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**HeadShrinker** · 07-28-2008, 10:53 AM

Re: Considering Vudu - part 2

Southpaw- I had similar questions and started a thread called "Trying to Decide" and got some useful feedback (sorry not sure how to copy/paste the link but it was recent). I eventually went with the ATV b/c of the number and rate of HD titles and built in wireless.

I do have a pretty fast internet connection (15+mbps) and I've had no problems. My understanding is that Vudu may work better for you as movies are streamed to you differently than on ATV, with Vudu using a P2P system and ATV dowloading from a centralized server. If you look at ATV's tech specs page it says that at 2mbps it will take about 2 hours to begin watching an HD movie. That could be significant depending on your habits.

I too wish there was a definitive list of HD movies available on Vudu. Certainly would make marketing it better. ATV has 490 HD titles as of last night.

**RonV** · 07-28-2008, 01:23 PM

Re: Considering Vudu - part 2

I don't know what you mean by "Slow Things Down Even More". But the wireless option doesn't share your wireless connectivity. It's a two piece system. One piece plugs into a free ethernet port on your router, the other end plugs into the VUDU. This sets up a dedicated wireless connection optimized for the VUDU.

Originally posted by Southpaw View Post

I do like that Vudu has added a wireless option but now I see it is going to cost me an additional $50 for the bundle. Are users finding it worth it and will performance be affected? While I'm signing up for 4 mb service, I can probably expect speeds around 3.6 so I want to make sure that the wireless device won't slow things down even more.

Any comments?

**Southpaw** · 07-28-2008, 01:34 PM

Re: Considering Vudu - part 2

Ron...
I meant "slow things down" from the approx 3.6 mb speed I will get from DSL. From my experience, when I go from something wired to something wireless, I lose a little bit. But if you are saying that this particular device will exhibit the same speed as if I had it wired, then I believe you.

Now, how about that definitive list of HD movies. Does one exist????

**TSJordan** · 07-28-2008, 05:12 PM

Re: Considering Vudu - part 2

Sorry ... I don't know of any list of the HD titles on Vudu.

I do know that today my Vudu shows 190 HD titles compared to the 490 reported to be on Apple TV.

In some other threads some people have suggested that the playing field was level and that all download services had access to same movies. While this may be possible and a lack of resources is keeping companies like Vudu from converting and offering as many movies as Apple I suspect the real reason is that the playing field is not anything close to level and that Apple has more because of the importance and size of it's ITunes site. If the playing field was truly level I would think that the XBox Live site would have all the movies the Apple site has while in fact they list 197 HD titles, only 7 more than Vudu. It can't be due to a lack of resources.

Tim

**kikar** · 07-29-2008, 08:31 AM

Re: Considering Vudu - part 2

For what it is worth here is my two cents based on my experience using various services over a 20mbps connection.

1. Vudu: PQ - good to excellent
AQ - good to excellent
Ease of use - excellent
presentation - excellent
DL experience - smooth, no hiccups, hang ups, pauses etc. Watch now means watch now without problems.

2. AppleTV: PQ - fair to great
AQ - fair to good
ease of use - excellent
presentaion - great
DL experience - problematic I have had movies take several hours to be able to watch, I have had them hang up and I had to restart the box because after many hours it had gone to only 4%, and the other night we had some friends over and the wanted to watch a movie and it paused twice. (their kids were in the other room watching movies on Vudu that I rented for them and theyt got through two 1.5 hour movies before we finished our movie.)

3. Netflix PQ - Fair to good
AQ - poor to fair
ease of use - fair
presentaion - fair
DL experience - the one bright spot is Netflix download experience, much like Vudu I have yet to experience problems.

4. Xbox - PQ - good to great
AQ - good to great
Ease of use - great
presentation - great
DL experience - No major complaints did have a hiccup once but other than that no problems.

5. Amazon Unbox on TivoHD - PQ - poor
AQ - fair
Ease of use - fair
presentation - poor
DL experience - I just wait for the movie to DL. While tivo allows you to watch after a short time of DLing I have had problems with catching up and having to buffer.

6. PSN - Have not tried yet, but hope to try this weekend.

7. Vongo on Xbox as a media extender. - PQ- fair
AQ - good
ease of use - good
Presentation - good
DL experience - never had a problem.

Most of what I have judged is subjective but I feel for the money the order i would place them is.

1. Vudu
2. Xbox
3. Netflix/Apple
4.Vongo
5. Amazon

Again I have not tested the PSN so maybe someone else could add to this.

As for selection, that varies from provider to provider and is a matter of taste.

**RonV** · 07-29-2008, 06:42 PM

Re: Considering Vudu - part 2

Thats a really good summary. Thanks for the post.

**aaronwt** · 07-30-2008, 09:24 AM

Re: Considering Vudu - part 2

PSN is up there with the Xbox, and is actually easier to use right now than Xbox Live. But once the new interface comes out for XBL it should remedy things.
I hit a 40mbs to 50mbs download rate on PSN and XBL. So titles are ready to watch in 15 to 20 seconds.
VUDU us my first choice followed by XBL, then PSN, and then FIOS VOD. This is for HD content.

**kikar** · 07-31-2008, 10:15 AM

Re: Considering Vudu - part 2

Originally posted by aaronwt View Post

PSN is up there with the Xbox, and is actually easier to use right now than Xbox Live. But once the new interface comes out for XBL it should remedy things.
I hit a 40mbs to 50mbs download rate on PSN and XBL. So titles are ready to watch in 15 to 20 seconds.
VUDU us my first choice followed by XBL, then PSN, and then FIOS VOD. This is for HD content.

Cool, Thanks for the PSN review. I will have to give them a try this weekend. Their selection is paltry right now but I am sure I can find something to watch.

**NA9D** · 07-31-2008, 04:39 PM

Re: Considering Vudu - part 2

Southpaw,

Vudu will be good for you if you want mainly movies. The number of new titles added is growing steadily. Yes, Vudu doesn't have the number of HD titles that ATV has (yet) but they are way ahead in SD titles. For a 4 MB/sec DSL connection, you'll not get instant HD but close to that with Vudu. You won't have to wait too long.

The Vudu user experience and ability to do "trick play (ie: ff, rw, etc) in movies is far better than ATV...

**Greg** · 07-31-2008, 06:38 PM

Re: Considering Vudu - part 2

Originally posted by NA9D View Post

Southpaw,
For a 4 MB/sec DSL connection, you'll not get instant HD but close to that with Vudu.

I would say give it a try. If the ISP is solid @4Mbps, it (InstantHD) could work beautifully.

I'm not sure there is much risk involved in trying since you can always return it within 30 days if it doesn't work out the way you want.

-- Greg

**Southpaw** · 08-01-2008, 07:51 AM

Re: Considering Vudu - part 2

Greg - why isn't there a master list of HD titles published by Vudu? You already have the master list of catalog titles on the vudu site - wouldn't be hard to add one extra category called "HD".
I want to try it but I really want all the facts before I decide. I can go to appletvjunkie and master lists of SD and HD titles are updated daily.

**HeadShrinker** · 08-01-2008, 08:25 AM

Re: Considering Vudu - part 2

I agree it's odd there is not such a list. It was a huge psychological hurdle for me. My only guess is that Vudu doesn't want to highlight an area that is not one of its strongest.

On the other hand the Appletvjunkie site is not in any way affiliated with apple itself. It's just some people who are into their ATV's. Nice for us users but if it weren't there ATV users would conceivable be in the same boat.

**NA9D** · 08-01-2008, 08:29 AM

Re: Considering Vudu - part 2

All I can tell you guys is that I am pretty syre the Vudu movie list page is still undergoing some web design changes. I would expect that this section will be updated at some point. I don't know when that is scheduled to be completed though.

Schultzie may be gone but just remember this: When it comes down to it, "I know nothing. I know nothing..."

**Southpaw** · 08-01-2008, 10:37 AM

Re: Considering Vudu - part 2

So we need a "Vudujunkie" website for all the Vudu users. NA9D - care to start that?

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