The Beer
I Love It When A Plan Comes Together
Premium
join:2001-07-24
Omaha, NE
clubs:
 ·ViaTalk
| Duh
I think the biggest problem is no subscription model. I am on the Blockbuster @ home service and I can't use it to rent movies? Netflix does that!
If it was not for being grandfathered on a old plan I would switch in a heartbeat, especially since my Tivo already does Netflix. They missed the boat. |
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james
join:2001-02-26
antarctica
| Not very bright
The biggest problem is that the people in charge are unable to see the big picture.
If their Video Box is a success it will take some business away from the brick and mortar stores, but the money will still be filling the Blockbuster coffers.
If their Video Box is a failure, people aren't going to keep going to their stores, they're going to go to the other companies who offer Video Boxes that work.
Blockbuster is going to go out of business unless they replace those in charge. |
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cypherstream
Looking forward to the future of things.
Premium,MVM
join:2004-12-02
Reading, PA
clubs: | At least it's interface beats cable
The interface with cover art and graphics sure do beat cable guides like I-Guide and SARA.
But then every set top box in the world beats those interfaces. |
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tcope
Premium
join:2003-05-07
Sandy, UT
 ·Comcast
1 edit | I agree
I think I tend to agree with BB, either the idea is wrong or it's not time. I bought a PS3 recently and one option is to rent/download an HD movie. The quality is _not_ as good as BR. I agree with the CEO... why would I want to download an "HD" (it's not really HD) movie when I can drive 2 minutes away and pick up a _real_ HD movie on BR. Also, it was as they said, it took forever to cache to where it could be watched with interuption. It was easier to just download the entire movie and then watch it (again, I could have been to the store and back 50 times by the time it was done).
Also, most cable/Fios/Sat provides already provide on demand HD movies. That is the kicker to what BB is offering!
Problem for people with Netflix is that most people don't have a computer connected to their TV. So Netflix online movies cannot be watched on their TVs.
So I agree with the CEO... most people will find it easier to simply stop by the local BB and pick up a true HD version of the movie. Perhaps BB is putting this "box" out just so they can look like they offer the same service as Netflix??? Seems like a waste of money though. |
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BK
join:2001-09-10
Wheaton, IL
·Comcast
 ·EarthLink
| said by tcope  :Problem for people with Netflix is that most people don't have a computer connected to their TV. So Netflix online movies cannot be watched on their TVs. they have it. you have can purchase the box which link I'll post below and gets very good reviews, or you can use your xbox 360 if you have one
»blog.wired.com/gadgets/2008/05/r···net.html |
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tcope
Premium
join:2003-05-07
Sandy, UT
·Comcast
| I see... but at the cost of another $100... _and_ the fact that it's not "really" HD is the killer. Sorry, but I'd still rather take an extra few minutes and pick up the BR copy of the movie. Its the same price as the download. Or, instead of buying the box, just use On-Demand for the same quality movie (save the $100 box expense). |
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BK
join:2001-09-10
Wheaton, IL
·Comcast
·EarthLink
| Its more for the person that already has netflix. BB is completely doing it wrong, you should NOT have to pay more for a movie/tv show/whatever when you already have a BB subscription. Maybe they could get away with that if they didn't have netflix competition..
With netflix you don't have to wait for the whole thing to download to watch HD. Not really sure why BB did it they way they did... no real time savings there
Yes I completely agree BR copy will look best no doubt (i 3 BR). But you And what you watch from your cable box or whatever isn't "really" HD either with all the compression on it
I'm not trying to like pick apart 'your argument' (i hate how it seems to come to that) but I think these boxes definitely have a market, BB just did it terribly wrong
its perfect for me with my 360! already had netflix and didnt even have to buy a box. BB should get on that |
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tcope
Premium
join:2003-05-07
Sandy, UT
·Comcast
| I understand. What I was mentioning was that most people have cable/FIOS/Sat and that these offer the same quality rental as BB would be offering (but without the viewing limitations). So why pay for a BB box? But now that I think about it, BB will probably offer older movies and on demand does not have this.
I certainly think streaming movies stands a good chance of catching on. It's sort of the next evolution of DVRs. I download movie all the time as I have a computer connected to my TV. But that is the difference... most people don't (plus, it's SWEET to have no commercials). But I also agree with the CEO's assessment. I think BB biggest error was in putting out an "idiot" box. Come on... no streaming? Does it come with an 8-track player?  |
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eric_n_dfw
join:2001-10-22
Euless, TX | reply to BK
or your Tivo HD / S3 if you have one |
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Vtr_Racing
join:2006-09-04
Pflugerville, TX | reply to The Beer
Re: Duh
There was another thread on this about 2 weeks ago. Their CEO doesnt even agree with the streaming media so how could we expect something to work well if their management staff isnt behind it 100%. |
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Titus Pullo
I came, I saw, I slept
join:2004-06-26
·Embarq
1 edit | reply to BK
Re: I agree
The problem with BB is that they're stuck to the left of the net curve catering to their storefronts. Netflix tries to look forward, but the economy in the coming year will dictate what survives and what doesn't. Inet access costs, I think, will be the make or break variable in streaming TV.
I'm confident netflix has a market as long as (a) the technology doesn't continually degrade (there are already problems with stream quality) and (b) the delivery system (ISPs) doesn't end with severely metered bandwidth in response to demand and fear of competition. Netflix subs are buying up TV devices at a good clip, and cablecos aren't going to sit idly by and watch their PPV model wither.
I have the NF box, and it's so-so at this point. Without tricking it into giving me full stream quality, I get less than decent quality streams. I watch, maybe ... three streamed movies a week along with my DVD subscription. I find cable TV horrid, and one movie or premium TV show a night delivered by either of the two alternatives suits my needs. The DVDs choices are plentiful, and you can find something in the limited instant selections.
I considered Apple TV and others, but since I have Netflix it's a no-brainer. Plus, why on earth would I DL a movie at $3 or $4 bucks (like Apple TV) when I can order DVDs by mail supplemented with free streaming? Makes no sense other than the gadgety cool factor of box fever.
EDIT: typo
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badtrip
East Bay
Premium
join:2004-03-20
Albany, CA
 ·Unwired Ltd
·Comcast
| reply to tcope
said by tcope : I agree with the CEO... why would I want to download an "HD" (it's not really HD) movie when I can drive 2 minutes away and pick up a _real_ HD movie on BR. ... So I agree with the CEO... most people will find it easier to simply stop by the local BB and pick up a true HD version of the movie. The problem with going down to BB to get a movie is that you have to go down to BB to get a movie. You have to:
Put on your shoes and coat, get in the car/bike/walk, look at thier wall and hope they have the movie you want, stand in line, get treated like crap by a pissy teenaged clerk.
Then you have to watch the movie and bring it back.
No thanks, I'll VOD, even if the quality is less than Bluray, hell divx quality is good enough for me 9 times out of ten. Blockbuster's CEO is wrong, brick & mortar BB's are ghost towns. Convenience goes a very long way. |
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danawhitaker
Space...The Final Frontier
Premium
join:2002-03-02
Urbandale, IA
·MSN
·Mediacom
| reply to BK
"its perfect for me with my 360! already had netflix and didnt even have to buy a box. BB should get on that"
Don't you have to have an Xbox Live *Gold* subscription to use Netflix? I thought that Silver subscribers were left in the cold on this. I don't have any interest in streaming movies, so I've never been a Netflix subscriber, but a friend told me that's the case. If so, add on another $50 per year to the cost of having Netflix via 360 (or $39-42 if you caught the recent sale on Amazon for the prepaid Live cards).
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You're watching Sports Night on CSC so stick around... |
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danawhitaker
Space...The Final Frontier
Premium
join:2002-03-02
Urbandale, IA
·MSN
·Mediacom
| reply to badtrip
"No thanks, I'll VOD, even if the quality is less than Bluray, hell divx quality is good enough for me 9 times out of ten. Blockbuster's CEO is wrong, brick & mortar BB's are ghost towns. Convenience goes a very long way."
Divx quality is good enough for me too, for my TV. But, I wouldn't *pay* to receive that kind of quality (or worse, from what it sounds like), not from any service like Blockbuster. I would honestly rather go out to the store and get a physical copy that's higher quality. You can always call in advance and make sure it's in stock so you don't waste your time in that regard. If I'm paying an identical amount (or similar) for a downloaded version of the product, the quality should be equal to what I'd receive in the store. If not, no thanks. Some people thrive on that kind of mentality, but I'm not one of them. I'd rather speak with my money by saying no, I won't purchase your substandard limited and/or poor quality product. If people are willing to pay for a substandard product, the industry has no motivation to bother trying to correct the problems and bring higher-quality video into the streaming market.
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You're watching Sports Night on CSC so stick around... |
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Count Zero
MD2Be
Premium
join:2007-01-18
Warner Robins, GA
·AT&T DSL Service
·Cox HSI
| reply to Titus Pullo
said by Titus Pullo :The problem with BB is that they're stuck to the left of the net curve catering to their storefronts. Netflix tries to look forward, but the economy in the coming year will dictate what survives and what doesn't. Inet access costs, I think, will be the make or break variable in streaming TV. I'm confident netflix has a market as long as (a) the technology doesn't continually degrade (there are already problems with stream quality) and (b) the delivery system (ISPs) doesn't end with severely metered bandwidth in response to demand and fear of competition. Netflix subs are buying up TV devices at a good clip, and cablecos aren't going to sit idly by and watch their PPV model wither. I have the NF box, and it's so-so at this point. Without tricking it into giving me full stream quality, I get less than decent quality streams. I watch, maybe ... three streamed movies a week along with my DVD subscription. I find cable TV horrid, and one movie or premium TV show a night delivered by either of the two alternatives suits my needs. The DVDs choices are plentiful, and you can find something in the limited instant selections. I considered Apple TV and others, but since I have Netflix it's a no-brainer. Plus, why on earth would I DL a movie at $3 or $4 bucks (like Apple TV) when I can order DVDs by mail supplemented with free streaming? Makes no sense other than the gadgety cool factor of box fever. EDIT: typo -- I agree, I have an AppleTV that I use to stream videos from my home office to my living room as well as streaming music. But I couldn't see myeslf using their video rental service since I can get 3 bluray discs per month from Netflix for cheaper than I can rent 3 HD movies from Apple. I typically watch about 4-5 movies per month, so the choice to go with Netflix is easy. If Apple came out with a movie subscription service I'd probably ditch Netflix. |
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Count Zero
MD2Be
Premium
join:2007-01-18
Warner Robins, GA | reply to danawhitaker
Yes you have to have a Gold membership to use it. |
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tcope
Premium
join:2003-05-07
Sandy, UT
·Comcast
| reply to badtrip
said by badtrip :The problem with going down to BB to get a movie is that you have to go down to BB to get a movie. You have to: Put on your shoes and coat, get in the car/bike/walk, look at thier wall and hope they have the movie you want, stand in line, get treated like crap by a pissy teenaged clerk. Then you have to watch the movie and bring it back. All valid points however, it's rare that a day goes by when I don't put on my shoes and venture out in the car. So it's almost never an extra trip. But there are some days when it's easier to use on demand or the like.
But you are missing the thread completly in that you are comparing playing a Divx movie to all this. That is not what is being dicussed. Would you pay $100 (cost of the BB box) instead of everything else you have available? |
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BK
join:2001-09-10
Wheaton, IL | reply to danawhitaker
Yes.. but because I already have the gold subscription it doesn't make a difference for me and I would have it even without netflix. Reason I have 360 is for online play pretty much
It makes the gold more worth it if anything. |
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Phil
Rojo Sol
Premium
join:2001-06-11
Camarillo, CA | My prediction...
...Blockbuster will file for bankruptcy in 2009. It doesn't help that I've been happily boycotting Blockbuster since 2001. |
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decifal
join:2007-03-10
Bon Aqua, TN
| depends
All the streaming box's life depends on teleco's and cables cap allowance.. Comcast's caps are tolerable.. ATT's experimental and soon to be mainstream caps are just pathetic... Guess you gotta get their uverse or just use your connection to check your e-mail...  |
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