VUDU set-top-box goes on sale for $399

Although we're not exactly sure how many of you are rushing to bust out your wallet over this, VUDU's movies-on-demand STB is now on sale to those interested. The box itself will run customers a stiff $399 up front, and while you will have "instant access to 5,000 movies from major studios," you'll be paying between $0.99 and $3.99 for one-time rentals and $4.99 to $19.99 for movie purchases, "depending on the age" of the title. Of course, there's no activation or subscription charges once you fork out that $400, and while an exhaustive list of flicks doesn't look to be available, a few notables are 300, Dreamgirls, The Queen, Music and Lyrics, The Descent, The Last Mimzy, and Breach. Well, now you know, and for those pulling the trigger, expect it to arrive sometime near the month's end.

[Rob @ Sep 6th 2007 8:55AM]

Not going to bother to focus on this product.
But why are there so many similar products coming out?
The Apple TV unit was good. But, it needs a tuner to make it a DVR.
But, the fact that you have to pay for the unit at some high price, then pay for the content as well. I'm not implying that you should get the content for free. But, why the high cost of this box. The cable/satellite company already provides me with the gear to have all mentioned functions performed. Maybe I'm not the target market for this.

[Andrew @ Sep 6th 2007 8:55AM]

This is definately where the industry is headed. What I can't understand is how this relatively no-name company can get the rights to 5,000 movies (for a pretty good price might I add) when Microsoft is still stuck with its ~100 demographically challenged titles.

[Andrew @ Sep 6th 2007 8:57AM]

Your cable/satellite stb has 5000 movies on demand?! Sign me up!

Seriously though, this thing is fairly crippled with no tuning capabilities.

[Rob @ Sep 6th 2007 9:10AM]

"access to 5000", yeah right.
I'd have to see it to believe it.

In any event, for $400 I'd expect a dvd player and a tuner with DVR capabilities as well.

But this is just another box to pile up in our entertainment centers. It's getting to a point that you can stack them up and reach the ceiling.

[Andrew @ Sep 6th 2007 8:58AM]

God I'm a dunce....I swear I hit the reply button. *sigh* hit the minus button.

[rtc11 @ Sep 6th 2007 9:44AM]

Finally, a box that can display 1080p/24. (Apple TV can only display 1080i) why buy a hd-dvd or blueray player when you dont know which format will win and are limited to the format a specific movie studio releases its movie in? All we really need is a 1080p/24 output device that is capable of streaming to our TVs from our computer and the hell with hd-dvd/blueray war. Download the movies from the internet or Amazon's unbox video download.

[Andrew @ Sep 6th 2007 10:42AM]

The Xbox 360 can stream 1080p movies from your computer. Agreed on the format war thing though. The future is downloadable media, not overpriced disks.

[Samwise @ Sep 6th 2007 9:25AM]

HTPC + Bittorrent > this thing

[Greg Fielding @ Sep 6th 2007 11:09AM]

The remote looks like a BUTT HOLE Thermometer........ thats never good from a promotional standpoint.

[SuperChuck @ Sep 6th 2007 11:14AM]

5000 movies on demand starts to make things interesting.

While the Xbox Video Marketplace is a cute idea, the lack of content generally keeps me away. They have very few films and are targeting the mass market.

I guess the remaining question is what the 5000 films consist of. I'm guessing enough blockbusters to make the product seem interesting and whole bunch of "filler" content (anything you could buy as part of a "collection" at your local big box retailer).

5000 is an awful big number, though.

[Paul Hanley @ Sep 6th 2007 11:35AM]

Guys, check out the specs! If they have got a good and growing HD 1080p/24 content library then why go out and spend the $$$ on the HD-DVD/BluRay movie? Plus the hardware doesn't seem to be so expensive when compared to a HD-DVD/BluRay disc player? Ok so you don't own the physical media, so what, big deal - this is the way the market is going surely?

And if you want to know how they got all of their content - take a look at the board of directors list.

[Bill @ Sep 6th 2007 1:33PM]

Why is this better than Moviebeam which costs $149 upfront (instead of $400)?