Looks like Blockbuster is done

[j_garcia]

While I wasn't really a fan of them, it is never a good thing to see a chain close down.

(Reuters) - Dish Network said on Wednesday it will close all 300 or so retail locations of the Blockbuster video rental chain by January, closing a chapter on a brand that failed to compete in the digital world.

Dish plans to lay off as many as 2,800 employees.


....Dish said will end the DVD by mail service but keep its streaming service "Blockbuster @Home" running.

Dish Network to close all Blockbuster stores, lay off 2,800 - Yahoo Finance

 

[fuzz092888]

I heard this on the radio this morning. It's a shame they couldn't get their stuff together and update with the times. While I wasn't a fan of them either, less competition and fewer options is almost always going to be a bad thing.

 

[darien87]

I was a fan of BB. It was great to be able to get discs in the mail and then exchange them in the store for another movie instantly. But after they closed the last store in my area I went back to Netflix. Lame.

I just don't get why everybody wants streaming. I guess it's ok for things like watching TV shows or a comedy or something but if I'm going to watch a movie I want the best picture and sound I can get. I also hate the couple of seconds lag you get when trying to FF or Rewind. What's the big deal with waiting for a disc in the mail?

Until they can stream BD quality picture and sound with no lag streaming isn't for me.

 

[j_garcia]

Netflix streams BD quality 1080p right now (they call it "SuperHD" lol, but it is just 1080p). It is just the audio that isn't there at this point. For half the stuff I watch on there, I don't need a 1080p stream anyway. When I want the full experience, I buy it or rent it on BD, though I haven't been buying many discs. Another buddy of mine is the same as you Darien, he dropped Netflix streaming and gets discs only. I didn't mind getting the discs in the mail, but the streaming is even simpler. If I don't like something, just stop and watch something else without having to send the disc back and wait or go to the store to exchange it. The selection still isn't as good as the disc selection though.

FYI, they also now stream 3D and it looks pretty good to be honest.

 

[fuzz092888]

Vudu has great audio and video quality for the top level rentals, but you're going to pay an arms and a leg for it and you have to have fast enough Internet. I tried it one time, and the quality was great, for those prices you can just go to eBay and buy the BD.

 

[Midwesthonky]

I was a fan of BB. It was great to be able to get discs in the mail and then exchange them in the store for another movie instantly. But after they closed the last store in my area I went back to Netflix. Lame.

I just don't get why everybody wants streaming. I guess it's ok for things like watching TV shows or a comedy or something but if I'm going to watch a movie I want the best picture and sound I can get. I also hate the couple of seconds lag you get when trying to FF or Rewind. What's the big deal with waiting for a disc in the mail?

Until they can stream BD quality picture and sound with no lag streaming isn't for me.

I think for many people today, it's about the instant gratification. With streaming, you can decide to watch a movie and BOOM! you are watching it 30 seconds later. I mean, who can't wait for the 10 minute drive to BB and back to watch a movie? That is sooooo.... 1990's.

If I'm on a treadmill in the basement, I'll stream because I'm keeping me occupied while I walk mindlessly. For quality, I'll either DVR off of DirecTV or go blu-ray. But it seems so many people don't care about quality anymore and just want instant gratification.

Well, I guess that leaves the good stuff for the rest of us and not the masses.

 

[BMXTRIX]

So where the heck can we get old movies on BD with the highest quality audio and video now? We've got to buy everything? I mean, not only is Netflix 1080p a pale comparison to BD 1080p, but the choices are limited to the contracts they have setup, which has no bearing on what I may actually want to watch.

Really sucks. I've been a fan of BB for years, and it's the apathy and willingness to accept a limited viewing scenario combined with very poor management which has led us down this pathway.

I'm bummed.

 

[Hocky]

Netflix streams BD quality 1080p right now (they call it "SuperHD" lol, but it is just 1080p). It is just the audio that isn't there at this point. For half the stuff I watch on there, I don't need a 1080p stream anyway. When I want the full experience, I buy it or rent it on BD, though I haven't been buying many discs. Another buddy of mine is the same as you Darien, he dropped Netflix streaming and gets discs only. I didn't mind getting the discs in the mail, but the streaming is even simpler. If I don't like something, just stop and watch something else without having to send the disc back and wait or go to the store to exchange it. The selection still isn't as good as the disc selection though.

FYI, they also now stream 3D and it looks pretty good to be honest.

Netflix is not streaming bluray quality video. 1080p doesn't mean anything. I could output a 1080p signal with any actual resolution that I want. Internet bandwidth required to stream true BD quality is not there.

 

[Irvrobinson]

Netflix is not streaming bluray quality video. 1080p doesn't mean anything. I could output a 1080p signal with any actual resolution that I want. Internet bandwidth required to stream true BD quality is not there.

I completely agree. Netflix 1080p doesn't have the resolution I get playing DVDs on my cheap Sony BD player, either does Amazon or Vudu. I'm not really into video, but if I was I'd still be buying Bluerays.

 

[j_garcia]

So where the heck can we get old movies on BD with the highest quality audio and video now? We've got to buy everything? I mean, not only is Netflix 1080p a pale comparison to BD 1080p, but the choices are limited to the contracts they have setup, which has no bearing on what I may actually want to watch.

Really sucks. I've been a fan of BB for years, and it's the apathy and willingness to accept a limited viewing scenario combined with very poor management which has led us down this pathway.

I'm bummed.

Netflix is not streaming bluray quality video. 1080p doesn't mean anything. I could output a 1080p signal with any actual resolution that I want. Internet bandwidth required to stream true BD quality is not there.

If you have good speed, which I do via Comcast, the 1080p stream looks pretty darn good. NOT 100% comparable to Blu-ray, but pretty darn close at this point IMO. What they previously called "HD" was actually 1080i or 720p, but Super HD is a noticeable improvement over their old HD stream on a fast connection AND a decent streamer. The media quality is a factor as well, not all material looks the same just like DVD, BD, etc...

As I noted, they are also streaming 3D right now, and to be honest, it looks nearly identical in quality to BD to my eyes for a good program. Unfortunately, they seem to have a lot of crap on there just to get people to try it, so not all of it is going to look great I will guess.

 

[Nestor]

I was a fan of BB. It was great to be able to get discs in the mail and then exchange them in the store for another movie instantly. But after they closed the last store in my area I went back to Netflix. Lame.

I just don't get why everybody wants streaming. I guess it's ok for things like watching TV shows or a comedy or something but if I'm going to watch a movie I want the best picture and sound I can get. I also hate the couple of seconds lag you get when trying to FF or Rewind. What's the big deal with waiting for a disc in the mail?

Until they can stream BD quality picture and sound with no lag streaming isn't for me.

Convenience trumps fidelity. Witness the rise of mp3 and the fall of record stores.

Personally, I rent BD from the local video store. I order the occasional movie from my local cable co., but their HD selection is spotty, unless one wants adult movies. I'm no prude, but does it have to take up that much of the HD pay per view programming?

The audio from PPV is also compressed, as compared to BD.

 

[panteragstk]

I've had netflix since the beginning and I love it. I loved going to blockbuster to get new release movies I wanted to see NOW because it was literally across the street from me. Now, I don't even know where one is to get a movie.

Funny thing is (IIRC) blockbuster had a chance to buy netflix and didn't.

 

[gholt]

Dang. I forgot to cancel my by mail last night. It renewed today, and I can't exchange any more movies with the store. So, looks like they get another $20.

 

[darien87]

So where the heck can we get old movies on BD with the highest quality audio and video now? We've got to buy everything? I mean, not only is Netflix 1080p a pale comparison to BD 1080p, but the choices are limited to the contracts they have setup, which has no bearing on what I may actually want to watch.

For now looks like your only option is to rent the discs from Netflix or Redbox.

 

[j_garcia]

For now looks like your only option is to rent the discs from Netflix or Redbox.

Redbox doesn't have old movies. They have what is in the box. Netflix has a good selection of older ones at least.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

I actually dropped my movie watching by 80% when our local BB went out of business. There is just something I liked about going to the store and looking and touching the videos. Heck, maybe I'm old school, I like books and magazines too.

We use Vudu now but it's just not the same.