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Instead of just bitching about it in one paragraph, you could have written seven paragraphs.

I do believe Redbox's return deadline is 9 p.m.

Strangely, just last night I was having a (riveting) conversation about the movie rental industry and how long Redbox/Hollywood Video's box would last in a modern world where people might soon be able to download entire films in a matter of minutes.

I kind of think something a la Redbox or a bricks-and-mortar store will always be around, albeit in fewer locations than at present. I like renting movies when I don't have the energy to go to the gym or meet friends for drinks or whatever because it's been a long day at work and it's just not that easy to plan in advance for that feeling.

Anyhow, that sucks about the HV box leaving Cub... does anyone know - does Mickey D's own Redbox or just lease 3 square feet of space to them or what?

Plus it's cheaper.

That Video Stardom is the one I have to use too, since they closed the one at Silver Lake.

It's going to be a long time before downloads have any significant numbers.

For starters:

1. Even if they manage to figure out how to move from their computer, who's going to want to watch a compressed version of a movie on their new large screen digital TV?

2. Something like only 50% of households have broadband, so that's a huge hit to it's chances right there.

3. The bandwidth simply isn't there. The figures I heard are 1-5 hours to download a movie. Imagine what's going to happen to those speeds if everyone in the neighborhood is trying to download movies as well.

4. No extras that you find on DVD. Not just fancy things like director's commentary, featurettes, deleted scenes, or alternate endings. But very basic things like closed captions.

Why would any one use a video kiosk of any type?

cuz they're cheap, efficient, and convenient.

Redbox blows the Hollywood deal out of the water. Many more locations to return your movies to all across the US. Nice on road trips to pick up a movie and exchange it in the middle of the trip.

P.S. Before you go hating on Redbox return time, get your facts straight - it's 9PM

McD's started Redbox, as a subsidiary kind of thing if I'm not mistaking. Kind of in a similar fashion as to how they started Chipotle maybe?

Anywho - I read those kiosks are about $10k and hold 250 or so movies at a time. I think McD's does a rev sharing thing with the people that have the kiosk on their property. Maybe they give 'em $0.25 from every rental?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redbox

Like I said though, wait until everyone in the neighborhood is trying to download movies too. Cable internet slows down as more of your neighbors come online.

It also doesn't address the problem of areas with no access to broadband. You get out to places like rural western ND, heck even my cousin in rural Bloomington Illinois, your options are dial up or satellite.

It's also DOA if the ISPs are successful in switching to a pay per byte service.

Haven't tried Netflix Watch Now, don't foresee that being an option any time soon.

Nor do I anticipate making a switch to digital for several years at least.

The last time I was at a video rental place (last May), it was like I've stepped into a time machine back to the '80s. It's all so old fashioned. They're inconvenient, expensive, you have to fill out lengthy applications to become a member, and half the time they never have the movie you want anyway. Prior to that, I haven't been in a video rental place since about 2002, maybe? DVDs are so cheap to just buy outright - $5-$7 for a lots of movies, with the price of renting it, which isn't exactly cheap, who wants to be hassled with going to a video store and having to return it by their deadline, and possibly faced with a fine? Might as well just buy the movie.

In 5 years, video rental stores will a thing of the past. It's only a matter of time before we can just download the movie in a few seconds. Hollywood Video and Blockbuster should start writing their eulogies.

I don't know much about Redbox/Hollywood Video kiosks. I've never used one, nor have I've ever seen anyone using one. If it's only $1/night and you can return it to any Redbox, that's a pretty good concept.

Still going to be a long, long time before I support downloads.

I still don't think the bandwidth issue is a bunch of bananas.

There's still the issue of the ISPs push to switch to a pay-per-byte service. It's not going to be too difficult for a user to bump up against their monthly limit. Not when you throw in music downloads, on-line gaming, all the software updates. Throw in a couple of movies, and your third movie is going to end up costing another $30 or so.

I also never addressed the DRM issue. With a DVD, you can grab it and go over to a friend's house, and watch it there. Good luck trying to transfer a download you purchased to your friend's set up.

And finally, I don't get why people think I should support something that I can't use. The internet USED to be an inclusive place. Unfortunately, the new services being introduced are inaccessible, with the aim (or at least the very real effect) of killing off real world alternatives that I can use.

The real world does a good enough job on it's own of isolating me. I don't like seeing technology that further isolates me in both the real world AND the internet.