Logging into automated content vending systems

One system embodiment of the present invention is a kiosk for retailing and distributing digitally-encoded content that features a card reader, such as a magnetic-stripe- card swipe reader or a smart-card reader, that allows a user to quickly and easily log into the kiosk using a credit card, retailer-provided identification card, or other card containing electronically readable information that identifies the user to the kiosk. Method embodiments of the present invention include methods for quickly and easily identifying a user and interconnecting with a user's portable device in order to prepare to provide any of a variety of personalized content-delivery services to the customer.