Why Apple hasn't put a bluray or hd-dvd player in their computers

[Rooney]

As a long time Mac user (at home) and a PC (XP) user at work, my concerns with the downloadable formats are:
1. The lack of physical media means that in case of drive/Apple TV failure, you are left with nothing.
2. Constraints are placed on when you can start viewing a movie from the time of download and also once you start watching.
3. Cannot collect movies.
4. You have to pay for each viewing - this is a paradigm shift from the home viewing experience and one I personally do not want to stomach. What's next? Pay each time you hear a piece of music? (as opposed to a one time purchase of intellectual property after which you can listen/watch at your convenience as many times as you want).

This sounds exactly like the DIVX format proposed by Circuit City in the early days of DVD. I felt then that it was not an ideal solution (at least for me) then and I still feel the same. If you could have downloadable movies that you could somehow archive and watch WHEN YOU WANTED TO, I would fully support it.

Thanks for allowing me to rant!
Regards
Rooney

[prerich]

Originally Posted by Lotus

Played on line is one thing, but downloading the games as the only way to get the game?

No-Drive is cool looking and very rebelious but makes it impossible for me to get games. That is bad. However it being a Mac makes it almost just as hard to get games.

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[prerich]

Originally Posted by Rooney

As a long time Mac user (at home) and a PC (XP) user at work, my concerns with the downloadable formats are:
1. The lack of physical media means that in case of drive/Apple TV failure, you are left with nothing.
2. Constraints are placed on when you can start viewing a movie from the time of download and also once you start watching.
3. Cannot collect movies.
4. You have to pay for each viewing - this is a paradigm shift from the home viewing experience and one I personally do not want to stomach. What's next? Pay each time you hear a piece of music? (as opposed to a one time purchase of intellectual property after which you can listen/watch at your convenience as many times as you want).

This sounds exactly like the DIVX format proposed by Circuit City in the early days of DVD. I felt then that it was not an ideal solution (at least for me) then and I still feel the same. If you could have downloadable movies that you could somehow archive and watch WHEN YOU WANTED TO, I would fully support it.

Thanks for allowing me to rant!
Regards
Rooney

The option to buy will come. And I believe they will archive your account information on a place other than your hdd. It's coming - believe me.

[Lotus]

Originally Posted by rlpiii

I have to use it for real work, and do not need something that locks up and crashes regularly.

I own multiple Falcon NorthWest computers (PCs) and they lock up/crash about once a month if that. There is definately something to be said about a quality built PC over say Dell or HP. I'd also say it's never locked up while "working," but while playing poorly coded games.

I also fully believe in keeping my system clean of un-needed programs running in the background.

Also locking up and crashing is not a PC only symptom. My sister complains regularly about her Macs doing the same thing before she just goes out and buys a new one. She get a new Mac about every 12 to 18 months. I've got an 8 year old Falcon that still runs strong and rarely if ever crashes.

I fully believe both systems are likely just as stable as the other. It's what you do with it and allow to run on it that changes that.

[Lotus]

Originally Posted by Rooney

As a long time Mac user (at home) and a PC (XP) user at work, my concerns with the downloadable formats are:
1. The lack of physical media means that in case of drive/Apple TV failure, you are left with nothing.
2. Constraints are placed on when you can start viewing a movie from the time of download and also once you start watching.
3. Cannot collect movies.
4. You have to pay for each viewing - this is a paradigm shift from the home viewing experience and one I personally do not want to stomach. What's next? Pay each time you hear a piece of music? (as opposed to a one time purchase of intellectual property after which you can listen/watch at your convenience as many times as you want).

This sounds exactly like the DIVX format proposed by Circuit City in the early days of DVD. I felt then that it was not an ideal solution (at least for me) then and I still feel the same. If you could have downloadable movies that you could somehow archive and watch WHEN YOU WANTED TO, I would fully support it.

Thanks for allowing me to rant!
Regards
Rooney

Rooney,

I believe this is to battle NetFlix's downloadable movie content. This is not to battle the LIVE Marketplace or others. It's a renting service pure and simple. A Marketplace like service is also available but without full studio support.

[rlpiii]

Originally Posted by Lotus

I own multiple Falcon NorthWest computers (PCs) and they lock up/crash about once a month if that. There is definately something to be said about a quality built PC over say Dell or HP. I'd also say it's never locked up while "working," but while playing poorly coded games.

I also fully believe in keeping my system clean of un-needed programs running in the background.

Also locking up and crashing is not a PC only symptom. My sister complains regularly about her Macs doing the same thing before she just goes out and buys a new one. She get a new Mac about every 12 to 18 months. I've got an 8 year old Falcon that still runs strong and rarely if ever crashes.

I fully believe both systems are likely just as stable as the other. It's what you do with it and allow to run on it that changes that.

I did not mean to imply macs do not have any problems. I'm just saying they are much less problematic than PCs. My macs have had lock-ups too, just not every few days or every week. Lately, Time Machine has been the culprit for locking things up on my macs. Also, I was just tired of spending lots of time fighting with PCs - trying to get them working on a network, and constantly fighting off viruses.