Now How Do I Get a Sammich On Demand?

At various points I've discussed with people my views on the entertainment industry, and how it's going to change in the future. My view is that all entertainment will move to an on-demand type of scenario, with people just grabbing what they want when they want it. The opposing argument is that people take pride in ownership, and that having the physical copy of a movie or television show is a convenience that people won't give up. While I'm sure I would enjoy owning the latest, all digital, completely enhanced version of Star Wars more than the other fifteen version that preceded it, I'm thinking it would be enough just to watch (at least until they make a version where Luke doesn't sound like a whiny foof through the entire first movie - just get your damned power converters later).

Well, for me it's begun. Management and I watch all television programs after the fact. So far, this has meant shelling out x dollars to rent a season of some program when it comes out on dvd. This runs a serious risk, as we have to avoid hearing spoilers for a good long time, but it pays off in the convenience of watching when we want, and not waiting for ridiculous amounts of time between episodes. The last
show I watched religiously when it was actually on was Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and man did it hurt to have them push a rerun when I was all excited for it.

So last night we were trying to figure out how to amuse ourselves, and it played out like it often has in the past. I go the video store, rent a couple of movies I think we could bear watching together, bring them home, and then we decide we don't feel like watching any of them. (This is why I don't know how Pirates of the Carribean ends, why I haven't seen a life size Optimus Prime, and why I've missed Hot Fuzz, which is currently sitting on the dining room table as far as I know.)

So, we determine that we will find a way to watch the current season of Lost, the last season of which we finished last week. It was pretty difficult. I went online, Googled 'Lost', found the link to watch full episodes, switched it to full screen, and then we watched a couple of episodes. There are maybe five commercials for the entire show, and no remote control, but other than that, it was awesome.

I was already hooked on my On Demand feature from Comcast, not for myself but for the wee ones. Being able to bring up Sesame Street or Zoboomafoo whenever I want rocks. Oh, and Good Eats for me (I'm a huge Alton Brown fan, and will even watch the episodes about cooking meat just to learn about the science and history behind some of the stuff we eat). Between that and the free movies, I actually get a lot of entertainment out of it. But now the actual computer is good for watching things beside Hugo, Cat of 1000 Faces (not that Hugo wasn't worth every dime I pay for broadband - somehow Management didn't appreciate the subtle genius behind it).

So I think this is the way things are going. The only thing we really need to beat now is the interfaces. Once we can duplicate the experience of wandering the video store, letting some box catch out eye and remind ourselves that we never say something we meant to, I think it all goes digital. You know, unless you live out in the sticks and can't have broadband, but I figure the cow-tipping makes up for any entertainment you guys are missing out on, with the possible exception of Hugo. Man that cat is funny.