What is Vudu? What can it do for you? Think of it as a video-on-demand box, similar to what your cable television service may be offering, but with a much wider selection of movies. Is Vudu right for you? Take a look at our review and find out.

The Vudu is a small set-top-box that is smaller than most DVD players and weighs about 4 pounds. It supports almost any TV or projector, with either S-Video, composite video, component video, and HDMI. For audio, the Vudu supports both stereo RCA and optical audio for Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound. Note that the Vudu does not have WiFi built-in, and requires a wired connection over ethernet, though I’m sure a wireless ethernet bridge would work just fine. The Vudu comes with a unique remote, with 5 buttons and a scroll wheel, and fits comfortably in the palm of your hand. The remote is RF (radio frequency) which means no line-of-sight is required, and that you can hide the Vudu where it can’t be seen. Inside is a 250GB hard drive for storage, which can store up to 100 hours of movies.

There is no subscription fee like other services and you can either rent or purchase movies on the Vudu, with prices starting at $0.99 for rentals, and $4.99 to $24.99 for purchases. At activation, the Vudu asks for a credit card, in which you can buy a certain amount of “credit” that the Vudu can use for purchases. The movies are instantly delivered to your unit, depending on the speed of your internet connection (a 2.0 Mbps connection is recommended). There is no buffering, and no waiting period for the movie to start playing.

Just like AppleTV, the Vudu can be updated with new features and movies over the internet, so down the road, you won’t have to purchase a newer model.

We tested the Vudu on the brand new Panasonic AX-200U 720p projector, and on a Comcast High-Speed internet connection. Movies started instantly, and with no interruption. Video quality was average (though HD content will be offered in the future), but the Vudu upscales the content to the resolution of your display, which helps. Sound quality was great, and didn’t sound compressed or low-quality like other services. The user interface is very intuitive, easy to use, and not too overwhelming to the viewer. Fast forwarding is as simple as flicking the scroll wheel forward.

The Vudu is a great alternative to buying DVDs and gets rid of the hassle of keeping the cases and scratching of discs. It’s available at some home theater resellers, and directly from Amazon for just $399. If you purchase and activate the Vudu before December 31st, you receive $50 in movie credits, perfect for the holiday season.

Pros

• Easy to setup.
• Intuitive and easy to use interface.
• Unique RF remote.
• No subscription fee.
• Movies are instantly delivered.

Cons

• Requires ethernet for internet connection.

Final Verdict
5 out of 5 stars.

Similar Reviews

• 2007 ConnectReviews Holiday Gift Guide starts Monday!
• Announcing the 2007 ConnectReviews Holiday Gift Guide!
• 2007 Holiday Gift Guide: Adobe Photoshop Elements 6 and Premiere Elements 4
• 2007 Holiday Gift Guide: Money Saving Gift Ideas
• Connect Gift Guide 06: Last-Minute Gifts
• 2007 Holiday Gift Guide: Gifts for Creative Pros
• 2007 Holiday Gift Guide: Palm Centro Smartphone
• 2007 Holiday Gift Guide: HP Blackbird 002 Gaming PC