Posted on 01/18/2011 6:20:18 PM PST by Extremely Extreme Extremist
When Netflix started up more than 10 years ago, its sales pitch was pretty simple: Hey, subscribe to us, and we'll mail you DVDs that you can then mail back to us without worrying about any late fees. But as the rental market moves toward online and on-demand models, Netflix's iconic red envelopes may eventually become as antiquated as VHS tapes. Beefing up their streaming business, Netflix has predicted that in about two years their economics will be geared more toward their "Watch Instantly" service than through physical discs. For that to happen, Netflix will have to nudge their DVD-loyal customers to the new platform. And on Monday, the company learned just how hard that may be.
In a seemingly innocent 109-word blog post, Netflix director of product management Jamie Odell announced, "We're removing the 'Add to DVD Queue' option from streaming devices," suggesting that it was being done so that the company "can concentrate on offering you the titles that are available to watch instantly." Granted, the Netflix website still allows DVD queue updating, but this post, dropped on the morning of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, created an immediate firestorm of comments -- most of them very, very angry.
(Excerpt) Read more at blog.movies.yahoo.com ...
Because many people still do not have access to Smart Phones etc nor broadband service. They likely won’t have Broadband for the next decade because expansion has came to a screaching halt as far as reaching high spped internet out beyond any towns city limits. The Cable Companies aren’t expanding, Ma Bell isn’t upgrading, and cell is capped at 5GB per month.
It obviously takes a wired internet connection. That's what the RJ-45 LAN port is.
The bad news is you it has to be close enough to your router to physically connect. The good news is, that's all you do. Wireless you have to configure. Wired just works.
You do have a TV or two that have HDMI inputs, right?
Until you get to the very last paragraph --which I found to be the most troubling:
"But while Netflix is slowly discouraging the continued interest in DVDs, they face a different challenge even if their business model transformation succeeds. As Slate reported, if Netflix's streaming business takes off the way they think it will, it could prove a serious drain on America's broadband capacity, which is far less nimble than other countries'."
So Netflix's ability to stream will be limited by the USA's lousy internet connections? How is it that the country that practically invented the internet has the weakest internet service?
For the record, I am a Netflix subscriber who streams through my PS3 and receives Blu-Ray's through the mail. Honestly, I'd just prefer to stream everything instantly in high-def but it sounds like American internet service needs to be modernized to those of other countries in order to do so --and this is a damn shame.
Yes and I purchased two HDMI cords when I bought the machines
Netflix streaming is totally dependent upon ISP being able to keep up. Netflix does not have to pay for this “last mile” of the system. When ISP’s get tired of chasing their tails on streaming they will start to charge considerably more for high usage connections.
That is the problem with the Netflix business plan. Somebody has to pay and they won’t.
So should I return these and get fully wireless instead?
Yeah - why should they keep doing what their customers WANT them to do? After all - everybody has unlimited high-speed internet, except those that don’t (such as any rural customer who is limping along on 5G/month).
Perhaps. But realize my parents have had a computer for ten years, and my father has never, not even once, sat down in front of it and used it. And, my mother is unbelieveably inept even when it comes to generic surfing (which, she really doesn’t even do, for the most part).
At their age and inclinations, they just won’t bother. Yes, they could master it if they really, really tried. But I just know they won’t.
Amazon.com's Video On Demand has Season 5 of MI-5 at 99 cents per episode.
That’ll be fun when the Obama folks get a hold of the Internet and tax us by the megabyte.
That’s worth considering....
The day they send a tech — free of charge — to my house to hook up all the cr@p I would need to stream movies to my antiquated TV is the day I’ll go for the new platform. I think there may be others like me. Maybe lots.
Keep in mind that much of the country is rural and doesn’t have access to the broadband required for on-demand viewing.
While there are options like satellite and 3G networks (4G is just launching and mostly unavailable), they’re relatively slow, expensive and have daily or monthly download limits which make them unsuitable for the direction Netflix is moving in.
We opted to cancel our Netflix account because of the DVD rental price increase and lack of access to suitable broadband.
What a GREAT COMMENT!!! The BEST OF ALL COMMENTS i’ve read today!!! you made my day
The DVD/CD format is quickly going the way of the floppy disc as streaming data is a far superior distribution method of audio/video.
I gave up Netflix a couple years ago because I got sick of getting worn-out DVDs with scratches, fingerprints, etc., that would not reliably play in my DVD player. Now that they are moving to a streaming model, I'll have to take a second look. As far as there being a larger library of DVD content as opposed to streaming content, that is a temporary situation that is quickly being addressed. In a short while, we will be able access virtually any audio/video content over the internet.
I wish they would.Had one split in half,another one missing from from the envelope.Their streaming is terrible sometimes too.If they’d get that fixed,it’d be great.
A lot of TV’s are now being sold with Netflix software embedded. And, ironically enough, DVD/Home Theater systems as well. Me, I have a Mac Mini plugged into a 52” Sony, that does more than just stream Netflix.
If she bought her devices in December, I would think they have more options than just what you’ve shown there. Wireless could be built in, or they also sell a USB WiFi dongle. Most mfg’s should realize that not everyone is going to have a wired router sitting next to the TV, or are going to run a wire from where ever they need to.
I guess you meant free for 30 days. That is what my wifi blu ray player showed when I clicked NetFlix's app.
I prefer the DVD's too......I usually get mine from the local libarary for free. Granted, they're not new releases but I'm patient. If I want a new release then I utilize a Red Box kiosk situated outside a local Walgreen drugstore. They're only $1.00 to rent........
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