There's been a lot of stink raised about UMD movies since their debut, most of them tacked onto their cost and decreased value when compared to similarly priced DVDs. There's also the obvious competition from Bittorrent and the availability of DVD ripping guides and converters. But are PSP owners justified in their so-far negative opinion of UMD movies?The most widely reported shortcomings of UMD movies have to do with weak audio levels, lack of extra features and poor transfer. The disc's 1.8 GB capacity expectedly holds less than a regular dual-sided DVD, so quite often extra features and other add-ons are the first to go.
If PSP owners automatically expect that movies on UMD will not have as much to offer as DVDs do, then what's the point of paying the same amount (and sometimes more) at retail for a lesser product? Sony should consider lowering prices on UMDs, if only to convince people that these versions are worth paying attention to as cheaper alternatives to standard-issue DVDs.
But this discussion is old hat. Everyone already has their own notions worked out about UMDs, and if they're worth paying for at all. What we'd like to hear is what you would have Sony do to make UMDs more appealing. Given all the alternatives you have with watching videos and movies on your PSP, what would make you go for the same on UMD?
