Digital media

What Kind of Online Movie Rental Service Would You Pay For?

Apple iTunes’ new movie rental service isn’t the only online movie download rental service, but it’s probably the most high-profile one. I’ve read a few unflattering reviews of iTunes. Then there are the “online” rental services where they mail you a couple of discs at a time, but no more until you return what you have. Neither type of service does anything for me, for the following reasons

1. Download:
   1. Limited time to watch, once you start.
   2. Cost of bandwidth due to downloading (if you don’t have an unlimited plan).
   3. Download time, even for fast connections.
   4. Hard disk space requirements? (I’ll be honest; I’m not sure about this one.
2. Mail:
   1. No spontaneity. Have to wait to see your selections.
   2. Can’t have more than two selections at a time.

Those aren’t a lot of reasons, but I sometimes like to watch 3-4 movies all at once, or over a weekend. So that rules out of the mail-based rental services. Download services don’t suit me either, primarily because on the computer I watch movies on, I have a limited Internet plan. On my other computer, despite having a fast cable Internet connection, I have to use a Wi-Fi router, and for some reason that results in a molasses slow connection.

Of course, these reasons may not be showstoppers for you but they are for me. What I’m looking forward is when download speeds are boosted in a few years, and when we have multi-terabyte entertainment drives for storage. Functionally, I’d like:

1. Easy, affordable selection of movies, both new and old. As an aspiring filmmaker, I’m especially interested in being able to see movies from 1920-1968. These are so hard to get, except on TCM (Turner Classic Movies) channel, and they don’t stop for commercial breaks.
2. Ability to create an interruptible, changeable playlist and watch movies in that order, over one or more days.
3. Either no time limit or more than 24 hours for a set of downloaded movies. (I mean, it’s not like they have to send me a disc from their limited supply. There’s no reason for a 24-hour limit.)
4. Discount on a movie if I rent it again in the future.

Of course, I’ll probably think of other things once this is published. What about you? Do you use either type of rental service, or do you prefer to go into your local movie rental store? If you prefer downloaded movies, what features interest you?