Media Server Reviews

Comparisons & Conclusion
Comparisons are inevitable, but the Vudu really has no peer—and this comes from a happy Apple TV owner—since no other rental/purchasing service offers any 1080p content.

Apple TV has a maximum video resolution of 720p/24, and the audio is encoded with Apple's lossy codec with a bit rate of 160Kbps. This is significantly less than the HDX audio bit rate of 640Kbps. Additionally, Apple TV comes in two flavors—40GB and 160GB—which is considerably less than Vudu's generous 250GB hard drive. On the other hand, Apple TV does have built-in WiFi, which saves you 80 bucks right there.

The downside of any purchase/rental service is that you don't get the benefits of a physical disc, such as subtitles, commentaries, bonus materials, Easter eggs, menus, or scene selections. Of course, neither do you have to jump past the ads, promotions, and trailers. Actually, I love trailers, but that is a separate kind of viewing experience. My housemate and I will periodically spend an hour or so scanning the new trailers on Apple TV, which is one of its fun features. It also has a direct link to YouTube, which can really kill an evening.

One thing to keep in mind about the Vudu player is that it's a closed system from a relatively new company. Movies can only be rented or purchased and played on the Vudu device, unlike movies purchased on iTunes, which can be used on Apple TV, a computer, or an iPod/iPhone.

I had a great experience with the Vudu. My friends and I enjoyed watching several movies, and it was fun and relaxing to go through the menu and movie details in the comfort of my media room. Instant viewing of 1080p HD content satisfies the need for instant gratification in all of us.

One thing about HDX movies, which has nothing to do with performance, is that you have to plan ahead, since it takes some time to download them. I found myself watching more HD movies because when friends came over, we wanted to pick something and watch it immediately.

As a reviewer, it can sometimes be a burden to have access to all the latest toys, fall in love with them, and then have to return them to the manufacturer. With some companies, we have the option to purchase the units we review. I find myself in a quandary with respect to the Vudu. I have Apple TV, so I don't really need another movie-on-demand service. However, the quality of the movies is so much better, I am seriously considering this purchase. Of course, I would continue to use my Apple TV for it's other features, such syncing songs, photos, and my own movies for playback through my reference system. But whenever a reviewer likes a product well enough to spend some of their earnings on it, this speaks louder than a page full of effusive prose.

Sure, Blu-ray is still the superior format, but Vudu's HDX format is undeniably the best Internet-delivered video you are going to find—at least for now.

Highs
Streaming HD, as high as 1080p
5.1 surround sound
Intuitive interface
Simple remote
Broad range of movies

Lows
Requires fast broadband speed for instant downloads
Cannot save movies for playback on anything other than Vudu player
Rent or purchase movies and TV shows only, no additional features a la Apple TV