"And the Vudu box is essentially $99 with the bestbuy deal."
No, it isn't. Paying $299 and then getting a $200 credit which must be used within 4 months is not essentially $99. And I don't think that using part of your $200 credit to "Own" several movies for $19.99 each (the price for the new Star Wars: Clone Wars animated movie) is the best use of the credit (that would provide you the most bang for your buck, which would make it essentially $99).
There is no such thing as ownership on Vudu. You might purchase a persistent copy of a movie to "own" but as soon as your account is cancelled, or Vudu pulls the plug on its service, or perhaps even runs into contractual issues with a studio then you can kiss that movie goodbye. And of course you you can't lend or resell your movie as you might if you truly owned it.
This is the problem that the whole digital download industry needs to sort out. Proprietary hardware, tied to proprietary stores, playing non-transferable proprietary formats will not work. Who would really entrust their movie collection to just one provider? There needs to be a common file format, and a common delivery and DRM platform that allows users to pick and mix their suppliers and playback devices. If Amazon canned their service, or if Vudu went under, then you'd still be able to play your movies. You'd have to be stupid to buy anything from a digital service in the current environment.
Not sure why you think you need to purchase content to get 'bang for your buck', as you say. I use Vudu to rent HD only. If you watch about three movies a week (not hard to do when you have 1200+ HD titles available) then you should be on pace to burn through the credit in the allocated four months.
And yes using the same reasoning the blockbuster box is free. I guess my point is with mainly SD content, it doesn't seem to offer anything more than the other free internet services like Hulu. If you care about selection and want good picture / audio quality, then I think the extra investment in Vudu is more than justified.
purchased movies on vudu will still work work without a network connection, you don't loose content you bought if you disconnect from the Vudu servers. But I agree, until a better warranty system is worked out (for HDD crashes, say) rentals are a better option.
"Free internet services" like Hulu offer a limited selection of titles.
At this point, it's not entirely clear what Blockbuster's HD service will be like, but you appear to be dismissing all of the advantages of the box without really any justification. Here's the deal:
Hulu is free, but has a very small selection of (not terribly recent) movies, only offers streaming (variable quality, not good for sub-2Mbps connections), and is ad supported. There's no sane way to hook it to the TV except by involving a computer somewhere along the line. HD is always being promised but thus far is only available for trailers and demo films, and the insistence on streaming makes it useless for 90% of broadband users anyway.
Netflix is subscription based. Offers a massive selection of movies. Selection is of older titles only. Only offers streaming (ok on sub-2Mbps connections apparently but hardly optimal. HD requires very fast connections). Can be hooked up to TV with cheap, sub-$100, device. HD is available, but the insistence on streaming makes it useless for 90% of broadband users.
Blockbuster is rental based. Offers a massive selection of movies. Selection includes new releases. Movies can be downloaded prior to watching (so excellent quality, even in HD.) HD currently not available but will be shortly. Prices are low ($2-4). Can be hooked up to TV with cheap, sub-$100, device.
AppleTV is rental based. Offers a decent selection of movies. Selection includes new releases. Movies can be downloaded prior to watching (so excellent quality, even in HD.) Prices are moderate. Requires a relatively expensive $230 device to hook up to TV.
Vudu is rental/purchase based. Offers a decent selection of movies. Selection includes new releases. Movies can be downloaded prior to watching (so excellent quality, even in HD.) HD service appears to be superior to the alternatives, with 1080p available for a limited selection of titles. Prices are moderate. Requires a relatively expensive $250+ device to hook up to TV.
Really, anyone who thinks Vudu or AppleTV is worth the money should be licking their lips at the Blockbuster box. The Blockbuster box is cheaper, and the only disadvantage of it is that it's unlikely Blockbuster's HD quality will rival Vudu's. Oh, and Vudu permits "purchases" which are somewhat expensive and, as DrXym (for once) correctly observes, are somewhat flawed.
If you like the rental model, and you're ok with SD for now, I'd say Blockbuster has delivered your Xen.
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"And the Vudu box is essentially $99 with the bestbuy deal."
No, it isn't. Paying $299 and then getting a $200 credit which must be used within 4 months is not essentially $99. And I don't think that using part of your $200 credit to "Own" several movies for $19.99 each (the price for the new Star Wars: Clone Wars animated movie) is the best use of the credit (that would provide you the most bang for your buck, which would make it essentially $99).
There is no such thing as ownership on Vudu. You might purchase a persistent copy of a movie to "own" but as soon as your account is cancelled, or Vudu pulls the plug on its service, or perhaps even runs into contractual issues with a studio then you can kiss that movie goodbye. And of course you you can't lend or resell your movie as you might if you truly owned it.
This is the problem that the whole digital download industry needs to sort out. Proprietary hardware, tied to proprietary stores, playing non-transferable proprietary formats will not work. Who would really entrust their movie collection to just one provider? There needs to be a common file format, and a common delivery and DRM platform that allows users to pick and mix their suppliers and playback devices. If Amazon canned their service, or if Vudu went under, then you'd still be able to play your movies. You'd have to be stupid to buy anything from a digital service in the current environment.
Not sure why you think you need to purchase content to get 'bang for your buck', as you say. I use Vudu to rent HD only. If you watch about three movies a week (not hard to do when you have 1200+ HD titles available) then you should be on pace to burn through the credit in the allocated four months.
And yes using the same reasoning the blockbuster box is free. I guess my point is with mainly SD content, it doesn't seem to offer anything more than the other free internet services like Hulu. If you care about selection and want good picture / audio quality, then I think the extra investment in Vudu is more than justified.
@DrXym,
purchased movies on vudu will still work work without a network connection, you don't loose content you bought if you disconnect from the Vudu servers. But I agree, until a better warranty system is worked out (for HDD crashes, say) rentals are a better option.
"Free internet services" like Hulu offer a limited selection of titles.
At this point, it's not entirely clear what Blockbuster's HD service will be like, but you appear to be dismissing all of the advantages of the box without really any justification. Here's the deal:
Hulu is free, but has a very small selection of (not terribly recent) movies, only offers streaming (variable quality, not good for sub-2Mbps connections), and is ad supported. There's no sane way to hook it to the TV except by involving a computer somewhere along the line. HD is always being promised but thus far is only available for trailers and demo films, and the insistence on streaming makes it useless for 90% of broadband users anyway.
Netflix is subscription based. Offers a massive selection of movies. Selection is of older titles only. Only offers streaming (ok on sub-2Mbps connections apparently but hardly optimal. HD requires very fast connections). Can be hooked up to TV with cheap, sub-$100, device. HD is available, but the insistence on streaming makes it useless for 90% of broadband users.
Blockbuster is rental based. Offers a massive selection of movies. Selection includes new releases. Movies can be downloaded prior to watching (so excellent quality, even in HD.) HD currently not available but will be shortly. Prices are low ($2-4). Can be hooked up to TV with cheap, sub-$100, device.
AppleTV is rental based. Offers a decent selection of movies. Selection includes new releases. Movies can be downloaded prior to watching (so excellent quality, even in HD.) Prices are moderate. Requires a relatively expensive $230 device to hook up to TV.
Vudu is rental/purchase based. Offers a decent selection of movies. Selection includes new releases. Movies can be downloaded prior to watching (so excellent quality, even in HD.) HD service appears to be superior to the alternatives, with 1080p available for a limited selection of titles. Prices are moderate. Requires a relatively expensive $250+ device to hook up to TV.
Really, anyone who thinks Vudu or AppleTV is worth the money should be licking their lips at the Blockbuster box. The Blockbuster box is cheaper, and the only disadvantage of it is that it's unlikely Blockbuster's HD quality will rival Vudu's. Oh, and Vudu permits "purchases" which are somewhat expensive and, as DrXym (for once) correctly observes, are somewhat flawed.
If you like the rental model, and you're ok with SD for now, I'd say Blockbuster has delivered your Xen.