EmailDownloading video directly from the Internet and ordering DVDs for direct-to-home delivery have advantages and disadvantages. Reviewers say the following are important things to consider when shopping for an online movie rental service:
- Peruse the selection first. Netflix and Blockbuster Online deliver DVDs by mail and boast the largest libraries, with Netflix owning the largest of all. Broadband streaming or download services have far fewer titles, including those that rely on proprietary set-top boxes.
- Consider immediacy. The by-mail services are easy to use, but lack immediacy since you have to wait for DVD or Blu-ray discs to arrive. Mail delivery takes at least a day and possibly three to five days or more, depending on how far you live from a distribution center. Downloads can take up to five hours depending on the service, your Internet connection speed and your computer, though you can often begin viewing before the download has completed. Streaming broadband delivers video almost instantly. You have to be online while you are watching the movie, however.
- Consider video quality. The best quality video is still delivered by DVDs and Blu-ray discs. Downloaded videos often have compression issues such as blocking, false contouring and solarization, though some services and playback devices do better than others in this regard. Still, experts say that the quality of downloaded video is at least good enough for casual viewing, and sometimes much better than that.
- Costs vary by service. Many services offer a variety of options. A higher-priced subscription might make sense if you expect to rent a lot of movies. However, both Netflix and Blockbuster Online give preference to users who rent less when deciding where to send high-demand titles.