Comments on: Sony Cutting Back on UMD Movies for PSP

By: ChrisP

ChrisP — Sun, 19 Feb 2006 15:41:52 +0000

If they package a UMD with a DVD like Matt stated, then I’m all for it.

By: Matt Adcock

Matt Adcock — Sun, 19 Feb 2006 11:13:54 +0000

guys…

I love watching films on my PSP – I make no apologies for it. With headphones and the crystal clear widescreen it delivers a very different but very satisfying movie experience. I’ve noticed little details that I hadn’t picked up on the big screen – it kind of gives you a ‘macro’ overview of the film.

If you read the latest news coming out of Sony – they have begun production of double packs – DVD + UMD for $2 above the regular DVD price… double your pleasure!!

Finally the announcement that the PSP will get a TV hookup means that a UMD will be viewable on your TV / projector and the player will fit in you pocket which will be handy.

Everybody to their own I say but as of all the best experiences in life “don’t knock it till you’ve tried it!!”

peace

By: Wolf

Wolf — Sat, 18 Feb 2006 18:20:37 +0000

Whats the point of watching a movie on a small tiny screen? Jebus Christ on a bike, when I watch a movie I want it on a HUGE screen with surround sound blowing me away. I know someone who has a psp and he was watching HellBoy and I could not understand how someone could what it on that screen. I hate UMD and to be honest I’m not liking the sound of HDVD or BLUERAY either. Maybe in 10 years bring out HDVD and all that crap. I mean DVD’s have only been out for about 7 years now. Then with BLUERAY and HDVD everything will be confusing.

By: hardcle

hardcle — Sat, 18 Feb 2006 02:27:23 +0000

I think you’re jumping to the wrong conclusion here. It’s not that people don’t want to watch video on a portable device. Look at iTunes, they’ve sold over 12 million videos already. It’s just that people don’t want to pay the same price as a DVD for something they can only view on their portable device. Especially when they can rip the DVD and copy it to a portable device and have the option of watching it wherever and whenever they want.

By: Jose

Jose — Sat, 18 Feb 2006 00:02:08 +0000

Exactly. I’m a PSP owner and I love the device, but I’m not going to watch movies on it. It’s a hand held gaming device first and foremost. The only time I will ever buy a UMD is if each one is about $5.00 each. Otherwise, I’m still buying DVD’s.

By: darren seeley

darren seeley — Fri, 17 Feb 2006 20:24:45 +0000

One of the biggest problems with the UMD/PSP format is all too obvious: there can be more content on DVDs, the aspect ratio for 1:85 and 2:35/40 is all equal at 1:77. This means that there is a good percentage of a film that is cropped off. The cost for UMD/PSP is about the same for DVDs.

Not much more to think about.

By: Sean

Sean — Fri, 17 Feb 2006 20:18:28 +0000

This is interesting because I thought I read somewhere not too long ago that UMD movies were all anyone was actually buying for the PSP… because there sure aren’t that many games out for it yet.

Still, I’m surprised they’ve even sold as well as they have so far. I would think that if you have a choice to buy a movie on DVD or UMD you’re going to choose DVD… and I doubt many people want to buy the same movie twice. It just doesn’t make sense to watch movies on your PSP.

At least with the iPod video you have a lot of storage space to download videos for free (or cheap prices) or rip movies that you already have.

By: ChrisP

ChrisP — Fri, 17 Feb 2006 19:47:45 +0000

I own a PSP and I can’t recall a single time that I wanted to buy a UMD movie. I want a big screen, not a small screen. However, I’d pay for watching television shows on it, if the price is good.