The One-Use, Self-Destructing DVD Returns

BonrHanzon writes "Looks like DivX (the stupid one, not the codec) has been resurrected in the form of Flexplay. Staples will be selling these movie disks for 5 bucks a pop at the checkout counter. The disks can be played in any DVD player, but a special adhesive will render the disk unplayable 48 hours after the package has been opened. As if our landfills weren't already overflowing with enough crap." The blog post notes that Flexplay has actually been around for 5 years; the Staples distribution deal is what's new.

Comments

Re:Heh, pirates ahoy!

[pubjames]

This is interesting from a legal perspective. Would copying one of these be legal for the home user for home use? You have paid for it, after all.

Are any of the many lawyers that read Slashdot able to shed a light on this?

Re:Heh, pirates ahoy!

[Blkdeath]

I'm not too good at math, so help me out: How many times does this have to happen before your home theater (including original purchase, time/money for installation and periodic setup, wear and tear, preventative maintenance, taxes, loss of use of part of your house, and popcorn) begins to pay for itself?

I know this is the popular rhetoric around these parts but I still don't comprehend it. Here we have a self proclaimed geek forum; a hangout for people who routinely spend weeks' and months' pay cheques on new computer and other electronic equipment but who can't see the beauty of a home theatre setup?

A few points to clarify why I wanted a home theatre for myself;

• The only people in the room are there by my choice. Cell phone etiquette, crying babies, talking during the movies is all under my control.
• There are no sticky floors, stained seats, spilled snacks, or in the extreme case fecal coliform bacteria to worry about.
• I can pause, rewind, stop/resume the movie at any time for any reason.
• I control the volume, effects and lighting.
• I can have as few or as many friends, relatives or acquaintances over to enjoy the viewing as I please and the cost is not adversely affected.
• When these people come over, it's common practise (tradition) to bring something along. Be it a case of beer, bottle of alcohol, light snacks or even a full dish of food for a proper meal.
• Related to the above; we can choose what to eat and drink and when to do so. If we want to eat a proper sit-down meal before or after the movie it's at our leisure. If we then want to snack and drink alcohol or even tapwater during the performance all the better - it's our choice, it's quality food of our choosing and it doesn't come at an egregious cost.
• With gas prices on the rise and continuing to do so it's not economically reasonable to drive a group, usually in multiple vehicles, to a restaurant, then to the theatre, then out for after-show entertainment then home again.
• Furthermore, if we do consume too much alcohol during the evening we don't have to shell out and wait for a ride home. There are always sofas, pull out couches and spare bedrooms in which people can sleep it off.
• When I'm not entertaining or watching movies, I can use my rig to better enjoy plain 'ol television. Say what you will about it, but there are a few shows I enjoy (I won't get into a qualitative discourse), there's also news and weather. In short, everything looks and sounds better on my rig.
• I have a gaming system connected to my home theatre which brings the games to life and really enriches the experience.
• When I'm not watching broadcast entertainment or playing games I have my computer connected to my system. Audio traverses to my dolby receiver digitally and my desktop measures 60" diagonally. You have no idea how nice it is to sit on a reclining sofa with a wireless keyboard and mouse and do ... whatever. Banking, bill payments, web surfing, e-mail, etc.
• As a plus to the above, any movies / television shows that I've missed and subsequently downloaded can be played directly to my theatre system.

There are definitely some cost savings benefits to the home theatre, but that's not the only benefit.

As to the costs associated; I choose what to buy (component wise) and when to buy it. Usually I'll find a piece or set of equipment I want then wait for a sale. I also make what I believe to be rational purchases; for example, I want a PlayStation 3 which will double as a high definition Blu Ray player, it'll play regular DVDs as well as take over as the home network media centre.

If done correctly you don't have to pay an arm and a leg to get a very good theatre setup and with 0% finance options at the big box stores you can leave your money in the bank earning interest while you pay small instalments. When you factor the cost of an evening's entertainment even for as few as t