Internet shopping for the holiday season is extra convenient if you're buying movies or other digital programs. Buy the product online, and download it instantly instead of paying for shipping and waiting a few days.

Amazon, iTunes and Netflix have offered this service for a while, and now Best Buy will start selling digital downloads in addition to physical DVDs. The electronics megastore announced last week that all internet-connected devices sold in its stores will include software that allows users to download hundreds of movies, including some new releases on the same day they come out on DVD.

Personally, I love digital delivery. It's more environmentally friendly, often less expensive, and a whole lot more convenient. My husband, though, is very attached to having a physical collection of his favorite movies, and swears that the quality of DVD is better than streaming. Sometimes that's clearly right, but most of the time I don't see a difference.

Do you have a preference for DVDs or digital downloads? Leave a comment and let me know which format you prefer, and why.

I've been working on a dream job setting up a new client with the equipment they'll need to set up an in-house video department. To say there's no budget is to exaggerate, but this is one of those large companies that has no problem seeing a lot of zeroes.

So I've been set loose to find a camcorder, microphones, editing software and accessories for $10,000. And it's not even like we're talking about super-professional equipment; they're looking for quality stuff that staff can use without a lot of training.

It's nice to take price out of the equation - especially since I'm so keenly aware of it when shopping for my own video equipment. I've spent all morning on the B&H website looking at cameras, tripods, mics, teleprompters, backdrops and lights, with my focus entirely on quality and function, not cost. I wish shopping were always like this!

There are two new commercial contests for you to enter; you can win up to $7,500 as well as some other cool prizes. Good luck.

• 2009 AKC/Eukanuba Commercial Contest. Contest ends: November 30, 2009

• Best Idea on Two Feet Contest. Contest ends December 4, 2009 (The Z-CoiL "Best Idea on Two Feet" Commercial Challenge ("Contest") is open only to individuals who are legal residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia, who are 18 years of age or older.)

Go to Online Video Contests to view all of the contests featured on our site.

Should you host your videos on YouTube, or pay the fee to sign up for a dedicated content delivery network? Let's break down the pros and cons.

Cost: YouTube is free; CDNs charge a monthly fee. YouTube wins.

Services: YouTube offers only streaming video; CDNs offer streaming video, live video casting, video conferencing, pay-per-view video downloads and more. CDNs win.

Customization: YouTube videos are limited in length and play in Flash in a standard, branded player; CDNs allow you stream any length video in customized video players in various formats. CDNs win.

Video Quality: YouTube is getting better about converting video, but the quality can still be sketchy; online conversion quality varies between CDNs, but you can always use your own video conversion software before uploading. CDNs win.

Popularity: When your video is on YouTube it's instantly in front of millions of eyeballs, and indexed in Google; some CDNs offer video syndication, but mostly you'll be self promoting your videos. YouTube wins.

In the end it comes down to your purpose for uploading videos in the first place. If you're trying to make viral videos that will appeal to all audiences, go the YouTube route. If you're trying to communicate a professional message to a specific audience, using a CDN to stream the videos through your website is probably best.

• Top Content Delivery Networks for Streaming Video

Halloween's over and, like a lot of people, I'm looking forward to the holidays. Who knows, I may even buy myself an early present on Black Friday if there are any great video deals.

If you're looking for video gifts, I've got so many creative ideas for you. For the video maker in your life, you can choose a camcorder or buy video editing software. For something a little different (and a little less expensive), like headphones or a magazine subscription, check out these video gift ideas for inspiration.

And if you are the video maker in in the family, why not transfer home movies to DVD or produce a family memoir movie? If you're richer in time than money, these family films can be a valuable gift to all your relatives.

I do not like scary movies, so I appreciate cheesy effects that remind me that it is, in fact, just a movie. If you want to make a spooky-cheesy Halloween movie, try using these Halloween video effects. Storms, earthquakes, and ghosts are all at your editing fingertips!

My grandmother recently died and left behind a cupboard full of VHS home movies from the 80s. Turning them into DVDs has become my responsibility. There's too much unwanted footage to transfer the tapes directly to disk; they'll need to be edited first.

Editing your family's memories is a daunting task, and in this case I'm dealing with a lot of aunts, uncles and cousins. I don't want to take responsibility for cutting someone out and leaving someone else in, so I'm going to let my family members do the editing themselves.

And no, I'm not going to invite them all into the studio to offer their input. Thanks to online video editing services like Motionbox and Pixorial, collaborative video editing can happen from any computer connected to the internet.

And I don't even have to digitize and upload the tapes - if I mail them in the companies will do it for me. I'll share the account information with my relatives and they can each go on and edit an individual version of the video. This can be shared online, or ordered on DVD.

Very cool, and very easy (for me especially)!

This is your weekly reminder of upcoming contest deadlines. And since it's the end of the month there are quite a few video contests that will be ending this week, so make sure you've submitted all of the necessary information along with your videos in order to win.

• Interactive Male's Big Gay Kiss Contest. Contest ends: October 30, 2009

• Wirefly's Video Challenge. Contest ends: October 30, 2009
• International Student Travel Video Contest 2009. Contest ends: October 30, 2009
• Newegg Eggstreme Video Contest. Contest ends: October 31, 2009
• TCU Video Contest. Contest ends: October 31, 2009
• SKITBITS.COM Create Your Own Commercial Contest. Contest ends: October 31, 2009
• San Juan Islands Vacation Video Contest. Contest ends: October 31, 2009
• "Warman Fuzzy" Video Contest. Contest ends: October 31, 2009
• Do You Know Who I Am? Video Contest. Contest ends: October 31, 2009
• Kars4Kids Jingle Contest. Contest ends: October 31, 2009
• DBSA 2009 "Facing Us" Video Contest. Contest ends: November 1, 2009
• Money Can't Buy (Blank) Video Contest. Contest ends: November 1, 2009
• Gold Star Chili Flavor Fanatics Video Contest. Contest ends: November 1, 2009
• Making Sense of Diabetes Video Contest. Contest ends: November 1, 2009
• True Value DIY Drama Contest. Contest ends: November 2, 2009
• I Am What I Learn Video Contest. Contest ends: November 2, 2009

  Go to Online Video Contests to view all of the contests featured on our site.

I recently moved to a new town, which meant getting set up with a new cable service. I still haven't managed to figure out how to use my new DVR service, so I end up missing a lot of the programs that I like to watch. That's ok, though, because I've been able to find them free online, mostly through Hulu.

But it looks like the days of free TV and movies on Hulu are coming to an end. According to industry reports, the streaming video site is planning to move from an ad-based revenue model to subscription-based. There are no hard details, but the switch will likely happen sometime in 2010. That should give me plenty of time to figure out how to use my DVR!

OK, so I know what I'm doing on Sunday. I'll be at a U2 concert. Yeah, right. I wish.

But YouTube is offering me the next best thing - a live broadcast of a U2 concert. The band is giving YouTube viewers inside access to their live show at the Pasadena Rose Bowl. Cool!