Review: Online DVD Rentals

Jan. 16 -- Across America, video stores laugh at us DVD owners. They trounce upon the very format we have grown to love. They spit on the shiny silver discs that have brought a new dimension to home theater.

They do this by keeping a pathetic selection of DVDs in stock, a selection so teeny-tiny that they are often shelved in alphabetical order, not even divided into categories — probably because a sign saying "SCIENCE FICTION" would take up more room than their entire selection of sci-fi DVDs.

Adding insult to injury, they stock only one of each title, maybe a handful for new releases. The result: When you get to the store, the only DVD available is Battlefield Earth.

Is this the proper respect for a format that is now outselling VHS tapes? According to an industry study cited in The Hollywood Reporter, DVDs generated $4.6 billion in sales for 2001, while VHS sales hit $3.8 billion.

Recent attempts by some video rental chains to boost DVD shelf space still fall short for the legions of DVD-player owners, especially when it comes to backlist titles. Fortunately, online rental companies are trying to pick up the slack.

Speed: Not Just a Film Title

The two biggest — Netflix and Rentmydvd — both offer similar plans: pay a monthly fee, keep a set number of DVDs at home as long as you want. No late fees. Huge selection.

When you return a DVD, they send you another from a list you create on their Web site.

This is where Rentmydvd.com holds a solid advantage: It is wicked fast. The company has a distribution center on each coast, allowing folks in the New York and San Francisco areas to get their DVDs in a day, maybe two.

Return the DVDs you rented over the weekend on Monday, and the replacements will arrive well in time for the weekend.

Netflix, by contrast, appears to have its rental center on Uranus. Return your DVDs on Monday, and you'll get your new movies in time for the weekend — provided it's not the coming weekend.

The Interactive Video Store