In our increasingly cloud-centric world, physical media like CDs and DVDs have practically faded into the background. Many of today’s laptops and desktop computers no longer come with built-in optical drives. Even the once-standard USB ports are getting harder to find on new ultraportable laptops. In their place, streaming services and subscription-based software have become the go-to solution for both entertainment and productivity. While convenient, these cloud-first approaches raise serious questions about ownership and long-term access. Maybe it’s time we reconsidered the humble CD and DVD.
The Importance of Owning Your Media and Software
Physical discs allow you to truly own your software, films, and music. When you purchase or burn a disc, you have a permanent copy that exists independently from any subscription or digital storefront. You can watch or listen without worrying about bandwidth constraints, data caps, or a company revoking access to your purchase. If you own the disc, it is yours, even if the publisher goes out of business, removes it from their library, or raises prices. There is no monthly or annual fee required just to keep watching or listening to content you already bought.
Moreover, with DVDs and CDs, you have something tangible to pass on or share. You can lend a DVD to a friend or gift a special edition to a loved one. When everything is on the cloud, you are typically limited to personal streaming rights that cannot be transferred. In a world of ephemeral digital goods, physical media remains an anchor that ensures you genuinely possess your content.
Cloud Convenience Comes with Hidden Risks
There is no denying that streaming services and subscription-based software are incredibly convenient. Services like Netflix, Hulu, and Spotify let you watch or listen to entire libraries of content without leaving your sofa. Adobe’s Creative Cloud offers constant updates to their suite of design tools. But such convenience has a dark side. You are always at the mercy of platform owners and their changing policies.
Shifting Catalogues: Streaming platforms frequently remove titles. Even exclusives can vanish when licensing deals shift. Your favourite show or film might be there one day and gone the next.
Price Increases: As time goes on, many streaming and subscription services raise their fees or introduce new tiers with more ads.
Uncertain Future: The recent legal and financial pressures on digital libraries such as the Internet Archive show that even well-intentioned online resources can face extinction or serious limitations.
When you depend on an ever-changing cloud ecosystem, you risk losing access to the content, information, or software you rely on. Physical discs are immune to corporate buyouts, service shutdowns, and shifting licensing terms.
The Threat to the Internet Archive and the “Enshittification” of Apps
One of the most telling examples of our precarious digital ecosystem is the ongoing threat to the Internet Archive. This organisation has been crucial in preserving web pages, out-of-print books, software, and more. But legal battles and ever-evolving copyright laws mean its future is uncertain. Should the Internet Archive be forced to shrink or shut down, we lose a vital repository of cultural artefacts, a chilling reminder that online archives can vanish.
Similarly, the concept of “enshittification” highlights the pattern many digital platforms follow:
A service starts out user-friendly and free.
It gains popularity, attracting more users and attention.
Once it has a monopoly or near-monopoly, it “enshittifies” by introducing heavy monetisation, ads, or restrictive features that degrade the user experience.
Netflix’s crackdown on password sharing, Hulu’s ad tiers, and YouTube’s increasing frequency of unskippable ads are just a few examples. As these services evolve, free or lower-cost options shrink, while ad-laden or pricier subscriptions take over.
The Trouble with Subscription-Only Software
Beyond entertainment, the software world has also shifted to a subscription-based model. Adobe Creative Suite, once available for purchase outright, is now only sold through monthly or yearly subscriptions. While this can be beneficial if you need to always stay up to date, it can feel like a perpetual rent model for users who only want a stable version of Photoshop or Illustrator without having to pay forever.
Though there are free and open-source alternatives out there, such as GIMP for image editing or Inkscape for vector drawing, many professionals find them less intuitive or lacking certain key features. Large software companies know their tools have become industry standards, and they capitalise on users’ dependencies with subscription-based strategies.
Why Physical Media Still Matters
Longevity: Unlike licences that can expire or get cancelled, DVDs and CDs are enduring formats. Store them properly and they can last decades, long after certain streaming services may have disappeared.
Portability: Physical discs do not require Wi-Fi, internet access, or data connections. Pop in a DVD while off-grid or on a long flight.
Backup and Archival: Optical discs can serve as an excellent backup format for crucial files, software, or special collections. A well-labelled DVD can outlast multiple cloud providers.
Privacy: Offline viewing or usage does not require signing in or being tracked. Your viewing and listening habits remain your own.
Flexibility and Freedom: You are not tied to one streaming app’s interface or one subscription. A DVD can be played on any device with an optical drive, even older computers or dedicated DVD players.
A Balanced Approach: Embrace Both
This is not to say we must abandon the convenience of the cloud entirely. Streaming has its place, and not everyone wants to store stacks of DVDs or CDs. However, having a physical option is crucial for true media and software ownership. Laptops may continue to omit optical drives, but you can still purchase external drives. If you are serious about archiving or owning your own content, an external CD/DVD drive can be a worthwhile investment.
Here are some steps to consider if you want to reclaim control of your digital life:
Buy physical copies of your favourite media, especially those films, TV shows, or music albums that you cannot imagine living without.
Look for used or discounted DVDs and CDs from thrift shops or online marketplaces. It is often more cost effective than you might think.
Back up your essential information on discs or at least on external storage you control.
Support open-source projects. Even if some open-source tools lack certain premium features, using them for day-to-day tasks can reduce reliance on expensive subscriptions.
Invest in an external optical drive. These are portable, inexpensive, and easy to connect via USB (even on newer laptops if you have the right adapter).
Reclaiming Ownership in a Digital Era
CDs and DVDs might feel like a relic of the past, but their disappearance has come at a hidden cost: losing a reliable, permanent way to own content. As streaming platforms raise prices, remove titles, and add adverts, and as software companies move ever more aggressively into subscription models, physical media offers a comforting sense of control. You will not have to worry about losing access if a licence changes or if a platform shuts down.
In the face of uncertain digital futures and the potential loss of invaluable online archives, it is time to think carefully about where we store our media and how we maintain access to it. Bringing back CDs and DVDs, or at least preserving them, can offer a healthy balance, letting us continue enjoying the convenience of the cloud without putting all our media eggs in a single, ever-shifting digital basket. By doing so, we can continue to enjoy our favourite films, music, and software for years to come, no matter what happens in the cloud.
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