Rent a Movie on a USB?

[pmp6nl]

Rent a Movie on a USB?

For those who think a movie rental store is too cumbersome or digital download too slow, a new option may be in store for you: USB movie rentals.

Ireland-based PortoMedia is looking to make movie rental kiosks as plentiful and convenient as ATMs, all downloading to a USB drive.

This is possible because of PortoMedia's hard drive-based rental kiosks and proprietary USB technology, which supports faster average downloads than standard USB drives.

PortoMedia says its technology can download a standard definition movie in less than a minute. A starter USB kit will cost around $60 (U.S. pricing isn't set), which will provide you with a USB drive, a USB dock, and six movie rentals.

PortoMedia has been testing the service in Dublin, Ireland and reportedly plans to bring the service to the U.S. in the second quarter. The company isn't saying where the PortoMedia kiosks will be showing up, though its site describes co-branding kiosks with partners such as convenience stores.

I think this would be ideal to put in airports. Streaming movies isn't a possibility on airplanes, so a portable USB movie rental is a good alternative. Kiosks already rent discs in many airports, but a movie on a USB device is smaller and quicker, especially if you're heading to the gate.

http://blogs.pcworld.com/staffblog/archives/006577.html

Very interesting idea.  I would like to know how they make the USB downloads faster?  Propriatary USB systems...
Maybe when USB 3.0 or WUSB come out rental options like these will be more prevalent?

[tetsujin]

Actually I think they use that SpeedBooster thing that is built into new MoBos

Cameron

[Sal Atticum]

How fast does it need to be?  Isn't USB 2.0 quick enough to download a movie?  Or are we talking about multi-gig high quality movies?

[pmp6nl]

Actually I think they use that SpeedBooster thing that is built into new MoBos

Cameron

How fast is that?

How fast does it need to be?  Isn't USB 2.0 quick enough to download a movie?  Or are we talking about multi-gig high quality movies?

Well have you ever tried downloading 4+ gigs to a jump drive... its kinda slow (well at least for people standing there waiting for a movie to download)

[zman]

Cant we just get them online instead of all this stuff?

Well I suppose that wouldnt work very well for me since my connection sucks 

[ajekt]

Cant we just get them online instead of all this stuff?

Well I suppose that wouldnt work very well for me since my connection sucks 

So get a better connection

[Meest]

www.vudu.com

Very cool unit. Love mine.

[pmp6nl]

www.vudu.com

Very cool unit. Love mine.

Do does it work just like they advertise?

[tetsujin]

Man, that would be really nice, if I had that type of money with me right now. It looks really capable, I do think it is funny though that they talk about all this "need for speed" and they still use a 10/100 ethernet connection on the back instead of 10/100/1000 ^_^

Cameron

[Meest]

www.vudu.com

Very cool unit. Love mine.

If you have nothing to do at the end of the month, come to the home show at the alerus and see.... Hopefully I'll have one in my showroom soon.

It works just like they say. Only problem is digital distrobution is still rough around the edges.

ie, you won't see some classics on there, like the godfather, and top gun. But you won't see them on any digital download. Because the writers strike was the same reason you won't see them... all of the people that get a cut of the movie have to agree to a digital distro deal, as they only signed a film and video/physical media distro deal when it was made.

Also the movie houses right now release movies to buy a month before you "Technically" can rent them. Yes you can, but its because blockbuster and them buy the movies then rent them when they own them, technically the movie houses want to sell as many movies first before you can rent it... so some new releases you can only buy, and not rent right away.

But the interface is great, and its fast.... and its Linux!

Do does it work just like they advertise?

[Meest]

Man, that would be really nice, if I had that type of money with me right now. It looks really capable, I do think it is funny though that they talk about all this "need for speed" and they still use a 10/100 ethernet connection on the back instead of 10/100/1000 ^_^

Cameron

Does your cable modem have a 10/100/1000 connection?? Last I checked I think mine (Its an older big grey one, only had a 10 meg one....

and what does it matter? if you have 4 meg down, you can stream HD media.

[pmp6nl]

I need some $$$

[tetsujin]

Lol, I am a stickler on that stuff. I actually have to order my Cable modem this afternoon. So I will be able to answer you then. *hates the dorm*

Cameron