Great Deal on VUDU Box

[obiwopkenobi62]

Hi all,
Didn't know where to post this. I just ordered a Vudu box simply because after doing the research it seemed like the best deal. Also I saw on their website where they are doing a Christmas sale where you can get the whole thing for 198.00. That includes the box, the remote, 2 wireless adapters, all the cables and 50.00 in movie credit.
Can't wait to get this baby setup.
Here's the website in case anyone wants one. Don't know how long the sale is for.
www.vudu.com
If anyone already has one, let me know how you like it.

[obiwopkenobi62]

Does anyone on here have one. Let me know how you like it. Pro's/Cons.

[Halcro 1]

Seems Kind of cool..... You will be the Guena Pig LOL

[bhampton]

article about what it does to your "high speed" internet access...

Digital Tools
Bad Vudu
Lee Gomes, 12.18.08, 06:00 AM EST
Vudu's service is fun--but the company needs to tell its customers exactly how it delivers all those movies.

Before I tell you why you should think twice before buying a Vudu set-top box on account of the lack of disclosure at the heart of the service, I need to tell you how much I once enjoyed my own.

....

The geek in me was struck by what I assumed was Vudu's clever use of video servers: How else, I reasoned, could Vudu effectively stream so many high-quality movies to so many customers?

A few days later, I happened to be chatting casually with a Vudu executive and learned what is really going on.

Vudu, it turns out, uses peer-to-peer technology to stream movies to its customers. That means different bits of movies are stored on different Vudus. When you want to watch a movie, it gets assembled from scores, even hundreds, of other Vudu boxes and is then streamed to you.

You might be sitting in your den connected via VPN to your home office and, without your knowledge, your Vudu might be taking up bandwidth to help deliver The Dark Knight to some kid in Tucson.

Users of peer-to-peer software like BitTorrent will be alarmed by this hijacking, because these protocols are notorious bandwidth hogs. They easily use up so much of the network that simple tasks like e-mail or browsing can slow to a crawl.

The big problem is that the company doesn't clearly tell customers that it's doing this. I haven't found a word about this forced downloading on the box I bought or on the company's Web site. My bandwidth is my property, in much the same was my living room or front yard is mine, and I don't take to people using it without telling me.

.....

The fact is that this sort of forced bandwidth sharing has, from the very beginning, been at the heart of the company's business plan and technology platform. It occurs every time any Vudu customer watches a movie. If Vudu boxes didn't carry that load, the service would grind to a halt.

As a practical matter, I hadn't noticed delays on my own home network. Then again, fewer than 100,000 Vudus have been sold; who knows what will happen should the service get more popular. The company insists I have nothing to worry about and that the product is designed to not impede normal network usage.

....

[obiwopkenobi62]

Originally Posted by bhampton

.
I have the Netflix 3 at a time plan and with how fast they exchange them I can watch something different every night.

This box shares your internet bandwidth with other users so your high speed internet slows to a crawl.... not for me.


-Brian

I had Netflix and I got tired of wondering when the movie would get to my house. No good for me.

As for the bandwidth problem, The only way I know anything with a piece of equipment is by trying it out. Have you had one? If you had one did you notice that problem. No offense but I tend to not go on hearsay.
I did ask if anyone had one in my OP. I wanted to know what people thought of it, if they owned one. Seriousy, if I listened to every bad thing I heard about electronic devices I wouldn't own anything. There are bad reviews about everything.

[obiwopkenobi62]

Originally Posted by bhampton

article about what it does to your "high speed" internet access...

Digital Tools
Bad Vudu
Lee Gomes, 12.18.08, 06:00 AM EST
Vudu's service is fun--but the company needs to tell its customers exactly how it delivers all those movies.

Before I tell you why you should think twice before buying a Vudu set-top box on account of the lack of disclosure at the heart of the service, I need to tell you how much I once enjoyed my own.

....

The geek in me was struck by what I assumed was Vudu's clever use of video servers: How else, I reasoned, could Vudu effectively stream so many high-quality movies to so many customers?

A few days later, I happened to be chatting casually with a Vudu executive and learned what is really going on.

Vudu, it turns out, uses peer-to-peer technology to stream movies to its customers. That means different bits of movies are stored on different Vudus. When you want to watch a movie, it gets assembled from scores, even hundreds, of other Vudu boxes and is then streamed to you.

You might be sitting in your den connected via VPN to your home office and, without your knowledge, your Vudu might be taking up bandwidth to help deliver The Dark Knight to some kid in Tucson.

Users of peer-to-peer software like BitTorrent will be alarmed by this hijacking, because these protocols are notorious bandwidth hogs. They easily use up so much of the network that simple tasks like e-mail or browsing can slow to a crawl.

The big problem is that the company doesn't clearly tell customers that it's doing this. I haven't found a word about this forced downloading on the box I bought or on the company's Web site. My bandwidth is my property, in much the same was my living room or front yard is mine, and I don't take to people using it without telling me.

.....

The fact is that this sort of forced bandwidth sharing has, from the very beginning, been at the heart of the company's business plan and technology platform. It occurs every time any Vudu customer watches a movie. If Vudu boxes didn't carry that load, the service would grind to a halt.

As a practical matter, I hadn't noticed delays on my own home network. Then again, fewer than 100,000 Vudus have been sold; who knows what will happen should the service get more popular. The company insists I have nothing to worry about and that the product is designed to not impede normal network usage.

....

I appreciate your info. That's exactly what I was looking for. Thanks for the straight forward, honest, first hand info. I guess what I will have to do is hook it up and take it for a test run. Then I can see if it slows me down any. The main thing with me is I'm not doing multiple apps that use my broadband so there is a chance I may not see a difference. If I do see a problem with it, I'll send it back.
Thanks again for the info.

[dialog_gvf]

Vudu, it turns out, uses peer-to-peer technology to stream movies to its customers. That means different bits of movies are stored on different Vudus. When you want to watch a movie, it gets assembled from scores, even hundreds, of other Vudu boxes and is then streamed to you.

Well ... duh.

It's the only sustainable model for Internet distribution.

Given that it is using up the upload bandwidth (which people usually don't heavily use, and is generally tiny) it probably won't impact the home network or download access.

The big question is, what if your ISP has a bandwidth cap? How can you control blowing through that limit?

Gary

[Anthony P]

The big question is, what if your ISP has a bandwidth cap? How can you control blowing through that limit?

VUDU will never be big so it is not a problem unless your ISP is extremely restrictive and use it for a lot of other stuff as well. But this deal is not that great

[york weir]

Originally Posted by obiwopkenobi62

I appreciate your info. That's exactly what I was looking for. Thanks for the straight forward, honest, first hand info. I guess what I will have to do is hook it up and take it for a test run. Then I can see if it slows me down any. The main thing with me is I'm not doing multiple apps that use my broadband so there is a chance I may not see a difference. If I do see a problem with it, I'll send it back.
Thanks again for the info.

Actually, it wasn't even first hand info he gave you, rather an article written based on hearsay.

[obiwopkenobi62]

Originally Posted by york weir

Actually, it wasn't even first hand info he gave you, rather an article written based on hearsay.

To everyone else who posted useful info, I thank you. My Vudu will arrive in a couple of days. After I get it up and running I will post first hand knowledge about how it works.
Someone also had mentioned Vudu will never be big. That may be true and it also may not be true. I remember when I bought my first Tivo when it was just released. Lots of people said it would never catch on. here we are over 10 years later and it's still growing. As far as DVR's go there's none better than a Tivo in my book and I've used many brands.
I'm out for now. Hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

[obiwopkenobi62]

I'm wondering why my posts are being edited when there is nothing derogatory in them. If it okay for others to post their opinions without being edited why am I not afforded the same thing?

[Anthony P]

Someone also had mentioned Vudu will never be big. That may be true and it also may not be true. I remember when I bought my first Tivo when it was just released

I am sure there where people that did say Tivo won't last or be big. Not that it is big, but I was not one of them. Some people like talking without knowing what they are talking about, I am not one of them.

As for Vudu, it was a response to Gary who made a valid point that with ISPs being restrictive and the customer being the distributor since it is a peer to peer network they can get in trouble with the ISP. My comment was not meant as a negative to Vudu nor to convince you or anyone else that it is not good. It was just a comment on reality that as long as it stays small (and it will) it might not be a big issue (unless you are extremely limited by your ISP). If I wanted to make a negative point, I would point out that Vudu is/was on the verge of bankruptcy, that this summer they had to let go a large percent of their work force, that they have been losing clients and many CI firms. I know a few guys that where Vudu fanatics and who have know moved on. But no, my post was that his point was 100% valid but most likely will never be an issue.

[obiwopkenobi62]

Originally Posted by Anthony P

I am sure there where people that did say Tivo won't last or be big. Not that it is big, but I was not one of them. Some people like talking without knowing what they are talking about, I am not one of them.

As for Vudu, it was a response to Gary who made a valid point that with ISPs being restrictive and the customer being the distributor since it is a peer to peer network they can get in trouble with the ISP. My comment was not meant as a negative to Vudu nor to convince you or anyone else that it is not good. It was just a comment on reality that as long as it stays small (and it will) it might not be a big issue (unless you are extremely limited by your ISP). If I wanted to make a negative point, I would point out that Vudu is/was on the verge of bankruptcy, that this summer they had to let go a large percent of their work force, that they have been losing clients and many CI firms. I know a few guys that where Vudu fanatics and who have know moved on. But no, my post was that his point was 100% valid but most likely will never be an issue.

I appreciate the info. I did test the speed on my broadband and it's over 4mbps, so i shouldn't have a problem. Hope you had a Merry Christmas.

[dialog_gvf]

Originally Posted by obiwopkenobi62

Someone also had mentioned Vudu will never be big. That may be true and it also may not be true. I remember when I bought my first Tivo when it was just released. Lots of people said it would never catch on. here we are over 10 years later and it's still growing. As far as DVR's go there's none better than a Tivo in my book and I've used many brands.

I'm not sure how people who saw VCRs could conclude a PVR wouldn't be successful. And coupled with a DVD recorder (another popular item) you'd have archival too.

But, PVR work on capturing broadcast (OTA, cable, or sat). They don't source VOD streams. And, you don't get charged extra for using one, or blow through some bandwidth cap.

Downloads as a concept are the inevitable end point of current trends. But, Vudu itself is but one of many proprietary and incompatible services. That I can't see succeeding unless it totally dominates and hence becomes a defacto standard.

Imagine if you couldn't move data from one PC brand to another. Would you even consider getting one?

Gary

[papaholmz]

Originally Posted by bhampton

Vudu, it turns out, uses peer-to-peer technology to stream movies to its customers.

That is the reason I would buy one. Netflix streaming sucks because it's all dependent on my connection; even though I have a 3 Mbps connection it still lags a good bit when trying to watch any HD content streamed to my X360 or computer. This is a genius way to convert unused bandwidth into a better viewing experience, what's not to like about it?

Originally Posted by dialog_gvf

Imagine if you couldn't move data from one PC brand to another. Would you even consider getting one?

But when it comes to on-demand, who cares about downloading it and watching it on another device. That's the whole point, it's "on-demand" and you can watch it whenever you want, so why not convert unused bandwidth into a better viewing experience; besides, who cares about downloading when you'll just run out of room to store stuff anyway?

-papaholmz

[Dynamo of Eternia]

Originally Posted by bhampton

article about what it does to your "high speed" internet access...

Digital Tools
Bad Vudu
Lee Gomes, 12.18.08, 06:00 AM EST
Vudu's service is fun--but the company needs to tell its customers exactly how it delivers all those movies.

Before I tell you why you should think twice before buying a Vudu set-top box on account of the lack of disclosure at the heart of the service, I need to tell you how much I once enjoyed my own.

....

The geek in me was struck by what I assumed was Vudu's clever use of video servers: How else, I reasoned, could Vudu effectively stream so many high-quality movies to so many customers?

A few days later, I happened to be chatting casually with a Vudu executive and learned what is really going on.

Vudu, it turns out, uses peer-to-peer technology to stream movies to its customers. That means different bits of movies are stored on different Vudus. When you want to watch a movie, it gets assembled from scores, even hundreds, of other Vudu boxes and is then streamed to you.

You might be sitting in your den connected via VPN to your home office and, without your knowledge, your Vudu might be taking up bandwidth to help deliver The Dark Knight to some kid in Tucson.

Users of peer-to-peer software like BitTorrent will be alarmed by this hijacking, because these protocols are notorious bandwidth hogs. They easily use up so much of the network that simple tasks like e-mail or browsing can slow to a crawl.

The big problem is that the company doesn't clearly tell customers that it's doing this. I haven't found a word about this forced downloading on the box I bought or on the company's Web site. My bandwidth is my property, in much the same was my living room or front yard is mine, and I don't take to people using it without telling me.

.....

The fact is that this sort of forced bandwidth sharing has, from the very beginning, been at the heart of the company's business plan and technology platform. It occurs every time any Vudu customer watches a movie. If Vudu boxes didn't carry that load, the service would grind to a halt.

As a practical matter, I hadn't noticed delays on my own home network. Then again, fewer than 100,000 Vudus have been sold; who knows what will happen should the service get more popular. The company insists I have nothing to worry about and that the product is designed to not impede normal network usage.

....

I personally have never used Vudu, and have no interest to.

But, for anyone who does use it, and doesn't want their bandwith taken up when they are trying to use their computer, etc, couldn't they just disconnect the internet line from the Vudu box or unplug it/disconnect the power from it?

I realize that this could be a pain to do each time, but if one were to simply get a power strip with an on/off switch, they could just use it exclusively with the Vudu box (or with the Vudu box + any other items that they don't mind power being disconnected to when the strip is turned off), and then only have it plugged in and turned on when they are actually using it? This would prevent their bandwith from being taken/used up when they aren't actually using their Vudu box.

[Anthony P]

I appreciate the info. I did test the speed on my broadband and it's over 4mbps, so i shouldn't have a problem. Hope you had a Merry Christmas.

bandwidth is always important, but that was not the point. like the article and what Darin said, Vudu is a peer-to-peer concept. In essence (and extremely simplified) the first person to watch a movie will download it, the second one will get 50% of it from Vudu and 50% from the person that DL first and now has it on his Vudu, the third person will get 1/3 from Vudu, 1/3 from #1 and 1/3 from #2, eventually all the DL will be from other users and 0% from Vudu. The issue is that many ISPs are adding quotas per month.
for example http://www.bell.ca/shopping/internet...pInt_NewAccess
is 20GB/month (and you pay extra/GB if you pass that limit) if you DL 3 movies @5GB each you are @15GB, if an other 20 people/movies UL from you .5GB each then they need 10GB and you are now at 30GB just for movies with Vudu. They distribute the DL over many clients for 2 reasons 1) they don't need big pipes that cost a lot of $, 2) most ISPs have a much more restricted UL then DL (look at the link I posted DL=2mbps, UL=.8mbps) so if the DL is UL from 5-6 people at a time then the DL can be done at the top rate and not limited to 800kbps

[obiwopkenobi62]

Originally Posted by dialog_gvf

I'm not sure how people who saw VCRs could conclude a PVR wouldn't be successful. And coupled with a DVD recorder (another popular item) you'd have archival too.

But, PVR work on capturing broadcast (OTA, cable, or sat). They don't source VOD streams. And, you don't get charged extra for using one, or blow through some bandwidth cap.

Downloads as a concept are the inevitable end point of current trends. But, Vudu itself is but one of many proprietary and incompatible services. That I can't see succeeding unless it totally dominates and hence becomes a defacto standard.

Imagine if you couldn't move data from one PC brand to another. Would you even consider getting one?

Gary

With all the stuff I have there's one thing I've never wanted or needed to do and that's move content/data from one thing to another. I have never wanted to put a movie on a portable media player. If I watch a movie it's at home. Portability is not something that I need.
For me If Im on my HTPC on the HDTV I'm not using the PS3, If I'm on the PS3 I'm not using the laptop etc, so my network download speed has never had a problem. I tested my download speed and it's a little more than 4Mbps. I should have no issues with the Vudu.

[dialog_gvf]

Originally Posted by papaholmz

But when it comes to on-demand, who cares about downloading it and watching it on another device. That's the whole point, it's "on-demand" and you can watch it whenever you want, so why not convert unused bandwidth into a better viewing experience; besides, who cares about downloading when you'll just run out of room to store stuff anyway?

I agree that the storage issue makes on-demand streaming far more viable, but it will be quite some time before on-demand can come close to Blu-ray for PQ and AQ. If sacrifices are willing to be taken on the AQ, then certainly things are a lot closer, but still 4-5 years.

But, speed of the connection is but one issue. The other is the total transfer and the caps being imposed (why should your ISP pay for the infrastructure for a new industry unless it gets a piece of the action?).

Gary

[GGX]

Does this device allow you to buy HD movies? If not, there goes my interest.