You rent it, not buy it
593822
I've been a long-standing user of VirusBarrier, since it was also a separate collection of products (NetBarrier and VirusBarrier). It has, I suppose, worked well enough, though I can't point to a specific incident where it has saved me. But I was OK with the idea of prevention. Until I discovered that they've changed their business model to what is essentially software rental: your purchase entitles you to one year's use, after which the software literally becomes useless, totally non-functional. I discovered this when I attempted to open the application and it told me I had to make another $30 purchase in order to use it. So I wrote to them; below is the back and forth, in part.

"I've been using VirusBarrier since before there was an OS X version, counting its NetBarrier origins.

When I launched my copy of Virusbarrier X6 today, I was told that my subscription had expired.

On its surface that's nothing new; my subscriptions had expired in the past and either I got around to eventually renewing it or I bought a new version of the software. However, I see that this is different: the software bricks itself when the subscription expires, becoming totally unusable--something unprecedented in all of the previous copies of Net- or VirusBarrier I've been faithfully buying, or in any other software I've ever owned."

Their response, in relevant part, was:
"When X6 was built, we had many customers who like you, would get around to renewing eventually that were being infected when they thought they were being protected.

To a company that has the reputation such as ours, we did not think this was acceptable.  While some users are just getting around to eventually renewing a great deal of customers continued to go about their daily business unaware that their machines were no longer protected."

to which my reply was:
"Not being protected against the absolute newest viruses isn't the same as having no protection at all, which is what you have forced upon us.

More importantly, you are taking away *all* protection altogether--not only against viruses, but firewall protection as well, essentially holding the user's security hostage unless they renew, making it an all-or-nothing situation.

After well over a decade, I have uninstalled VirusBarrier and will be looking into alternatives."

For that, I received this surprisingly snarky response:
"Good luck with that. We will miss your business.

Thank you for not understanding our need to keep our customers safe by them thinking they can use a product for free while others pay for the service.

As I feel better knowing that you know that I tried to keep your business but you would rather wish to buy new then renew."
4330231
It was kind of slow and dragged out. Worth a watch when it's available for rent. I wouldn't buy it.
2988158
Wont last you a week. fun at first but then becomes very boring would not recomend this to anyone. though it would make a good rental.
773153
Save your money and time, it isn't even worth $1 renting it from a Redbox.  You have been warned.
1161442
This comment is on the DVD, not the movie itself. I was unhappy to find the DVD came with previews you're forced to watch. I can live with that on a rental, but don't like paying for forced previews. If I didn't need this for a class, I would have returned it.
4616594
Mediocre sequel that seems to rely more on sensationalism than plot but an acceptable view. I consider this a better rental than purchase since I have no desire to see it more than once.  The script was weak but cast and crew did their best to rise above it.
4446348
Boring, but not terrible.  Even though I paid $4.99 to rent it, I didn't want to waste my time watching it to the end.
96077
I rented it.  I did something I seldom ever do.  I turned it off about 1/2 way through.  I couldn't watch anymore.
649802
DO NOT RENT. It does not have the required card with code for online content. If your course requires it this is a TOTAL WASTE OF MONEY
3224811
I really enjoy the fantasy genre, both in literature, games and movies.  This movie, however, hardly justifies what theaters would charge to see it.  I'm not going to beat a dead horse, but wait for this one to show up on TV.  There won't be anything to cut out, and you'll have some much-needed commercial time to get away for a couple minutes.

In fact, this movie should probably have gone straight-to-SciFi, so Joel McHale could use it for material on The Soup.

I gave it three stars because though it was no LoTR epic, it wasn't the complete trash others have described it as.  You just have to set your expectations before watching it.  Then manage your expectations and resist the temptation to fast forward just to get through it faster.

If you subscribe to a movie rental service and are looking for something to watch before another good movie is released, and you're even mildly into this genre, go for it.  I'll pass the afternoon just fine.
4421993
Catch this on free for view, not worth buying.
1933999
I realize people don't care about rental books, but wow. These are not your books, people. you are borrowing it. treat them with respect!
3702895
Let me clearly state that I did not watch this movie, the 1 star rating is based solely on the rental fee. I will never watch any movie that costs $150 to rent. That is a ridiculous price.
2207420
An appeal for those who are looking for action without too much reality to steal the patriot's soul away.
Just enough terrorist to stir the blood.  Glad I rented it and didn't buy it.
1202542
I bought this movie and it was a good show, but the media it is on is doomed.  Eventually technology will be available to copy flexplay discs just the same as a standard DVD.  Not only that, most consumers want to "own" their movies.  Plus, I don't know of a video store that rents its movies for five bucks unless they're intentinonally trying to fail (but I live in a small area and don't know what the prices are like in the big areas).
  This will go the way of DIVX -- it will last less than one year.  Its only hope of survival is for rental purposes.  That means your local video store has to constantly restock the Flexplay discs driving the cost of the rental over five dollars because if they have to constantly restock their titles that means there is a demand and they will raise prices.
  Some !sshole wrote a review saying it is ridiculous to worry about the garbage these things are going to cause (he must work for Flexplay).  Well, the truth is that if it did catch on (which it won't), it would create slightly less garbage than McDonald's.  I know I threw mine in the garbage after I watched it.  Imagine hundreds of thousands of homes in the U.S.A. alone watching two movies a day on Flexplay -- how much waste does that make? The CD long boxes were eliminated for such concerns and so will Flexplay.  The Flexplay discs can be recycled, but how many consumers will actually bother?  If you have to recycle the disc isn't it the same as bringing it back to the video store?  Late fees?  Join netflix. It is easy.
  This is simply another attempt for movie studios to discontinue DVDs so consumers can never own their video libraries.  They want you to buy Flexplay discs so they can make a killing on their movies long after their theatre run.  That's what DIVX was and that is what Flexplay is -- a total and complete rip off espically when it comes to the honest consumer who does not copy their DVDs.  It's always the honest people who get shafted for what the dishonest people do.  Renting them is fine, but if they try to replace DVDs with Flexplay their sales will suck just like DIVX and have to go back to DVDs.
  Mark my words, "less than one year".  But any knucklehead can predict that.
191391
OK, I agree.  It LOOKS wonderful!  But eye-candy isn't everything when it comes to great games.  This is NOT a great game.  This is an OK rental game, since it is easy to play.  Re-play value stinks except to show your friends.
2276307
When I go to video stores to rent movies, there are a lot of movies that never made it to theaters or only lasted a short time. Maybe they are "B" movies, or alternative, or otherwise "artsy" Cannes Film Festival movies. Occasionally I pick them up to get different perspectives and sometimes enjoy the off beat humor or alternative slices of life.

This movie is a total waste of time. It is not even remotely related to the Zodiac as I understand the case, the acting terrible, and could perhaps be the worst movie of all time.