Download or Own?

Which do you prefer when it comes to Anime? Do you prefer buying the DVDs, or just downloading it and not paying a dime?

A few months ago, I bought a boxset of Haruhi Vol. 1 because it also came with 2 Character Song CD's (and that was awesome to me.) My friends tell me that I'm stupid for buying something that I can just as easily download. Maybe it's just me, but I like OWNING things so I can say that I actually DO have it, and not have to boot up my laptop everytime I want to watch/listen to whatever.

What do you think, Fakku? Should people stop buying altogether (thus killing Anime sales,) or start buying the DVDs of their favorite series? There are times where I wish people would remember that DVDs also have a JP option and sub option. *Just because your fansubs have pretty colors, what makes them any more accurate than a DVD's subs?* If you don't know a lick of Japanese, you have no idea, so stop saying that you do.

*Not the point of the thread, just an observation. The thread isn't a sub accuracy debate.*

But yeah - Buy or download?

Both. Usually I just download from the internet. If the stuff's good, i'll buy it so, like u said, I can say I REALLY have it :)

I always download, and buy if I a) found it good and b) THEY HAVE IT IN THE STORES. I have to go on quests to find animé where I live. Epic quests.

I know how you feel. The FYE in the mall here RARELY has anything good, and I have to DIG to find it. Usually it has a bunch of titles I've never heard of that don't sound interesting at all. Finding Haruhi was rare, which was odd because that used to have a shitload of it, and finding Di Gi Charat was even rarer. They had Lucky Star ONE TIME and I didn't have any money. Fuckers.

Since this cheapskate country I live in don't sell those "original" DVD boxes or other stuffs.

I've been left with the most option I honestly don't like. Downloading, and Piracy

I live in the Philippines where the original DVDs are sold in stores with overpriced pricetags, so I had to resort to any of these four things:

YesAsia online ordering
Forced to shell out the money to buy the DVD from the greedy store
Pirated DVDs (the good thing is that it's cheap but the cover box is usually good)
Download from the 'net

To answer Joe-kun's question: I'd buy when I got a few bucks to spare. I download when I don't.

i'd only buy if it's a must have for me, or some casual needs, but for urgent stuff and anything that i can't get, interwebz is the way

As much as I'd love to buy DVDs, they cost too much and I have no money. I also tend to watch a bunch of shows every season and 4 shows at 13 episodes each, on 6 DVDs for $40+ a DVD is crazy. So it's download for me.

I do download a lot more often than I buy (due to ridiculous prices,) but if it's a series that I love I make an effort to go out and buy it. The same goes for manga, but a lot of the manga I read these days are series that America will NEVER, EVER get.

Usually I'll buy if I enjoy it enough, though it is rare.

Both, usually I wait for a sale on a complete boxset though.

usually download.but sometimes buy the pirated and the original.

this is for me too.

There's no such thing like "original" in my country.

So yeah, i download.

Same here, unless I REALLY like a series, which I go for the LEs if possible.


?! Are you referring to importing the R2 DVDs?

Download. Nuff said.


You still have to turn on your laptop to play the DVD.

Well, turning on a DVD player is a bit easier.

Since I keep my anime on my PS3, and the PS3 is my DVD player, I agree it's easier.

Original anime dvds cost too much here in the place called Pearl of the South.. I go for pirated ones and download alot from the net.

I'm a pirate, but I do want the anime licensing companies to stay in business, so I buy ONLY boxed sets, and download what I can.