Blockbuster Total Access Alternative

Blockbuster recently rolled out a $4.99/month service for their online DVD movie rental service to try and align it's plans better with the majority of consumer's real movie watching habits. Do you REALLY watch 4-6 movies EVERY month? If not, the $5 movie rental plan might be for you.

However, if you are even more realistic, $4/month might be better on your wallet for the same thing. Intellifix is a competing DVD rental service that does the same thing as NetFlix and Blockbuster Total Access, but for less.


Intellifix has plans starting from $3.99. That plus the fact that Consumer Reports just rated Intellifix the best DVD movie rental service -- even better than Netflix and Blockbuster -- should be enough to give them a try.

Of course, they have a free trial period so you can test out really how fast they ship the movies to your door.

Blockbuster vs. NetFlix $4.99 Plan Comparison

Blockbuster just announced a new DVD rental plan for $4.99/month. In keeping with Blockbuster's strategy to undercut NetFlix with plan features, you'll get 12 more video or game rentals with Blockbuster-by-mail vs. Netflix at the $4.99/month price level.


Netflix only offers 2 movies a month, 1 at a time via mail for $4.99. Blockbuster's $4.99 plan also gives you 2 DVD rentals per month by mail, but you also get a bonus coupon for a free additional movie or game rental from the Blockbuster store every month. Thus you get 12 rentals per year free for the same price. Another added bonus with any kids in the house -- the coupons are good for game rentals, not just videos!


Separately, Blockbuster slashed their unlimited Total Access plan price to $16.99, making it literally cheaper than Netflix for the same unlimited service.

Netflix offers only 2 movies / month at $4.99

Blockbuster $5 Coupon For Total Access Members

Yet another reason why Blockbuster Total Access is better than NetFlix -- Blockbuster Video keeps throwing more freebies to members. Not only do you get double the number of video rentals per month plus a free game rental, I just got this email from Blockbuster:

Blockbuster has long used their website for one-time printable coupons. This is yet another way to save more at the store.

At the store, they now have a cool promo locall too -- $5.99 for 30 days and you get a free candy/treat every time you go. Since they are priced from $1 to $3 each usually for a Twizzler, Popcorn, Chocolate covered pretzels, gummy bears, mentos, etc, if you go to the store just once a week, this is a great deal.

I have no clue how Blockbuster aims to make a profit with their Total Access DVD Rental Program . . . especially when they have plans for only $5.99/month after the free trial. But until it's gone, you might as well ride the wave.

Video Slideshows & Home Movies for Dummies

One of the best things I've done with all the digital photos and video clips that I've taken with my Sony digital camera is to make video slide shows using Microsoft PhotoStory. It's a very easy program that allows you to import photos, re-arrange the order, set-up transitions between each photo, add titles, import mp3 music files for a sound track and set-up zoom/pan movement within each photo during the video. It also allows me to burn the finished product to a DVD to share with others after buying an additional $20 plug-in DVD burning plug-in specifically for that program.

I consistently get ooohs and ahhhhs whenever we show them to friends or family. Everyone wants to know how to do it themselves. The problem is that everyone is a little bit lazy, and there is a learning curve when it comes to all things technical.


Here's one attempt to solve that. Digital video slide show for Dummies: OneTrueMedia. The site allows you to upload photos from your PC, and then it auto-creates a video slide show for you with some basic razzle dazzle elements. If you are daring enough the service gives you more control to customize each part just like with the "manual" process I described above.
You can also order DVD's from them or photobooks too.

One really neat thing about OneTrueMedia is that you can also share any of the creations online through YouTube, GoogleVideo, etc and here's an exclusive feature that may be worth it for you to try them out: Anyone with a Tivo (like grandparents) worldwide can automatically find your latest video slide show on their "NOW PLAYING" menu and just watch your video just like any other of their recorded TV shows on the Tivo.

This is one service that is trying to break that inertia & "dummies" barrier for the millions of people that have digital photos and video clips "held hostage" in their cameras and hard drives.

If you've try it out, why not share your experience via the comments section?