The Packaging

[A_M_Swallow]

In the UK Rental Only DVDs and VHS Cassettes are normally available 6 months before the retail version. This happened with the Dune Cassetes.

Babylon 5 Season 1 went on sale to the general public and rental firms on the same day.

 

[Derian]

I just recently picked up the set (r1) and when I opened it, disk 3 had slipped loose. I'm not entirely sure why, though, because it doesn't seem to be any looser than the other 5 disks, and I've had no problems wiht any of them since then.

I like the way it's packaged, in the book form, though I wish they'd done the "binding" differently and had the back cardboard part of the spine just fold over, and not actually be attacked the "wook" workings itself (which could have just been the hinged plastic). I hate the breaks you get in the cardboard from opening the book.

 

[Bester]

I received my Season 1 box set from Play.com today......and the packaging is awful.

Upon opening the case, 2 discs fell out. One of the plastic holders is on the verge of making a break for freedom. And the cardboard has numerous bends and creases.

I have half a mind to transfer each disc to an individual plastic case. Warners has a lot to answer for, with their fetish for cheap cardboard cases.

I just hope that the packaging for Season 2 will be of a much higher quality.

 

[LightNZ]

Well, for the R4 release, we have a fold out version of what you guys have. and it's great, nothing falling apart at all

(but you guys got 'and a sky full of stars' properly, so i can't really brag hahaa)

 

[Kribu]

I have most other box sets as foldouts and I really don't like that... very uncomfortable. I really like the book-like design of the B5 S1 box, although the little hub things would indeed need some work as they don't seem to be able to hold the discs securely enough. But the design in itself is just great.

As for the creases that the "book spine" inevitably gets - I couldn't care less for that as I keep all boxes on the shelf with outer slip case spines outwards anyway.

 

[KoshN]

The set I gave to a friend for Christmas has two loose discs and a third almost loose when it was opened. Luckily none were scratched.

On the opposite end of the spectrum we have the Buffy Season 2 hubs which hang onto the discs so tightly that you need five hands and a crowbar to get them off the hubs.

 

[Kribu]

I didn't have problems with the Buffy S2 ones but Buffy S3 ones were quite like what you described.

Plus it was hard to push the discs back in again as well, after watching them.

I really don't like the clear hard plastic holders, to be honest. The flexible ones like in the single disc Amaray or Alpha cases are much better - less danger of breaking them when trying to get the disc out and less danger of scratching the disc. Plus they actually seem to hold the disc securely.

 

[KoshFan]

My discs have a tendency to come loose, but basically if I'm careful when I open the set up it's fine. No scratches yet.

 

[Nancy]

I never had any problems with my season 1 box set. No DVD's ever got loose, in fact, I have difficulty getting them out sometimes.

 

[KoshN]

<font color="yellow"> Originally posted by Nancy: </font color>
...in fact, I have difficulty getting them out sometimes.

That's because of the inadequate room they gave to let you grab the disc outside edge due to the case design, not the ability for the hubs to hold onto the discs.

In my Buffy Season 2 example, the hub is designed in such a way that the "Press" tab only releases one of the six tabs.
Buffy Season 2 Region 1 DVD Hub

The Buffy Season 1 Hub design was much better (holds well, but pressing the center releases all the tabs.
Buffy Season 1 Region 1 DVD Hub

 

[Bester]

I have most other box sets as foldouts and I really don't like that... very uncomfortable. I really like the book-like design of the B5 S1 box

I agree. I prefer the S1 book-like design to the fold-out design (which you need 3 hands to open fully without risk of damage). I'm just not happy with cardboard used. They could have at least used plastic for the spine. As it is, I'm pretty sure that the "pages" of my S1 package won't last much longer than a couple of years' worth of useage.

 

[kingfish]

I purchased DVD replacement cases for each disk.

 

[FlipperPA]

Just a legal question here, all theretical. If someone with a DVD burner decided to copy the S1 "And the Sky Full of Stars" for S2 people who got screwed by stretching on DVD-R, would that be breaking the law? I'm curious. S2 people would have already purchased the content, and while its not 100% the same, I'm wondering if this kind of "fan reperations" might be allowed due to fixing a mistake the studio should have caught. Anyone with more legal experience than I know the answer to this? I guess it falls into the same gray area as "if I download an MP3 song through file sharing that I own on CD, that should be fine."

-Tim

 

[LightNZ]

yeah, that is a tricky one. Because I do own the R4 version of the episdoe, so would it be illegal for me to own a copy of the R1 version?

I have no idea, it's kinda grey area i guess
(i would love a copy though lol, i never even thought of that solution)