Services continued

Netflix - Best service ever!

Netflix has got to be the best service around.  Mainly because of how its not specific to any kind of device.  You can access Netflix on Windows Phones, iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, PC's, game consoles, and set top boxes including bluray players.  It's very flexible.  The only drawback at the moment is it only supported on a few Android devices. 


The service started out as a "No late fee" DVD rental service by mail.  I first subscribed back in 2004 with the 3 DVD's at a time plan.  It is fantastic. When I first got the service I was able to catch up on a lot of movies that I hadn't seen yet.  Using their website, you're able to search for a movie and add it to your "queue" so that when you mail the movie back, your next movie will come.  Usually it will happen in about 1 business day. 

I have found a couple of hacks that are great things to remember when using Netflix.  If you drop your envelope in a postal service mail box it will be delivered to the Netflix sorting center that next morning.  Depending on where your sorting center is of course.  We have one located in Mobile, AL.  So after we watch the movie and it's time to send it back, I drop the envelope in the mail box at work.  That next morning I get an email that says Netflix got the movie, and then that afternoon they send out the next one.  Then a day will pass, and the movie will be in my mail box.

Another hack I have discovered is that if you put a movie in your queue way before it is available, you'll be able to get first dibs on it.  Usually when a movie is released there is a waiting game you play as to when you'll be able to get it.  If there is a movie that is out, that I know I'll be waiting for the video, I'll put it on my queue, even if it's not in the theater yet.  I always get it once, it’s available to Netflix and its next on my queue.  If not there where be a status of "short wait."

Netflix jumped on the bluray bandwagon pretty early and it’s great that they did.  Bluray movies were once extremely expensive compared to DVD's.  So it was nice to be able to rent them and not have to pay that extra cost.  Although, you do pay an extra $3 for the Bluray access.  Which means they send you a bluray automatically if that movie as one available.

One drawback that has come about because of people not buying the movies anymore is a waiting period of 30days to before its available on Netflix.  There are a couple of movie companies (WB) that will wait to make a movie available, for 30 days after its release on video, for Netflix.  So you have to wait on some titles.

Streaming:

This is the greatest feature of Netflix, and it’s also where you'll see the service moving towards more in the future.  You can access a huge library of movies that will stream over your internet connection.  Using a variety of different devices, you can play a movie that has already played its course on the movie channels.  Starz is teamed up with Netflix to share its on demand video section.  If it's playing on Starz it’s on Netflix, and another reason not to pay for that service.  There are also other pay channels that put their original content on Netflix as well.

Its a great way to catch up on old shows.  I love running across an old show I watched as kid.  Most of the movies and shows are available in HD, and just requires a 1 mbps connection or more.  I have a 3mbps with Mediacom cable and it will switch between HD and SD during some movies. 

Your data connection is an important factor is streaming content.  Mediacom works fine, but I would like to have a faster speed, so it would stop switching from HD to SD.  If you have any AT&T service, watch out for your new data caps.  At&t has recently put caps in place to limit your usuage.  So they give you 150 GB a month and if you go over they send you a letter, and then charge you per 10gb. Not too bad, but why do we need to think about it. 

Netflix has a streaming only plan, but if you subscribe to any unlimited rental plans, you get unlimited streaming.

It’s a great service, and a great alternative to paying the cable and satellite company.