Downloading Movies

[JediKnightButler]

I was just wondering how many people here download movies (i.e. iTunes, Amazon Unbox) and how often and wanted to know if this is becoming more popular or if people are generally eschewing downloading movies in favor of shorter programs (i.e. TV shows)?
I have yet to download any movies myself mostly because when I watch movies I tend to enjoy them more when they are on DVD/Blu-Ray and I can put them on my home theater system and, frankly, I don't go on long trips often, so I can't really think of a time when I've actually wanted to sit down and watch my iPhone for that long. I DO like being able to download selected TV episodes since I can't usually afford season sets and tend to skip around a lot on some series (i.e. ATHF, Family Guy, etc.). Also, the price of movie downloads, while generally lower on some of the older titles doesn't seem to be very competitive with DVD prices (as they stand now) although I do like that some home video distributors are releasing "Digital copies" with an increasing amount of their newer titles basically giving you two ways to enjoy a movie for the price of one.
What does everybody else think about movie downloads?

 

[Mike Farley]

I download the occasional TV episode if I miss it when it's aired. Movies not so much. Although if I spent more time traveling I probably would. It would certainly be easier than carting around a bunch of physical discs. And my 17 inch laptop is just fine for viewing purposes.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

I don't download either. I would, if I could burn them to a DVD and play them on my TV. I just dislike viewing anything longer than 10 minutes or so on my PC.

 

[Chess Piece Face]

I've rented (or purchased) and downloaded both standard and hi-def movies and TV episodes from iTunes to my AppleTV. I've also Netflixed Blu-Rays to play on the PS3. And i've ripped DVDs for the AppleTV and PS3. Also, I've used the "watch now" feature of Netflix on my computer and I have also used Hulu on my TV via PS3 and on my comp.

It's all good. It's a great time to be a fan of visual storytelling.

Out of all that, I've only rented twice from the video store in the last year.

 

[Kimi3013]

I don't download either. I would, if I could burn them to a DVD and play them on my TV. I just dislike viewing anything longer than 10 minutes or so on my PC.

Then plug a computer into you TV.

 

[Chess Piece Face]

I don't download either. I would, if I could burn them to a DVD and play them on my TV. I just dislike viewing anything longer than 10 minutes or so on my PC.

For 229 bucks get an appletv. It's just like a "movie ipod" that sits on top of your tv and streams anything you download to your big screen from your comp. (or you can rent stuff directly from it like how you rent movies from your cable system) It's easy to use and it's works like a charm.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

I don't download either. I would, if I could burn them to a DVD and play them on my TV. I just dislike viewing anything longer than 10 minutes or so on my PC.

Then plug a computer into you TV.

That would require me to be far more organized and less lazy than is actually the case.

For 229 bucks get an appletv.

Ouch! For zero bucks, I keep doing what I've been doing all along. Let's see, which option is the more attractive one?

I have nothing against downloading movies and TV shows, I just expect it to be a) fall-off-a-log easy and b) free.

 

[Small White Car]

I've rented a movie once on my Apple TV. As an alternative to driving to Blockbuster, it was about 100x better.

But mostly I'm sticking with Netflix. Downloading online is nice for an emergency situation where you didn't plan ahead, but that's the only situation I see myself using it. I imagine I'll do it about 3-4 times this year, but I'll be doing about 40 movies from Netflix in that same time period.

EDIT: Forgot this one: We took a flight last week. The night before we downloaded an 'Elmo' movie to the iPod for our young'en to watch on the plane. It was 11 PM so that wouldn't have happened any other way. Great idea, too. She didn't make a sound on the plane.

 

[paudemge]

If you have an xbox 360 or ps3 (or even wii i think via web) you might be able to us tversity or some other media software to freely stream video from your pc to xbox then tv.

But i've not bought into the download movie craze yet, i like to have it on a physical media, even if i'm only renting it. I use blockbuster, so i get movies in the mail and can drive the 5 minutes to the store to swap them out if i need a change right now.

 

[CommodoreKong]

I would much rather have TV shows and movies on DVD, so I don't bother with downloadable versions unless they're free.

 

[Small White Car]

I would much rather have TV shows and movies on DVD, so I don't bother with downloadable versions unless they're free.

The only thing that keeps me from buying movies online is the restrictive DRM they have. For renting, that's fine, but for owning it's too big of a problem.

But I have to say, that's the ONLY reason. If it weren't for that I'd ditch DVDs and download everything.

 

[Candlelight]

I download episodes but not movies, and my computer hooks up to my 37" TV via the VGA port.

I haven't been to the movies in 9 months. Not really big on what comes out these days.

 

[JonathonWally]

If you have an xbox 360 or ps3 (or even wii i think via web) you might be able to us tversity or some other media software to freely stream video from your pc to xbox then tv.

But i've not bought into the download movie craze yet, i like to have it on a physical media, even if i'm only renting it. I use blockbuster, so i get movies in the mail and can drive the 5 minutes to the store to swap them out if i need a change right now.

You can now stream netflix movies on your 360 thanks to november's update.

 

[zakkrusz]

I'd rather have a hard copy instead of digital ones for movies, personally because I have a big screen TV and a surround sound system to take full advantage of them. Also ITunes video player is incredibly glitchy. I do use ITunes for music though.

 

[TrekNut87]

I prefer to have hard copies. There's just something about physically owning a show or movie that I really like. I'm also somewhat of a collector so I like buying things so I can beef up my collection. I only download things when I can't find them anywhere.

 

[TheBrew]

I've done both. Hooking up my laptop to my TV is really easy. Hell, I save money because I get Netflix instead of a cable bill.

 

[Davros]

I'll stream a movie and if I like it, I buy a copy.

 

[zakkrusz]

I prefer to have hard copies. There's just something about physically owning a show or movie that I really like. I'm also somewhat of a collector so I like buying things so I can beef up my collection. I only download things when I can't find them anywhere.

Hmm...yes that's a good point, I'm a DVD collector and I'd definitely agee it gives you more of a sense of acomplishment to have something physical. I don't download any TV shows or movies unless they're out of print or not available for purchase here in the US.