The software design owes an obvious debt to the TiVo's famous attention to detail. In fact, the MovieBeam service is so easy to use, it easily passes what home-theater aficionados call the Baby Sitter Test. The compact remote control isn't illuminated, but it doesn't have to be; you control playback functions with one thumb by touch alone.

The movies represent every genre: comedy, action, drama, kids, horror, and so on. They come from every major movie studio except Sony (MovieBeam says a deal is imminent). You can view them alphabetically or by category, including Coming Soon and Leaving Soon. When you highlight a movie title, details appear and its Hollywood trailer plays automatically.

The picture and sound quality are excellent on standard TV sets, although you should be warned that most of them play in wide-screen format. On standard sets, that means that you'll get black letterbox bars above and below the picture.

MovieBeam could also play an important role in the new era of high-definition movies — once it gets its act together. Each month, about four of its movies are offered in high definition (for an additional $1 each), which you can enjoy on any HDTV set that has — stand back for oncoming jargon — either an HDMI jack or a DVI connector with HDCP.

Image FOR RENT MovieBeam is a slim set-top box that downloads movies over the airwaves as they become available and stores 100 at a time. It costs $200; there is no monthly fee; and you pay only for movies you watch.

At the moment, though, MovieBeam is muffing its opportunity here. The graphics and menus look spectacular, but the clarity and detail of the movies themselves fall far short of what you think of as high-def. (When Nicole Kidman's skin looks grainy, you know something's off.) The company blames, not altogether convincingly, the HD transfers from the original film, and promises better-looking HD movies in the coming months.

Otherwise, though, you'll have a tough time finding much to criticize about the MovieBeam experience. The real question is whether MovieBeam can find a niche that's not already served by the 435 other movie-delivery channels.