Should I buy an iMac now?

[PatriotInvasion]

While replacement of optical discs likely will occur, it won't for 10 or more years. You'll never see the Studios shipping content on flash media because it cannot be pressed, thus production costs for such would skyrocket.



I doubt it. The ISPs will want to get your money for the bandwidth. The cost of that will be added onto the cost of the purchased download. In addition, the Studios aren't too keen on such delivery because it takes the content out of their hands (to an intermediary). They don't like the iTunes Store, but they are biding their time until they can come up with something they can control.


That may be, but it will be with us for a decade or more. There is nothing on the horizon to replace it.

Even with all of that said - Would people here really watch Blu-Ray's on their iMac consistently over a 40"+ TV in their own living room? It's a "nice to have" but certainly not a "must have" to determine whether you should buy an iMac.

 

[PatriotInvasion]

Also, with cable OnDemand services - how often to people even rent Blu Rays let alone buy them?

$25-$35 for a disc I'll watch 1-3 times maybe ever is too much.

 

[wirelessness]

Physical Media is so 2007.

That may be, but it will be with us for a decade or more. There is nothing on the horizon to replace it.

Are you serious? It's already in the process of becoming obsolete technology. Look at the current success of Netflix for example!!! Blockbuster...the King of physical media is slated to go bankrupt and cease to exist within a years time. The increasing popularity of portable media players and high speed broadband to the home is only making the need for physical media even smaller. Not to mention the cost of actually buying a Blu-Ray movie disc vs. buying an electronic copy or renting an online version is a huge contributing factor to the utter failure of Blue-Ray to take off.

Sure, it will be around for a long time in one form or another and some people will need Blue-Ray discs more than others but it will never be the primary way people rent or own movies the way DVD's were. Even PC games are starting to dispense with using physical media as an option for game owners. Almost all applications are going that way too.

The last thing I would hold off on buying any computer for is a waste of space and money Blue-Ray disc burner/player. I wish the current iMac dispensed with the needless Multi-Drive and provided an eSata port or 2.5" drive bay....that would be something to hold of buying an iMac for.

 

[Cave Man]

Even with all of that said - Would people here really watch Blu-Ray's on their iMac consistently over a 40"+ TV in their own living room? It's a "nice to have" but certainly not a "must have" to determine whether you should buy an iMac.

No, I don't think most people would watch Blu-rays (or other movies) on their iMacs or other computers, unless they're traveling. The exception is those of us who use computer-based media systems. Mine is a 1080p projector, 10 foot-wide screen and a 5.1 Dolby Digital/DTS system. But I'm in the minority.

Are you serious? It's already in the process of becoming obsolete technology. Look at the current success of Netflix for example!!!

You're kidding, right? Netflix ISP distribution is junk compared to Blu-ray (yes, I have a Netflix account and I never use the digital downloads, only their Blu-ray service). Optical media are here for the long haul because the Studios like it. They have absolute control over its distribution and the ability to dictate to Blu-ray drive manufacturers how the drives must perform and function. It's about control of the content. Optical media is in their best interest.

 

[wirelessness]

Most people are perfectly happy with Pay-Per View or Netflix. Is the quality as good as a physical disc? No, but that doesn't make that much difference to the masses. The iMac is not really a HTPC type of device anyway, we are in the iMac forum right? It would be nice if Apple would make OSX play nice with external BD devices so you could use a Mini as an HTPC more effectively but I wouldn't want a BD drive in my iMac at the expense of having an extra SATA drive or eSata port.

Studios can try to control the physical media all they want. It's a proven fact that people will take portability and convenience over having the 'Pure' Physical Format almost every time.

 

[Cave Man]

Most people are perfectly happy with Pay-Per View or Netflix. Is the quality as good as a physical disc? No, but that doesn't make that much difference to the masses.

It's not even DVD quality.

The iMac is not really a HTPC type of device anyway, we are in the iMac forum right?

The OP asked about Blu-ray for his iMac. There are some people who use the video out port on their iMacs to connect to their HD TVs or projectors.

Studios can try to control the physical media all they want. It's a proven fact that people will take portability and convenience over having the 'Pure' Physical Format almost every time.

And that's why many studios are providing digital copies on their Blu-ray discs - so people can use those without cracking their Blu-ray encryption. But you still have to activate that copy online.