Blockbuster 2Wire MediaPoint

With its $99 (direct) 2Wire MediaPoint digital media player, a set-top box that delivers movies to the home via Internet, Blockbuster once again shows us that anything Netflix can do, Blockbuster can do, too—if not better, then well enough. But while Netflix's subscribers can stream movies to a computer or via a device like the Netflix Player by Roku at no additional cost, rentals on the MediaPoint run from $1.99 to $3.99 each. The box does come with 25 free rentals, which basically equals a rebate of between $50 and $100, depending on which films you select. The real question is not whether the MediaPoint eclipses Netflix's similar offerings, it's simply whether current Blockbuster customers really gain anything from owning the unit. And to set the record straight—this box is not a media extender like the Xbox 360, the PlayStation 3 or the Apple TV, meaning you can't (currently) use it to stream files from your PC.

• Price as Tested: $99.00 Direct
• Networking Options: 802.11a/g
• Hard Drive: Yes
• Shows Video: Yes
• Has On-screen TV Display: Yes
• Rips CDs: No