How does anybody decide what "format" to buy things in anymore?

[Proud Liberal Dem]

Nowadays, there are several different ways for people to own/enjoy TV, movies, music, etc. that it's getting hard, at least for me, to figure out what to buy and what format to buy it in. About the only thing that you can't readily download (at least, legally) are games (unless you're talking about downloading older games available via virtual console a la Nintendo Wii) and you have no choice other than to purchase the physical media, which is usually a CD.
Music is a pretty easy. I rarely buy full albums anymore- opting to buy just a few tracks I might really like. Usually, the only times I buy full albums is when I REALLY like an album and can't quite decide which individual tracks to download since I like most of them or have no other options (i.e. tracks are all "Album Only") or if it is a relatively rare or obscure title (i.e. old soundtracks, anime). However, for the most part, buying individual songs has been a much better way to go for me (I'm sort of a "cafeteria" person as opposed to a "completist").
However, when it comes to how to buy TV shows and movies (when I find titles I particularly want to own), I am finding myself increasingly lost. As far as TV shows and movies go, I used to be a major DVD collector but now I have a Blu-Ray player and now have to decide between getting a movie/TV show on DVD or Blu-Ray (although most of the time I buy Blu-Ray if it is available) or, in some cases, Digital Copy (i.e. iTunes)- which is usually a little cheaper in some instances, good quality, and can be taken anywhere on my iPhone.
I'm running into the same problems with books now too- due to digital choices becoming more readily available for more book titles. Now, you can choose between hardcover (or paperback), Kindle, and audiobooks (in some cases) depending on the title.
Does anybody else feel overwhelmed with all of the choices and how does everybody else decide which "format" to purchase titles in nowadays? :shrug:

[gmoney]

1. one advantage of DVDs is they play on my Mac and Laptop

I have a handful of Blu-Ray, in anticipation of getting a HD TV, but I've still not bought one, so I've stopped buying Blu-Rays.

[csziggy]

2. Since I lost the use a large collection of movies and TV shows on Beta

I just don't buy very many in any format. :shrug:

[jobycom]

3. Options are beautiful things. Embrace the choices.

Me, I choose DVDs based on what I like about the movie. If it's a visual feast, I go Blue Ray, if the movie is more for the story, I go regular. Price will affect that--I've bought Blu-Ray when it's 19 bucks for a movie I'd otherwise buy regular, and I recently bought Brick, one of my favorite small films, on regular DVD because it was 3 bucks.

For music I buy downloads for single tracks, and CDs if I want the whole album, since I won't lose it through a hard drive mishap and since it's easier to hand it to my kid if she wants a song on her player, too. Also, I can't hook my Zune up to my car stereo so I can use the CD in my car.

I like the options. I'm not overly bothered that I might choose the wrong one, I just decide what gets me what I want the easiest and go from there.

[LeftyMom]

4. I'll buy movies on blu ray if I can, but apparently I have weird, outdated tastes,

because most movies I want are just on DVD, so I generally buy those from ebay sellers or the local used music shop. For music I generally get the CD rather than non-physical formats, again via ebay or the local used music shop. Games I let my son pick, and depending on what game system he wants to play them on those could be either blu ray or DVD, generally my only input is to encourage him to rent rather than buy games I suspect he'll finish quickly and won't want to play through repeatedly.

[quakerboy]

5. I decide based on how i would want to use it

Which is generally pretty easy.

If a book is worth buying, I'm buying it in a paper format. If not, I'm probably not buying it, since I have a backlog of almost a hundred novels on the shelf to read. At 2-3 a week, thats good for the better part of a year. And given online buying, I can replentish my supply about every 3 months for a couple bucks a book. And they work even if I run out of batteries or the middle east stops giving us oil. Audio books take too long, I end up reading a real book at the same time, and that can get a bit confusing. Kindle is interesting, but from what I have seen nowhere near sturdy enough for my life.

As for video: The last time I bought a movie would be.. a while back. The extended version of LOTR, and those are the only movies I can recall having bought since 02. I have a Blu-ray player now as well, as my wife really wanted a ps3 for her birthday and I was able to save the money. But I do not rewatch things, as a general rule. Once is almost always enough. There is too much content available for free on the net or in the library to buy movies. And if I really must see something new ASAP, I can collect a list, then splurge on a month or two of blockbuster online.

For music, a song here or there is good enough. I am not hugely motivated to find new music, as I haven't listened to most of whats in the house right now, and most of my music dates back to college. The rest is sourced from my wife, who swaps CD's like its going out of style. And particularly with music, whatever format it comes to you, its easy enough to convert to whatever other format would be handier for you.

So.. practicality. And I generally don't purchase anything but books. If other media is good enough to want, eventually a friend will hand it to me and say "check this out". I am in no hurry to have it first.