netflix - watch instantly

[IHateMyJob2004]

Well, I've decided to give the "watch instantly" service a shot with my XBox 360.

FYI: "watch instantly" is basically streaming movies via Netflix. I do it through my XBox 360.

I have to say that a vast majority of the movies that I actually want to see are not available via "watch instantly" at Netflix. I'd say over 80% of the movies I want to see (some very popular ones) are not available to watch instantly.

That just sucks. So, I'll end the 2 week trial next week and that's that.

I'm curious if anyone out there has tried out the service and if so, what are your thoughts?

In the end, maybe I'll try again next year. Subscription based services are the future but the services are very immature right now.

 

[WraithETC]

Its suppose to supplement the DVD by mail service; I don't think it was meant to be a standalone type of dealie.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

Originally posted by: WraithETC
Its suppose to supplement the DVD by mail service; I don't think it was meant to be a standalone type of dealie.

It's the future ... it's just not now. If they advertise it and 90%+ (I'd say over 90% is fair) of the movies are not available for streaming it should not be advertised.

I only tried out Netflix due to this service. Back to "other means" of watching movies.

 

[slayer202]

what popular movies didnt they have. I'm sure they are only starting with newer releases

 

[TheVrolok]

Originally posted by: IHateMyJob2004

Originally posted by: WraithETC
Its suppose to supplement the DVD by mail service; I don't think it was meant to be a standalone type of dealie.

It's the future ... it's just not now. If they advertise it and 90%+ (I'd say over 90% is fair) of the movies are not available for streaming it should not be advertised.

I only tried out Netflix due to this service. Back to "other means" of watching movies.

I absolutely love the "Watch It Now" as far as supplementing my physical DVD rentals from Netflix. No, you aren't going to find the newest movies on the list, but I think it has a pretty decent selection considering what it started out like. There are a lot of good classics to watch whenever you're up to it. Not to mention TV shows.

 

[leglez]

I love it so far, if the movie isn't available instantly then just get it by mail. It usually only take 24-48 hours. Now if only I could get my ISP to quit throttling me after streaming for 15 minutes.

 

[BigJ]

Watch it now is a great feature for TV shows. For movies, it's decent. Not great, not terrible.

 

[nageov3t]

they don't have a ton of new movies, but I've found some great watched after digging around... I'm probably going to buy the roku player this week.

 

[BoberFett]

Originally posted by: slayer202
what popular movies didnt they have. I'm sure they are only starting with newer releases

All of them.

Seriously. There are very few movies available for streaming.

 

[ra990]

Yea its pretty great in that I can usually find something to watch while the DVDs are in transit. Basically, the movies I really want to watch, I get on DVD and usually find something worth watching through the Watch Instantly feature.

The selection and quality is improving though - definitely worth it IMO.

 

[BigJ]

Originally posted by: BoberFett

Originally posted by: slayer202
what popular movies didnt they have. I'm sure they are only starting with newer releases

All of them.

Seriously. There are very few movies available for streaming.

Do you have the service?

The new movies are scarce, but tons of good movies are available for streaming.

 

[Tsaico]

Originally posted by: BoberFett

Originally posted by: slayer202
what popular movies didnt they have. I'm sure they are only starting with newer releases

All of them.

Seriously. There are very few movies available for streaming.

I thought the same thing when I posted a question similiar to this. The movies are just random too, no real patter as to what is available. The best guess we had is some moves need some extra promotion for some reason, so they are available.

Neat idea, but right now as it is, it is pretty lame.

 

[slag]

I like it.. it has a ton of kids movies that my kids can watch.

Whats lame about it is that it requires a gold membership to use.. OK, i'm already paying for the netflix service, why should I have to pay for a gold live membership to use it?

thats the lame part.

I dont play xbox 360 games online, so all i use the gold membership for is to stream movies from netflix.

no thanks.

I'll just buy a $100 set top box and do it that way instead of having to pay for 2 different subscriptions.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: IHateMyJob2004

Originally posted by: WraithETC
Its suppose to supplement the DVD by mail service; I don't think it was meant to be a standalone type of dealie.

It's the future ... it's just not now. If they advertise it and 90%+ (I'd say over 90% is fair) of the movies are not available for streaming it should not be advertised.

I only tried out Netflix due to this service. Back to "other means" of watching movies.

You should demand a full refund! Those sons of bitches! They advertise ~10,000 movies available for streaming, and there are 10,000+ movies available for streaming.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: slag
I like it.. it has a ton of kids movies that my kids can watch.

Whats lame about it is that it requires a gold membership to use.. OK, i'm already paying for the netflix service, why should I have to pay for a gold live membership to use it?

thats the lame part.

I dont play xbox 360 games online, so all i use the gold membership for is to stream movies from netflix.

no thanks.

I'll just buy a $100 set top box and do it that way instead of having to pay for 2 different subscriptions.

You don't have to pay for an Xbox Live Gold membership to use Netflix streaming. You can watch movies on your PC or on a Roku box or on a HD TiVo, and I think on some Blu-ray player(s) - no Xbox Live Gold membership needed. That's what your Netflix membership gets you. If I had to guess why you need XBL Gold to watch Netflix streaming on your Xbox, it's probably because Microsoft compensated Netflix for exclusivity. That may not have been monetary compensation, it could have been software (Netflix switching to Silverlight) or hardware (Microsoft hosting the streaming servers).

 

[rudeguy]

Originally posted by: IHateMyJob2004

Originally posted by: WraithETC
Its suppose to supplement the DVD by mail service; I don't think it was meant to be a standalone type of dealie.

It's the future ... it's just not now. If they advertise it and 90%+ (I'd say over 90% is fair) of the movies are not available for streaming it should not be advertised.

I only tried out Netflix due to this service. Back to "other means" of watching movies.

Are you being serious? This has to be a troll post.

They gave you a 2 week free trial so you could try it out without an investment. You tried it, you didn't like it, you canceled...oh wait. Its so bad that you are going to keep it another week.

Put your peg leg and eye patch back on. You might also want to call your mommy and tell her the man on the internet was being mean to you.

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: IHateMyJob2004
Well, I've decided to give the "watch instantly" service a shot with my XBox 360.

FYI: "watch instantly" is basically streaming movies via Netflix. I do it through my XBox 360.

I have to say that a vast majority of the movies that I actually want to see are not available via "watch instantly" at Netflix. I'd say over 80% of the movies I want to see (some very popular ones) are not available to watch instantly.

That just sucks. So, I'll end the 2 week trial next week and that's that.

I'm curious if anyone out there has tried out the service and if so, what are your thoughts?

In the end, maybe I'll try again next year. Subscription based services are the future but the services are very immature right now.

Watch Instantly is basically only just beginning. They have to show that it works and works well before they can get all the licensing agreements from the movie publishers to show every single movie out there. Additionally, it will probably be a long time (if ever) before you see newly released movies on the service because the movie publishers are going to want to sell the DVDs/Blu-Rays first and then go through the PPV route (TV/consoles). You should expect new movies to hit the Watch Instantly service at about the same time it would hit the movie channels. One of Netflix's partners is Starz btw.

 

[A Casual Fitz]

Sony pulled their catalog at the last second right? I thought that was the big crippling blow that lead to the underwhelming selection when this Netflix streaming debuted. I like it, however I'm getting it for free because my mom subscribes to netflix just for the DVDs so I just had her hook me up. I wouldn't pay for it, no.

 

[BigJ]

Originally posted by: A Casual Fitz
Sony pulled their catalog at the last second right? I thought that was the big crippling blow that lead to the underwhelming selection when this Netflix streaming debuted. I like it, however I'm getting it for free because my mom subscribes to netflix just for the DVDs so I just had her hook me up. I wouldn't pay for it, no.

Sony only pulled it for the 360.

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: BigJ

Originally posted by: A Casual Fitz
Sony pulled their catalog at the last second right? I thought that was the big crippling blow that lead to the underwhelming selection when this Netflix streaming debuted. I like it, however I'm getting it for free because my mom subscribes to netflix just for the DVDs so I just had her hook me up. I wouldn't pay for it, no.

Sony only pulled it for the 360.

It is back up.

 

[BigJ]

Originally posted by: Queasy

Originally posted by: BigJ

Originally posted by: A Casual Fitz
Sony pulled their catalog at the last second right? I thought that was the big crippling blow that lead to the underwhelming selection when this Netflix streaming debuted. I like it, however I'm getting it for free because my mom subscribes to netflix just for the DVDs so I just had her hook me up. I wouldn't pay for it, no.

Sony only pulled it for the 360.

It is back up.

Nice.

 

[A Casual Fitz]

Originally posted by: BigJ

Originally posted by: A Casual Fitz
Sony pulled their catalog at the last second right? I thought that was the big crippling blow that lead to the underwhelming selection when this Netflix streaming debuted. I like it, however I'm getting it for free because my mom subscribes to netflix just for the DVDs so I just had her hook me up. I wouldn't pay for it, no.

Sony only pulled it for the 360.

Wait, they have this service for PS3 too? Hah, guess I'm in the dark.

 

[BigJ]

Originally posted by: A Casual Fitz

Originally posted by: BigJ

Originally posted by: A Casual Fitz
Sony pulled their catalog at the last second right? I thought that was the big crippling blow that lead to the underwhelming selection when this Netflix streaming debuted. I like it, however I'm getting it for free because my mom subscribes to netflix just for the DVDs so I just had her hook me up. I wouldn't pay for it, no.

Sony only pulled it for the 360.

Wait, they have this service for PS3 too? Hah, guess I'm in the dark.

No, it's not for the PS3. It is available over your PC and the Roku box, and will be/(is already)? on certain media devices.

 

[Cdubneeddeal]

I personally like the instant watch feature. I watched a movie last night that was only SD but it streamed through my 360 in HD (Probably upconverting). The movie looked great! Not one hiccup with bandwidth either.

 

[thedarkwolf]

I really only have two problems with it. The recommendation system needs some work and there is just a lot of crap to look through to find something and everything is just in stereo.