Pay to download movies

[jcook5000]

Cinema Now is starting a pay to own movie download service. This way you have unlimited viewing. However, I don't think you get actual dvd files. I assume they are all .avi or something of the sort. Is there a service like this that allows you to download the actual .vob files? I know it would be a hefty download, but those of us with a fast connection wouldn't mind it. Especially if you owned the entire dvd for $5. Has anyone heard of any sort of news about that sort of thing?

[Cobra]

I've seen a company (alas in the US only just now) that allows you to download a file as a rental, so once you've seen it you have 24 hours in which you can watch it over and over, but then it deletes itself.

I'd prefer to have a high-quality DVD copy and pay a bit more. However, I don't buy DVDs on a regular basis at all because they're so expensive here. £15 to £20 in the shops......

CobraDMX

[Gazorgan]

The 2 companies I looked at were in VCD resolution. Files ran 500 MB for a full length movie.

So basically crap quality! Not DVD files, Not DVD quality.

DVD quality DivX is roughly 2 GB/2 hour movie.
Almost DVD Quality Movies are roughly 1.5 GB/2 hour movie.
VCD/VHS Quality movies are roughly .8-1GB/ 2 hour movie.

This assumes you keep the Dolby surround 2 channel downmix as a minimum.

These are my standards. So some 500 MB avi isn't going to win any quality awards. It may be VCD/VHS quality for a 90 minute movie, but probably not...