<http://schema.org/articleBody>
" The future of buying and renting movies is streaming now to a PC near you. But not all online flicks are equal. Here&amp;#039;s what you get with your near-instant gratification. Amazon Unbox       Selection: Amazon Unbox offers thousands of movies (from new releases to classics) and TV shows for rental or purchase from every studio except Disney. But the disorgan\u00ADized interface can make finding your favorite film difficult.    Cost: Rentals: $3.99 | Purchase: $7.99-$19.99 | TV Shows: $1.99    Quality: Amazon Unbox generally gives two versions of purchased, downloaded movies: one Windows Media 640 x 480 file at 2.5Mbps (the best in the biz) that can play on up to two PCs, and a smaller file for up to two portable devices.    Test Download: Size: 1.7GB | Run Time: 1 hr. 30 min. | Download Time: 1 hr. 14 min. | Playable: Within 11 min.   CinemaNow       Selection: CinemaNow has more than 4000 titles (films, shorts and TV shows) from all major studios. The site offers movies for rental and purchase, plus 130 videos for burn-to-DVD purchase.    Cost: Rentals: $2.99-$3.99 | Purchase: $9.95-$19.95 | Burn To DVD: $8.99-$19.99    Quality: Downloaded movies have resolution up to 640 x 480 at 300Kbps to 700Kbps. Rental and download files are Windows Media format and can play on up to four Windows PCs. Burn-to-DVD files work with standard DVD players.    Test Download: Size: 1.7GB | Run Time: 2 hr. 30 min. | Download Time: 55 min. | Playable: Within 1 hr.   iTunes       Selection: The force to be reckoned with in online music isn&amp;#039;t yet a big player in online movies. At press time, Apple&amp;#039;s iTunes Store offered only 216 movies but more than 200 TV series. All video files are for purchase -- Apple doesn&amp;#039;t do rentals... yet.    Cost: Purchase: $9.99-$14.99 | TV Shows: $1.99 Per Episode    Quality: iTunes QuickTime movies are 640 x 480 resolution at 1Mbps to 2Mbps. Files can be backed up to DVD and will play on up to five Mac or Windows PCs or unlimited iPods, but not on DVD players. Will work with Apple&amp;#039;s upcoming iTV system.    Test Download: Size: 1.7GB | Run Time: 2 hr. 30 min. | Download Time: 2 hr. 35 min. | Playable: Immediately   Movielink       Selection: Movielink is a joint venture between MGM, Paramount, Sony, Universal and Warner Bros., but it has deals with all the major studios. The service offers 1000 movies for purchase, along with 1400 24-hour rentals.    Cost: Purchase: $8.99-$19.99 | Rentals: $0.99-$4.99    Quality: Movielink&amp;#039;s site works best with Internet Explorer 5.0 or higher (Firefox requires a plug-in). Windows Media files are 720 x 272 resolution at up to 2Mbps. Three copies can be made, but not for DVD players or portable devices.    Test Download: Size: 1.2GB | Run Time: 1 hr. 47 min. | Download Time: 1 hr. 56 min. | Playable: Within 11 min.   Netflix       Selection: Netflix announced it&amp;#039;s Watch Now streaming movie feature for its customers in January. The number of available movies is currently around 1000, but Netflix promises 5000 by the end of 2007. Netflix is currently in the process of enabling the feature on all its members&amp;#039; accounts -- all 6.3 million members should be activated by June.    Cost: Members who pay $15/month get 15 hours of movie watching per month.    Quality: Over a broadband connection, movies stream through Windows Media Player at DVD quality; resolution may decrease when using a slower connection.    Test Download: Size: N/A | Run Time: 1 hr. 36 min. | Download Time: N/A | Playable: Immediately   "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/gadgets/a1428/4213006/>