Thanks, but No Thanks

So, I see ADV is making a big deal out of selling a huge library of animé at $1.99 per download. Quality is equal or better than DVD (and ought to be, seeing as the files are 500mb each).

Yes, it uses DRM, and will only play in Windows Media Player 10 or 11. You’re allowed a maximum of three “registrations” (i.e.: systems) it will play on, which may have to be selected at the time you download the episode, from what I can tell. What identifies a “registration” is not clear. So I don’t know if buying a new CPU will kill my ability to watch the downloads, or a new NIC, or a new video card, or a new motherboard, or whatever. (Or reloading the O/S).

Excuse me for being unexcited, but I don’t have to buy new DVD’s every time I replace my TV or DVD player.

Let’s see….for a typical DVD it’s $22.00 to buy, or $8.00 to download and rent (because I obviously don’t own) four episodes. With the first option, I can watch on my computer or TV, or I can take it to DrHeinous’ place and we can watch it between gaming sessions.

With the second I can watch it only on the computers I own at the time I purchased it and have never upgraded. Tell ya what ADV: split the difference. Make it $15.00 ($3.75 per episode), no DRM. Then I’ll bite.

Much ado about nothing. Wake me when DRM is dead.