Zot! wrote:Right, you guys are being resonable, so I don't want to turn this into another horrible internet argument, but what I think the customer shouldn't have to pay for endlessly is the actual intellectual property. Like when you upgrade software, you are paying for the improvements, so in the world of a film, this would be a new transfer, new raw materials, and new extras, etc. etc. Now if Criterion has to pay new licensing fees to put out a Blu-Ray of a film they don't own, then all bets are off, and that should obviously also be paid for by the customer. I think my complaint is more about major labels who own the films and don't license them, and still make you pay full-price for Gone with the Wind or whatever, which you already own.
You're not paying for the intellectual property. You're paying for the right to personal use of the intellectual property
in its current form. As far as software goes, the same holds. You're paying for the right to access the software in its latest form. The fact that the upgrade costs less than the original package reflects the difference in R&D that went into each. When you buy software you buy a right-to-use license. You never get the underlying code. With a film, you get a copy with specific use restrictions. You don't get the script, o-neg or a 1st generation print.
knives wrote:Simple question that's probably been answered a hundred times before, but will a Blu player play all standard disc regions. For example a Region A player will by default play Region 1, 2, 3, ect.
Depends on the player, unfortunately. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the Oppo BD-83 will come region locked for Blu (without the aftermarket hack) but will be region free for Sd. But the more common brands down at Best Buy like Sony are region locked throughout (though there are firmware and/or hardware hacks for a lot of those.)
I have to say everything I've read about the travails of folks trying to go region free for BD and SD with stand-alone players makes me wonder why more aren't trying the software route with a PC. I'm using a Mac Mini with a Bootcamp partition and I have never had any of the difficulties I've read about here and elsewhere (which could mean my comeuppance is just around the corner, I guess.)