVD: I can fast forward quicker.
DVD: I can take out images easier (I’m a Photoshopper so sometimes I used images from movies).
With Blu-Ray it comes down to: “Well it LOOKS better then DVD… but not enough for me to buy a player and replace my library.” There just aren’t that many differences for me to speed up my purchase.
That said… I’ll probably get it in the future and repurchase visually pleasing movies. eg. I won’t get Problem Child on Blu-Ray but Lord of the Rings, The Fifth Element, and similar beautiful movies will eventually find their way into my library.
Reasons 1 and 3 are particularly grating to me. I really don’t understand the thinking behind a technology that says “Hey, you know those features that people like? Let’s take them away!” I’ve actually had rabid Blu-ray supporters tell me that if I can’t spare the 90 seconds to skip to the part I want, then I shouldn’t bother watching movies at all.
Reason number 4 would be BD-Live, which Sony and others have spent so much money and effort to promote and implement … and which has been nothing short of a tragic waste of the human spirit.