Last April I learned of a company that was offering a media kit that would allow me to watch movies on demand. Internet companies have been trying to execute on this idea for most of this decade. Media distribution is obviously going to be the focus of the Internet over the next several years. Vudu is the first useful implementation of this idea.
There are pros and cons to this product.
The good.
Nice selection of independent/foreign movies. I was able to find both Amores Perros and City of Lost Children. Both worth checking out.
Nice, simple HDTV support, clarity is decent - but there are a fair amount of compression artifacts in the video.
Not having to drag my slag ass to the video store. Lazy points.
The Bad
Fortunately for me Vudu was generous enough to send me a free player, because $400 for a box that does nothing but allow me to spend another $10 bucks on Gigli is not a good deal. The hardware should be closer to $200; $100 would put this in nearly every home with a broadband connection.
Vudu must still be duking it out with the greedy bitches at Disney because the selection of big name family features is pretty sparse. There is no Incredibles or Spirited Away available on Vudu.
Not a lot of old movies, I wanted to watch Where Eagles Dare but vudu doesn’t have that either.
Overall I really like vudu, hopefully they will expand their selection and lower the rental fee, I want to rent Apocalypse Now for 99 cents.
