Physical Media v. Downloadable Services

By: Mohammad Hassan

Posted: 4/28/09

With the recent advancements in technology, faster internet connections and the ability to download almost anything off the internet, the battle between the physical media such as DVDs, Blu-ray Discs and CDs vs. downloadable services such as iTunes is becoming more brutal.

Nonetheless it's a battle which will last for a long time. Both of these formats are competing fiercely for their place in the entertainment world and for consumer attention and their wallets. Not to mention the arrival and popularity of High Definition TVs and Blu-Ray players has also fueled this battle to mega proportions. However, both of these formats have their advantages and drawbacks.

Internet downloading services are becoming a big thing, what with the recent advancements of internet technology and the arrival of popular and reliable downloading services such as Apple's iTunes store. With many movie studios, record companies making deals with iTunes, it has become one of the biggest vendors of music and movie downloads. The service allows the user to purchase a variety of movies, TV shows and music directly to their computer. However, they can only be used on an iPod or can only be played on your computer and cannot be transferred to a blank disc. But perhaps the biggest problem with downloading movies and TV shows is that many people do not have the luxury of time to sit in front of their computer and wait for the movie or the show to be downloaded to their computer. The majority of people like to go to a retail store and buy it on a DVD because it is easy and convenient. Oftentimes, people end up buying individual episodes on the internet which costs consumers more than they would pay at a retail store if they buy the exact same show in a box set.

Another problem with downloadable media lies with the computers themselves. Though with the recent advancements in computer hardware, computers have become much more robust, however, with these economic times average consumers wallet has tightened significantly. Not to mention the constant worries we have about our computers. Computers can crash; they can get viruses and all sorts of things which can damage the computer beyond repair and one can end up losing all those movies and music and TV shows in an instant. So, while downloading has its advantages, it also has its fair share of problems.

Bottom-line, if a consumer wants the most out of a downloading service and likes his or hers computer capable of downloading movies and other form of entertainment at high speed, they have to spend a big amount of money. On the other hand, physical media such as DVDs and CDs don't demand such a high price tag or have you worrying about them getting any sorts of computer viruses. One of the biggest advantages of physical media is that it is very reliable and if handled properly can last a long time. Not to mention the Blu-Ray disk, which recently won as the standard High Definition media of choice, is guaranteed to be even more durable and longer lasting the a standard DVD.

And let's be honest people, computers don't provide the same amount of joy and excitement while watching a movie that a big screen TV does. People like to watch movies and their favorite shows with their family and friends, not sitting in front of their computer, alone. You don't have to wait 4 to 5 hours just so that you can watch a 90-minute movie. Most importantly, a huge number of consumers aren't very tech savvy. If downloading was really the future then movie rental services such as Netflixs and Blockbusters wouldn't be so popular. Downloadable media might be cheaper but it involves a complex and expensive procedure to be fully enjoyed. With a society that never has time; downloadable media still has a long way to go to win consumers' hearts and minds as the de facto choice to get their favorite movies and shows.