I'm sorry my friend, but Apple has not denied you of any of your rights.
Cry me a river...
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Dear Apple, WHY NO BLU RAY in the new Macs!?!?! ARGH!
- Thread starter msmth928
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I'm sorry my friend, but Apple has not denied you of any of your rights.
Cry me a river...
Well look at it this way, when they first introduced the Super Drive with DVD-R that crap was expensive compared to other companies, and it took them FOREVER to make DVD-R standard in all of the macs. DVD was also much more popular, demanded, and cheaper to create. In comparison, if a Blu-Ray reader/writer came out that would probably take at least $250 to the cost of any mac, something Apple wouldn't want in focusing more on getting cost down. Also why would they want you to buy Blu-Rays? You got iTunes that's all they care about.
Downloadable movies from iTunes are 720p, not 1080p. And resolution isn't half of it. The movies are compressed and compression artifacts are visible. If Apple upped the res to 1080p all it would do is make the compression artificacts even more obvious.l
But what idiot would use the same bitrate for 1080p as 720p? artifacts would be less obvious as it would be going closer to the source IMO.
If Apple introduce in-built Blu-ray drives in future revisions of the iMac then could you just purchase an external Blu-ray burner/player using USB2 or Firewire 800 to enjoy Blu-ray playback on this current crop of iMacs? Only asking as I was unsure due to all the HDCP / DRM associated with the Blu-ray format.
HDCP checks are done on three devices: the source drive, video card and display. If any of those are non-compliant, you won't get playback. (The studios have not encoded HDCP on many of their titles because of all the issues with this chain check.) But all the current Macs should be fine for HDCP. The only other issue is encryption.
think ive seen one.. the poll i want to see is how many people with blu ray players in their pc's use it.
I did (use the Blu-ray) until I sold it because it was a PC and I wanted a new Mac. I also got tired of carrying both mac and pc laptops everywhere just so I could game and watch my blu-ray movies at the hotel (Hyatt Place is awesome with 42" LCD in every room and HDMI connections readily presented).
I found a $89 external player and as soon as it arrives I will see if it works with bootcamp.
Cheers,
Should do,and if it doesn't use AnyDVD HD to remove the DRM so you can watch it anyway
Nothing is stopping you from getting an external Blu-ray drive and use it for Data burning.... (You can even rip movies and watch them that way)
Steve thinks 720p downloads with lossy audio are good enough so blu-ray drives aren't necessary. He's wrong, that's not in any way comparable to the quality of a 1080p/Dolby TrueHD Lossless version on Blu-ray. Physical discs aren't going away either. Most people don't have media servers to replace a Blu-ray player, Blu-ray players are cheap, ISP bandwidth caps prevent heavy 720p video downloading, and the disc itself serves as a rather robust back medium. BDs don't crash, resist a wide variance of temperature and humidity, and can't be accidentally erased. In my opinion the issue of backups is a too-often ignored issue when talking about downloadable media.
Just like how he 'thought' people wouldn't use video on their iPods, he doesn't really believe 720p is good enough either.
They are looking at how to distribute 1080p video as well as possible via IP.
Why support blu-ray? I don't want optical media. I have a PS3 but the only discs I have ever put in it are games, because I'd sooner download my video content. I much prefer having my video playable on all of my devices than just one.
When this cloud based iTunes comes about, maybe the issues of backups will go away. But the first thing I tell my family and friends to do when they get a new pc or laptop is to get as big an external drive as possible to backup their data.
Hard disks (and media servers) are less prone to being scratched up by toddlers and rendered unusable.
They are looking at how to distribute 1080p video as well as possible via IP.
Why support blu-ray? I don't want optical media. I have a PS3 but the only discs I have ever put in it are games, because I'd sooner download my video content. I much prefer having my video playable on all of my devices than just one.
When this cloud based iTunes comes about, maybe the issues of backups will go away. But the first thing I tell my family and friends to do when they get a new pc or laptop is to get as big an external drive as possible to backup their data.
Hard disks (and media servers) are less prone to being scratched up by toddlers and rendered unusable.
I have no idea what he really believes, I just go by what he says.
I suggest you compare the data rates. 1080p over IP is a lot lower quality than what you'll get on a BD. It has to be, it's simply impossible to stream a BD-quality video plus 5-channel lossless audio on anything like current consumer broadband. The broadcast 1080p you see is also overcompressed. Turning a 50GB BD into a 5GB downloadable stream isn't my idea of a comparable offering. For people like Steve to suggest it's a reasonable alternative is, quite frankly, insulting.
The whole point of moving to downloaded content is to stop that and force you to pay for every device you play it on, to stop you from getting any money back by selling it, to stop you from lending it to your friends, and to force your buyer to buy new content from them rather than second-hand from you. You own nothing and have no rights they can't revoke at any time. Never forget that's the goal of the major studios.
Who lets toddlers handle their media? High shelves usually solve that problem, as does adequate parental attention.
When I first purchased my IMac 2 years ago, my thought was that Apple would pay attention to multi-media technologies and incorporate new and popular formats. Since then Blu-Ray has become a standard and very popular format. Why for goodness sake is Apple denying this? Is ther some compelling reason they refuse to incorprate Blu-Ray technology. Why are all the latest and popular movies being sold in the Blu-Ray format then? Why are classic movies being re-released on Blu-Ray. Does Apple want to dictate that DVD is better and has something against Blu-Ray? Blu-Rays can play DVDs so a Blu-Ray drive would offer the consumer the current legacy format (DVD) and the current standard for HD (Blu-Ray). Apple is basically refusing to offer what currently is the standard format for HD then.
A simple solution would be to purchase an external Blu-Ray drive. But for the consumer, this is a more expensive option. Apple is able to buy OEM components for their IMacs and economy of scales would basically even out costs or just be slightly higher than the DVD drives which are in IMacs currently.
I like what Apple is doing with their processors and graphics but for heavens sake the DVD based Super Drive is 10 year old technology integrated along the latest processors and graphics chips!
The only thing I can think of is that Blu-Ray hardware is a Sony creation and Apple refuses to incorporate the format because of that (I'm sure that has been mentioned on this forum before somewhere). Or as stated before, Apple wants you to purchase their movie downloads. It would be nice to rip your own Blu-Rays on an IMac.
As much as I like my IMac, I am not going get rid of the Blu-Ray (Sony PS3) based Home theater stuff just to incorporate Apple hardware. I wanted IPhone but I was not willing to move to AT&T from T-Mobile because AT&T was unable to match my unlimited data plan with T-Mobile as well as pay the additional costs of discontinuing my current plan with t-Mobile and paying more money to purchase a unlocked/jailbroken IPhone. I am doing very fine with my Samsung Vibrant.
I know all you Apple Fanboys will disagree with me, but like the IPhone being locked to AT&T (rumors say otherwise but as always rumors are rumors), Apple is again making an error by refusing to incorporate Blu-Ray.
A simple solution would be to purchase an external Blu-Ray drive. But for the consumer, this is a more expensive option. Apple is able to buy OEM components for their IMacs and economy of scales would basically even out costs or just be slightly higher than the DVD drives which are in IMacs currently.
I like what Apple is doing with their processors and graphics but for heavens sake the DVD based Super Drive is 10 year old technology integrated along the latest processors and graphics chips!
The only thing I can think of is that Blu-Ray hardware is a Sony creation and Apple refuses to incorporate the format because of that (I'm sure that has been mentioned on this forum before somewhere). Or as stated before, Apple wants you to purchase their movie downloads. It would be nice to rip your own Blu-Rays on an IMac.
As much as I like my IMac, I am not going get rid of the Blu-Ray (Sony PS3) based Home theater stuff just to incorporate Apple hardware. I wanted IPhone but I was not willing to move to AT&T from T-Mobile because AT&T was unable to match my unlimited data plan with T-Mobile as well as pay the additional costs of discontinuing my current plan with t-Mobile and paying more money to purchase a unlocked/jailbroken IPhone. I am doing very fine with my Samsung Vibrant.
I know all you Apple Fanboys will disagree with me, but like the IPhone being locked to AT&T (rumors say otherwise but as always rumors are rumors), Apple is again making an error by refusing to incorporate Blu-Ray.
You have to incorporate blu-ray decode process within ring 0 of the OS kernel. Adding code down there is a good way to compromise the system since a loop/crash there can't be recovered well.
I am sure that there are coding issues that will need to be solved to incorporate Blu-Ray. But where talking Apple here, the folks who revolutionized the smartphone, the folks who got the world out of command line DOS and got everyone using the computer mouse. I am sure that they can resolve this coding issue. I have faith that Apple can. Seems Dell can.
The Blu-ray has been out for over 4 years and is an industry standard format, its time that its incorporated in the IMac despite what some people say about download based HD video being a better solution.
Just as some people may be bypassing the IPhone for Android phones because they are unwilling to switch carriers and deal with higher cost/limited bandwidth plans with At&T they will find other solutions if they cannot incorporate Blu-Ray into their computing/entertainment needs.
I consider Apple a premium brand. As a premium brand, it should incorporate standard formats and if anything do it better. Blu-Ray has been out for over 4 years. It is appaling that it has not been incorporated in Apple hardware.
Apple cannot compel the Blu-Ray Disc Association to change their lisencing terms. They insist on highly invasive code in the OS to protect their content (which is silly since it's already been defeated) and Apple won't let that happen. Dell has nothing to do with this story.
I'm really beginning to despise Apple.
Oh how the new iMacs are so cool with 1080p display YET THEY DON'T HAVE A BLU RAY DRIVE!
It's not about blu ray drives being expensive it's about Apple wanting to push their inferior download service on us. Argh!
Apple = bag of hurt.
/Rant over.
Anyone else feel the same?
For the one millionth time, they do NOT want blu-ray on Macs to compete against iTunes downloads. Accept it or get a different computer. END OF STORY!
Apple makes very little money off iTunes video sales and it's doubtful the lack of a BR drive does anything to increase their video sales. Who buys a $20-$30 BR, realizes they can't watch it on their Mac, and instead buys it off iTunes? Who wants a movie and says gee -- I'd rather buy this off iTunes instead of playing it on my 60" 1080P TV with a $99 BluRay player connected to it. Doesn't make sense at all.
I think they just realize few people actually want to watch BR movies on their computer. Spending $X per computer to enable it (software/hardware) doesn't make much sense. It won't increase Mac sales much. It's just flushing money down the toilet.
Apple fanboys are so dellusional they will defend apple to the end it's almost cultlike
The other posters said it right it's all about money, bluray is the HD STANDARD all video content in the US requires local and cable channels to use this format.Every major computer manufacturer also offers a bluray drive option however apple refuses to accept this instead they are to busy milking every dime from there customers with INFERIOR hd downloads that are so compressed only a blind man cannot see the difference, but then again the fanboys don't own any blurays disk so how can they tell what apple is pushing with there download service is trash....makes perfect sense
The other posters said it right it's all about money, bluray is the HD STANDARD all video content in the US requires local and cable channels to use this format.Every major computer manufacturer also offers a bluray drive option however apple refuses to accept this instead they are to busy milking every dime from there customers with INFERIOR hd downloads that are so compressed only a blind man cannot see the difference, but then again the fanboys don't own any blurays disk so how can they tell what apple is pushing with there download service is trash....makes perfect sense