British Comedy Guide

Status report Page 491

Quote: Leevil @ March 5 2009, 1:10 PM GMT

I haven't bought a DVD in ages! Last one might have been last summer and it was an impulse buy 'The Breakfast Club' for a few quid.

Best non-appocalypse appocalypse movie ever.

Quote: Leevil @ March 5 2009, 1:10 PM GMT

Actually, I'm not that big-a-fan of DVDs either. When they first came out, I was impressed and they're still better than a cassette but compare a disc to HDD and it makes DVD look err rubbish?

I'm sticking with DVD. I refuse to upgrade to anything else. It's ridiculous that manufacturers bring out something new and expect us to rebuild our TV and movie collections at considerable expense.

Quote: chipolata @ March 5 2009, 1:12 PM GMT

I'm sticking with DVD. I refuse to upgrade to anything else. It's ridiculous that manufacturers bring out something new and expect us to rebuild our TV and movie collections at considerable expense.

I think we're nearing the end of physical media anyway. Online delivery is the future; I can't see any way around it. I'm sure the studios will still wring every penny they can out of us, but at least I won't have to store 8 zillion discs and boxes any longer.

Quote: chipolata @ March 5 2009, 1:12 PM GMT

I'm sticking with DVD. I refuse to upgrade to anything else. It's ridiculous that manufacturers bring out something new and expect us to rebuild our TV and movie collections at considerable expense.

I agree. I had a ton of VHS, then statred buliding the DVD collection, buying a lot of the stuff I had on VHS again; I really don't want to start up AGAIN for a good long while.

STATUS: Really quite excited.

Ben is going to glug some alcohol tonight.

Quote: Leevil @ March 5 2009, 1:10 PM GMT

Actually, I'm not that big-a-fan of DVDs either. When they first came out, I was impressed and they're still better than a cassette but compare a disc to HDD and it makes DVD look err rubbish?

Well I'm still a fan of DVDs, but yes, generally I'm inclined to agree. One can achieve the exact same quality with lesser file sizes.

I think it's going to be a very long time before we see any real shift though: the HTPC hasn't exactly been a success by any stretch of the imagination.

My vision of the future goes something like this:

The average "television" is a huge, flat device mounted on the wall. It contains several terabytes of internal, solid state drive space for personal file storage. The device is equipped with a very fast (gigabits per second) wireless connection to the Internet and the other devices in the home, including surround sound speakers mounted on the walls/ceilings/floor. There's also a hi-def webcam to enable "you are there" gatherings, interactive gaming, etc.

Everyone pays about a hundred dollars per month for a subscription to a massive library of music, television shows and movies, along with live access to television stations and networks around the world. First-run movies will incur a surcharge.

Well I'm not sure about your subscription model prediction - not in the UK anyway - but I'm sure that the rest (or something very similar) will be available, although probably not common, by 2020.

Quote: DaButt @ March 5 2009, 1:53 PM GMT

My vision of the future goes something like this:

The average "television" is a huge, flat device mounted on the wall. It contains several terabytes of internal, solid state drive space for personal file storage. The device is equipped with a very fast (gigabits per second) wireless connection to the Internet and the other devices in the home, including surround sound speakers mounted on the walls/ceilings/floor. There's also a hi-def webcam to enable "you are there" gatherings, interactive gaming, etc.

Everyone pays about a hundred dollars per month for a subscription to a massive library of music, television shows and movies, along with live access to television stations and networks around the world. First-run movies will incur a surcharge.

Technologically that may be the case, but I can assure that I will not be paying in dollars for anything.

Quote: Rob H @ March 5 2009, 2:07 PM GMT

Technologically that may be the case, but I can assure that I will not be paying in dollars for anything.

I think we'll use bartering in the future. And wear a lot of leather. And fight each other in huge domes whilst bouncing up and down on elastic strings.

Quote: Aaron @ March 5 2009, 2:04 PM GMT

Well I'm not sure about your subscription model prediction - not in the UK anyway - but I'm sure that the rest (or something very similar) will be available, although probably not common, by 2020.

It's mostly available technology, so the manufacturers just need to be convinced to build it. I really can't see any other solution other than the subscription model. We've been slowly moving in that direction for almost 10 years.

Quote: Rob H @ March 5 2009, 2:07 PM GMT

Technologically that may be the case, but I can assure that I will not be paying in dollars for anything.

Did I forget to mention the US-UK War of 2015?

Quote: chipolata @ March 5 2009, 2:09 PM GMT

I think we'll use bartering in the future. And wear a lot of leather. And fight each other in huge domes whilst bouncing up and down on elastic strings.

Ive seen that movie. 101 Dalmatians, wasn't it?

Quote: DaButt @ March 5 2009, 2:10 PM GMT

It's mostly available technology, so the manufacturers just need to be convinced to build it. I really can't see any other solution other than the subscription model. We've been slowly moving in that direction for almost 10 years.

Did I forget to mention the US-UK War of 2015?

I'm confused. If we won, why are we paying in dollars?

Quote: DaButt @ March 5 2009, 2:10 PM GMT

Did I forget to mention the US-UK War of 2015?

We'll win. By then you will have been so dangerously weakened by your gun-hating terrorist-appeasing abortion-loving liberal intelligentsia president that even Luxembourg could take you in a fight.

Quote: DaButt @ March 5 2009, 2:10 PM GMT

It's mostly available technology, so the manufacturers just need to be convinced to build it. I really can't see any other solution other than the subscription model. We've been slowly moving in that direction for almost 10 years.

I dunno about that. Why would I pay £70 (current exchange) a month when I'm currently paying £18 for more channels than I could ever begin to watch (and even then only a fraction of what's available), and the odd one-time spend of a few pounds? And no doubt it'd all have all sorts of nasty DRM (for the first 10 years at least), with constant changes of what's available, rather than a constant catalogue and only ADDITIONS of content.

Having said that, I'd probably pay £200pm if I could get into the F&V TL.

Quote: Rob H @ March 5 2009, 2:17 PM GMT

I'm confused. If we won, why are we paying in dollars?

Quote: chipolata @ March 5 2009, 2:17 PM GMT

We'll win. By then you will have been so dangerously weakened by your gun-hating terrorist-appeasing abortion-loving liberal intelligentsia president that even Luxembourg could take you in a fight.

:D

Quote: Rob H @ March 5 2009, 2:17 PM GMT

Ive seen that movie. 101 Dalmatians, wasn't it?

Nearly. 102 Dalmations.

Quote: Aaron @ March 5 2009, 2:18 PM GMT

I dunno about that. Why would I pay £70 (current exchange) a month when I'm currently paying £18 for more channels than I could ever begin to watch (and even then only a fraction of what's available), and the odd one-time spend of a few pounds? And no doubt it'd all have all sorts of nasty DRM (for the first 10 years at least), with constant changes of what's available, rather than a constant catalogue and only ADDITIONS of content.

Having said that, I'd probably pay £200pm if I could get into the F&V TL.

My price point was a rough approximation of what the average household spends on cable/satellite TV, CDs, DVDs, etc. Such a system would only work if unencumbered by DRM and held access to a HUGE library of material. Think access to the entire iTunes/Amazon/Netflix archives PLUS MORE.

P.S. Think I'm kidding about the war? Obama just fired the opening salvo when he snubbed your PM. ;)

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