I like to take things slow sometimes.
I never bought a VCR – the one I used for years was won at the University of Northern Iowa Jazz Band concert. It was a door prize. The grand prize.
I did spend three bills on a DVD player back in 1999, though. I am not always behind the curve.
Fast forward [ha! pun intended! OMG!] to 2009. I have canceled both my OUTRAGEOUSLY EXPENSEIVE Comcast Digital Cable package and all of its on-demand video capabilities. Also on the scrap heap is my Netflix membership, victim of one too many scratched-beyond-playable DVDs delivered [and more often, simply unwatched].
Some family is visiting, so what am I to do? Time to make good on that promise of being moderately technologically literate and use the internets to entertain my guests. I had two options, as far as I was concerned: iTunes or Amazon. I like both because I have established accounts with each. One click or two, no need to fetch my wallet, and I will soon be viewing.
After looking at iTunes, it appears that I will need to wait until the 1.21 gigawatts [or GB, if you must] completes downloading before my viewing can begin. Moving along…
Amazon has the option for download, but also the on-demand feature. [I got used to the on-demand feature with Netflix — one of the reasons I kept that subscription for so long.] I clicked and we were off.
Picture quality was fine for me and my 9-year-old non-HDTV. As a matter of fact, the quality was as fine as my DVD player through an S-Video cable, a feat that still boggles the mind.
Is there a parable here?
When it comes to something as fleeting as rental entertainment, the on-demand is going to win out in many households. Downloads will have their place where connectivity is lacking or portability is priority. But, as long as people are plopping down in their living rooms, this will be the pick.