Netflix Account

[oz]

Guys, I've just signed up for a trial account over at Netflix and have a couple of weeks to decide whether or not I want to keep the account. I've looked around online, but couldn't find anything that was obviously better, but perhaps I've missed some other service that should be considered. Do any of you have other recommendations, or is Netflix the way to go?

Also, have any of you had any luck at watching movies on your Linux boxes through Netflix?

Thanks for any info.


Edit: did a little more digging and found that Blockbuster Online is another option, but they don't have streaming video as far as I can tell, and the closest store to me is about 100 miles away, so I'd be unable to take advantage of the free DVD exchanges for walking into one of their stores. They don't charge any extra fees for Blu-ray, so that's a plus.

Also, it appears that Linux and Netflix still don't mix, but I think streaming directly to my Netflix compatible blu-ray player and HDTV will work.

Still, any additional tips or info are welcome!

[cousinlucky]

For buying cheap DVD movies on-line I suggest deepdiscount.com

[oz]

For buying movies cheap DVD movies on-line I suggest deepdiscount.com

Thanks for the suggestion, but I already have somewhere around 800 DVDs in my collection, so I've been thinking about renting them instead, and that's what Netflix does. I pay them a few bucks each month, and they keep the DVDs coming by US Mail as quickly as I return them. I can also watch them by streaming them to my TV or PC at no extra charge.

Should I decide to purchase more DVDs, I'll certainly take a look at that website... thanks again!


Edit: cousinlucky, I just took a look at that site and they may be a little high on their prices, at least in some cases. The District 9 blu-ray disk that I just bought from Amazon was $17.99, and at DeepDiscount it is showing up as $32.96 on sale.

That was the first and only disk that I checked so maybe that was an exception to the rule. Thanks.

[cousinlucky]

With the collapse of places to buy DVD's in New York City I have to purchase new DVD's from J&R in Manhattan or deepdiscountDVD. I purchase " already-viewed " DVD's from Blockbuster.

I have never bought anything from Amazon or Ebay.

800 DVD's far surpasses my collection. Although I know a guy in Boston who has that many clogging up his living space.

Blu-Ray, like a lot of other things, is just out of my league!!

[oz]

Right... I'm trying to cut back on purchases, and want to stick with rentals at least in most cases, or stream the movies to the TV or PC. On those occasions that I do buy, the best prices seem to be coming from Amazon and eBay, although I'm not fond of buying from either place except for the great prices often found there. I'll still be checking out Deepdiscount.com the next time I'm ready to purchase rather than rent, though. Thanks again for the link.

[gruven]

I have a Netflix account. I LOVE it. I am on the 2 at a time deal, and I have had netflix for a few years.

I have Windows 7 on my media pc, because so much stuff is going to Silverlight now. Streams great in HD on my 40" Sony Bravia and 15 Mb internet.

Never really had any problems with the mail service part of it either. I don't get bluray disks since they started charging extra, and I don't miss them. Most of them I used to get were scratched anyway and I had to end up sending it back and going through like 3 of them before I got one that played.

The dvds though, play great.

When we had the 8 at a time option, we would get full seasons of tv series, but now I just stream them or *cough*find*cough* them. Movies though, we like to get on dvd to watch or stream them with their service.

Moonlight on linux probably won't be able to play netflix streaming anytime soon because of the DRM implemented in the service. They would have to release the encryption keys and they won't. I hate to say it, but the netflix streaming in silverlight is so much better and smoother than flash streaming.

Those are just my thoughts on the subject, and your bluray player may be able to stream netflix. My PS3 does, and it does a fantastic job of it.

[oz]

I have a Netflix account. I LOVE it. I am on the 2 at a time deal, and I have had netflix for a few years.

I have Windows 7 on my media pc, because so much stuff is going to Silverlight now. Streams great in HD on my 40" Sony Bravia and 15 Mb internet.

Never really had any problems with the mail service part of it either. I don't get bluray disks since they started charging extra, and I don't miss them. Most of them I used to get were scratched anyway and I had to end up sending it back and going through like 3 of them before I got one that played.

The dvds though, play great.

When we had the 8 at a time option, we would get full seasons of tv series, but now I just stream them or *cough*find*cough* them. Movies though, we like to get on dvd to watch or stream them with their service.

Moonlight on linux probably won't be able to play netflix streaming anytime soon because of the DRM implemented in the service. They would have to release the encryption keys and they won't. I hate to say it, but the netflix streaming in silverlight is so much better and smoother than flash streaming.

Those are just my thoughts on the subject, and your bluray player may be able to stream netflix. My PS3 does, and it does a fantastic job of it.

That's the plan I signed up for as well, figuring that 2 disks out at one time is enough.

Too bad Netflix charges extra for blu-ray, though. I only signed up for DVD for now because the television series that I'm wanting to catch up on isn't out in blu-ray yet. Once I get past that (several seasons of episodes), I might try their blu-ray service to see how it goes. If they are scratched like you say, I'll drop it because I'm not interested in going through multiple attempts to get a good disk.

Thanks for all the info, gruven!

[Lakshmipathi]

ozar,though I have not used both Netflix or Blockbuster (though i heard/know about both of them) ,so I would suggest you to stick with Netflix - Since Netflix is leader in DVD/ Online Movies. Much better than Blockbuster.

[oz]

ozar,though I have not used both Netflix or Blockbuster (though i heard/know about both of them) ,so I would suggest you to stick with Netflix - Since Netflix is leader in DVD/ Online Movies. Much better than Blockbuster.

Yeah, I've pretty much decided to stay with Netflix. Nothing else seems to compare from what I've seen during my research.

One thing I can't find any info on after lots of searching is how they know whether to send the fullscreen or widescreen format DVD when they have both? Hopefully, they'll never send fullscreen when both are available because I won't watch it.

[techieMoe]

My wife and I have used Netflix for about 3 years now and had nothing but positive experiences. ozar - One other thing you might consider for getting your "Watch it Now" streaming videos is a dedicated box that hooks up to your internet connection.

Netflix sells a Roku box (about the size of an external harddrive) for a one-time $99 fee that will plug into your ethernet and stream videos off the service. Interesting side note - I was in one of the focus groups for that gadget.

Also, many newer DVD and Blu-Ray players (as well as the Xbox 360) have the ability to connect to your Netflix account and stream from it. Either way you're not tethered to any particular PC or any particular OS. It's just something to consider.