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Ok, I admit that I don't have a Netflix account. Until the Blockbuster on my way home from work closed I didn't think it was worth it, but now I'm waffling. And I don't really like waffles; I don't trust them with their little pockets...
That aside, I'm wondering if Netflix is now worth the minor monthly cost. So I'm bringing it here. So thoughts…
I enjoy Netflix.
Ok, I admit that I don't have a Netflix account. Until the Blockbuster on my way home from work closed I didn't think it was worth it, but now I'm waffling. And I don't really like waffles; I don't trust them with their little pockets...
That aside, I'm wondering if Netflix is now worth the minor monthly cost. So I'm bringing it here. So thoughts…
I went through something very similar to what you are going through now. However, my wife went ahead and got netflix a while back just to watch on her laptop and now we're both addicted. Do you have an xbox 360? I'm saving up for one now, it's the only way I can justify Netflix increasing their rates at the end of the month.
I love it.
Netflix, I mean.
Creative Director
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I've got the 2 discs at once, unlimited streaming option, and it works INCREDIBLY well. There's actually a significant amount of movies on disc that aren't available on streaming only, so if you're really into movies, streaming only isn't 100% perfect. Furthermore, the visual quality of a movie is much better on a blu ray or even a DVD than it generally is streaming, even if it streams HD. If you have some sort of super-interenet conneciton, that might be less of an issue, but with standard cable modem speeds, even though I get HD when streaming, I can still see artifacts in the picture and, worse, the movie sometimes pauses as the internet speed changes so it can re-adjust.
Streaming is great, but the technology to make it as flawless as bluray or DVD isn't quite there yet. It's maybe 90% of the way, and if you have a smaller TV it's probably 100%.
ANYway... I use netflix more for my TV watching than I use cable TV. It's very much worth the price, and very much LESS expensive than cable TV. Even WITH their recent rise in cost... $20 a month (aka, the cost of a single Pathfinder AP volume) is still a fantastic price for what could easily end up being a viewing of 1-2 movies a night or more if you're really really crazy about watching movies.
Rah! Rah! NETFLIX!
The increase in the service rate is a bit much. Still cheaper than other routes, but they keep raising their rates. If you will be watching it just online then 9.99 is not bad. You can't get everything this way, but darn near.
The wife and I are considering this, but there are just too few things streaming that we are both into. We may yet change our minds after the arrival of the 360.
ANYway... I use netflix more for my TV watching than I use cable TV. It's very much worth the price, and very much LESS expensive than cable TV.
I've heard tell that almost EVERYONE does this after a while. I'm a bit apprehensive about losing cable tv, but from what I've heard, Netflix+Youtube on your TV and you'll never even miss it.
ANYway... I use netflix more for my TV watching than I use cable TV. It's very much worth the price, and very much LESS expensive than cable TV.I've heard tell that almost EVERYONE does this after a while. I'm a bit apprehensive about losing cable tv, but from what I've heard, Netflix+Youtube on your TV and you'll never even miss it.
Pretty much this was me. Other than sports, which I generally watch away from home anyways, the only thing I really watched on TV was Game of Thrones this past spring. I have the streaming and 1 disc out at a time plan and with my 360 I can watch a good number of movies and shows on my TV without having an expensive cable TV plan, at least until Game of Thrones starts back up on HBO.
Thanks guys! I think you talked me into it.
Get the streaming aspect, but get some number (1 or 2 initially) of CDs and then pick some list of movies you think you should watch and just grab those. There are a lot of great films out there that you have not seen and it is that easy to start knocking them off "the list".
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Director of Narrative
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ANYway... I use netflix more for my TV watching than I use cable TV. It's very much worth the price, and very much LESS expensive than cable TV.I've heard tell that almost EVERYONE does this after a while. I'm a bit apprehensive about losing cable tv, but from what I've heard, Netflix+Youtube on your TV and you'll never even miss it.
I ditched cable TV four years ago and never regretted it once in that time. Granted, I made the choice when I realized I hadn't sat down on my couch and watched TV in weeks. I'm sure if I had some DVR or something I might have kept it up. I simply do not watch enough TV/movies to make cable worth it. Now I get to choose what I want to watch when I want to watch it for a smaller monthly fee, and I find it much more workable.
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Been using it for years. I have the one disc and stream plan currently. If I had to choose I would ditch cable and just have the netflix but the ol' lady wants to watch Trueblood so cable stays.
I can tell you one thing, after joining Netflix you will see that blockbuster closing was a blessing in disguise.
For $8 a month, you can get an unlimited amount of material streaming to your PS3, Wii, Xbox 360, Laptop, Desktop, Iphone, or pretty much any modern device. Let that last sentence sink in- $8 a month. Unlimited material. Streaming to every device you own.
Yes, there's quite a bit of stuff that isn't available on a streaming-only account. BUT HOLY CRAP THERE'S A CRAPTON OF STUFF THAT IS. Seriously, you could begin watching something different on every device you own right now, turning on a new program every time an old one finishes, and never run out of programs to watch. When I got Netflix, I got it after spending the previous year watching nothing but pirated TV/movies- meaning I already had virtually anything at my fingertips, assuming I was willing to take the time to seek it out and download it- and I still think Netflix is worth it. It's a measly $8 a month, for crying out loud! Just being able to browse through literally thousands of movies/TV shows/documentaries/whatever is worth that. While there are shows that I'd like to watch that aren't available for streaming, having a Netflix account (which lets me watch TV/movies in the living room on my PS3, as well as on my Wii in my bedroom, as well as on my laptop while I'm at work, etc.) has gotten me to watch so many things I never would have watched otherwise. The Twilight Zone? Check. The Addams Family? Sure! Every episode of Futurama, South Park, King of the Hill, Firefly, Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers, Farscape, Third Rock from the Sun, the Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventures cartoon, and Reno 911? It just keeps getting better. Again, all for less than most people spend on a single meal at a fast-food restaurant. (For anyone who's ever used Blockbuster, that's less than TWO RENTALS.)
It's worth it. The sheer volume of programming to watch from so many different devices for such a low price makes it more worth it than any other service- network TV included.
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I do not have netflix, and I don't think I'll be getting it anytime soon. The wife and I don't watch a lot of movies, so I never bothered to even look at what their pricing is.
Usually, if I want to watch a movie, I'll do On Demand from my cable company (Comcast), and I do sometimes watch HBO.
My younger brother has had netflix for a few years and enjoys it very much. He, his wife, and their kids get a lot of use out of it.
Bottom line that I've always taken away from discussions about it: If you watch a lot of movies, it's worth it.
Right now they seem to have been considering changing that option to allow only one streaming device per account, or just charging for each streaming device you register. The September hikes may be in lieu of that.For $8 a month, you can get an unlimited amount of material streaming to your PS3, Wii, Xbox 360, Laptop, Desktop, Iphone, or pretty much any modern device. Let that last sentence sink in- $8 a month. Unlimited material. Streaming to every device you own.
I don't see why the hell they would care other than to bilk you of money. It's not their hardware.
Though to note, if I recall, Netflix doesn't stream content at its max possible definition when streaming to a computer, so you can't just hook a computer up to your TV.
I really don't have a lot of time to watch anything right now but on those rare breaks between semesters I really enjoy my netflicks. I just get the streaming and catch up on all the TV shows I missed earlier like No ordinary family. They are doing really good about some of the older shows streaming too. I saw they just recently added all the seasons of Charmed.
For me it beats going to the store, Blockbuster even gave me a free movie rental per day but I just didn't have the time to do it. For fast paced lives netflicks works great.
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I do not have netflix, and I don't think I'll be getting it anytime soon. The wife and I don't watch a lot of movies, so I never bothered to even look at what their pricing is.
Usually, if I want to watch a movie, I'll do On Demand from my cable company (Comcast), and I do sometimes watch HBO.
My younger brother has had netflix for a few years and enjoys it very much. He, his wife, and their kids get a lot of use out of it.
Bottom line that I've always taken away from discussions about it: If you watch a lot of movies, it's worth it.
That was my initial concern. My husband and I don't watch a ton of movies, but I can't bring myself to shell out the money for another bad, bad Nick Cage (example only) movie that would have been a rent at best. The bulk of movies I rented were for my class, but streaming there might work even better.
I think, with copious amounts of baking, I can convince my tech guy to let me stream them on my laptop. I'm really glad I asked! :)
I've had Netflix for about three years now, and I absolutely love it. But then I really enjoy watching lots of older films and foreign films that aren't very easy to track down in the United States. I favor the 2 physical DVD plan, as more of what I want is only available that way.
That said, I have been seeing more films that I've been interested in become streaming-only. That's not to say that Netflix has pulled the DVD; I know there are many times where they've become damaged and been unable to obtain a new copy of an obscure movie. But the streaming has allowed a new method for watching a film they can't obtain a DVD of, such as Vincent Price's Witchfinder General. My girlfriend has a streaming plan for her PS3, so if there's something we want to watch that way, we have a different means to do it.
Oh, a quick note. I've heard that the main reason Netflix has started this new pricing scheme actually has to do with more studios and production houses charging them a greater rate for the right to stream movies. Apparently they made a deal with Paramount a couple of years ago in which Paramount thought it got screwed, or something to that affect, so now between that and its success...well, yeah, price increases for us. So don't hate on Netflix too much for it.
I'm a Netflix junkie -- I actually don't watch any other TV at all at home. I've got the physical disks (with separate queues for my wife an myself, which we're able to manage separately under the same master account, which is totally awesome) and also streaming.
I may cancel the streaming, however. I do it through the Wii, and the movies/shows stop every few minutes and then spend a minute or two re-loading or re-buffering or whatever -- it's nearly impossible to watch something straight through. That, coupled with the very limited selection (maybe 1/10 the material they have on physical disks) is a real downer for me.
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Director of Sales
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If I may jump on this bandwagon...
I love love love my Netflix. I was really upset about the rate increase, but not necessarily at Netflix, but more just at the fact of it. However, I recently discovered that I can now connect and stream my movies through my android phone (it wasn't available the first time I checked), and I've now taken to watching Doctor Who on the bus to and from work.
Watching my favorite shows on the bus using a handheld wireless computer... It's so friggin' awesome to be living in the future. :)
However, I recently discovered that I can now connect and stream my movies through my android phone (it wasn't available the first time I checked)...
You're welcome. ^_^
Add me to the "Love Netflix" crowd. Lots of TV shows, including Star Trek, No Reservations, tons of documentaries—I'm a happy camper.
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However, I recently discovered that I can now connect and stream my movies through my android phone (it wasn't available the first time I checked)...You're welcome. ^_^
Add me to the "Love Netflix" crowd. Lots of TV shows, including Star Trek, No Reservations, tons of documentaries—I'm a happy camper.
You just made me sad. The only Star Trek not available is the only one I care to watch; DS9 /tear
Apparently Starz content will no longer be provided as streaming on Netflix. I tended to accidentally "order" those DVDs anyway, so it is not a loss for me, but it seems a real stupid move by both companies. I tried to find a good link, but either the writers were too stupid or there was no real information.
But I love Netflix. I have the 3/time method and still stream a lot of stuff. However, I probably watch a few more movies a month than some of our loyal readers.
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Apparently Starz content will no longer be provided as streaming on Netflix. I tended to accidentally "order" those DVDs anyway, so it is not a loss for me, but it seems a real stupid move by both companies. I tried to find a good link, but either the writers were too stupid or there was no real information.
It was initially Sony's fault (although Sony was just the first of many). All of the streaming content from Sony on Netflix came thru the Starz contract. Earlier this year, the number of customers for Starz nearing a threshold that has been set in their contract with Sony that would cause their contract to be immediately up for renegotiation. In order to push it off, they immediately pulled all of their Sony materials from Netflix to bring their effective subscriber numbers lower below the threshold. Since then other content producers (Disney, Paramount, etc) have started making similar noises and are indicating that they are going to want much more for the next time their contracts come up (like 3-5 times more). While Netflix technically has the money, their subscriptions have taken a bit of a hit from the economy and competition from RedBox and Amazon Prime and they wouldn't be able to sustainably continue without some price or service changes.
