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story category Netflix Film Download Service This Week
A slow ramp up to full availibility
(old news - 09:28AM Tuesday Jan 16 2007)
tags: Video · content
The long-awaited Netflix broadband delivery service begins this week, though the initial movie catalog will only consist of around 1,000 movies. Netflix will only be adding around 250,000 users a month at first to help better manage bandwidth demand, but the company's service should reach full stride by June. The interesting bit: if you're already a Netflix customer, you get access to movie downloads without any extra cost. Netflix customers who pay $18 a month already for mail rentals will get 18 hours of video access. The initial launch will work exclusively for the PC, IE and XP only. More detail at the NY Times.

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Forums » Netflix Film Download Service This Week
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priller

join:2000-10-20
Gainesville, VA
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edit:
January 16th, @08:33AM

Available only on computers that run Windows XP and Vista

"Its instant viewing feature, available only on computers that run the Windows XP and Vista operating systems, plays back DVD-quality digital files almost instantly after subscribers install special software from the Netflix site, a process that takes about 20 seconds."
»news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070116/wr_···oad_dc_1

Now that's a problem!!!!!

NPGMBR

join:2001-03-28
Arlington, VA

Re: Available only on computers that run Windows XP and Vista

No problem at all if you have a Windows PC!

TK Junk Mail
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Re: Available only on computers that run Windows XP and Vista

said by NPGMBR See Profile :

No problem at all if you have a Windows PC!
Well the XP or Vista requirement does cut down the number to about 75% of all home computer users initially. »www.w3schools.com/browsers/brows···tats.asp

But Netflix does claim they will support any device with any browser over time.
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tbeckner

join:2004-03-20
Bend, OR

Re: Available only on computers that run Windows XP and Vista

In addition, how about using SlingCatcher (from SlingMedia, ie SlingBox) to route the Video and Audio to any TV, DVR, or recordable DVD.

In fact the SlingCatcher has a Hard Drive add-on to capture video and audio, and it supports HDMI and the other three video connection types, and analog and digital audio.

The SlingCatcher also has the capability to download video/audio directly from the Web and will cost less than $200.

kamm

join:2001-02-14
Brooklyn, NY
·Packet8

said by TK Junk Mail See Profile :

said by NPGMBR See Profile :

No problem at all if you have a Windows PC!
Well the XP or Vista requirement does cut down the number to about 75% of all home computer users initially.
Ummm make it to 94-95% and you're close to reality.

http://www.w3schools.com/browsers/browsers_stats.asp
[/qbuote]

Apart from the fact that it's ONE particular browser stats - noone knows from where -, what does it have to do with OS stats?

Once again you're not making sense...

But Netflix does claim they will support any device with any browser over time.
TBH I don't see why wouldn't... OTOH if Windows is supported then they pretty much covered ~95% of the computers of the world (sans irrelevant ones like servers etc).
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TK Junk Mail
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Re: Available only on computers that run Windows XP and Vista

said by kamm See Profile :

said by TK Junk Mail See Profile Well the XP or Vista requirement does cut down the number to about 75% of all home computer users initially.
Ummm make it to 94-95% and you're close to reality.

http://www.w3schools.com/browsers/browsers_stats.asp
Apart from the fact that it's ONE particular browser stats - noone knows from where -, what does it have to do with OS stats?

Once again you're not making sense...
How about reading down the page at that link where it shows the OS info:
OS Platform Statistics

Windows XP is the most popular operating system:

2006 WinXP W2000 Win98 WinNT W2003 Linux Mac
November 74.9% 8.0% 1.0% 0.4% 1.8% 3.3% 3.5%
And once again you show that you can not reply to any post without making a personal attack.

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kamm

join:2001-02-14
Brooklyn, NY
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Re: Available only on computers that run Windows XP and Vista

said by TK Junk Mail See Profile :

said by kamm See Profile :

said by TK Junk Mail See Profile Well the XP or Vista requirement does cut down the number to about 75% of all home computer users initially.
Ummm make it to 94-95% and you're close to reality.

http://www.w3schools.com/browsers/browsers_stats.asp
Apart from the fact that it's ONE particular browser stats - noone knows from where -, what does it have to do with OS stats?

Once again you're not making sense...
How about reading down the page at that link where it shows the OS info:
OS Platform Statistics

Windows XP is the most popular operating system:

2006 WinXP W2000 Win98 WinNT W2003 Linux Mac
November 74.9% 8.0% 1.0% 0.4% 1.8% 3.3% 3.5%
And once again you show that you can not reply to any post without making a personal attack.

I'm still failed to see what a single never-heard stat has to do with the reality on desktops.

Once again you just proved you are way too clueless to even remotely be able to follow such difficult points like Windows 2003 is hardly a favored desktop OS in literally any target audience, let alone NT4.0 opr anything.

All you did so far is this: pulled out some numbers from your bottom part and waving it, without even barely interpreting them.

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patcat88

join:2002-04-05
Jamaica, NY

edit:
January 16th, @02:41PM

DRM

DRM?

EDIT, will this service be DRMed?

Maxo
Your tax dollars at work.
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Tallahassee, FL
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Re: DRM

»en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Ri···nagement

asdfdfdfdf

@Level3.net
It would have to include drm or the studios wouldn't go along with it.
kaila

join:2000-10-11
Lincolnshire, IL
clubs:

Not sure how much of their

soul they had to sell, but i'm glad this is finally moving forward. It's a start. I would think the next step would be to get it integrated into a media center so it can stream to the living room set- which would likely mean the windows variety, not MythTV.

It will be interesting to see what some ISP's think of this. Both from a bandwidth and video-on-demand perspective.


Nightfall
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Grand Rapids, MI
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Its funny

Seems to me that a majority of the people crying foul about this just want a faster way to copy the damn movie. You aren't paying for the movie, but you are paying for the rental service. Who cares if they use their own proprietary video player and protect the hell out of it.

1. You are getting it as part of the cost of renting already.
2. You aren't paying to keep the movie.
3. It is intended to be a view it once or twice and then never again. If you like it that much, go out and buy it.

Some people need to get a grip.
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AR
Premium,ExMod 2001-04
join:2000-09-21
Toronto, ON
·Rogers Hi-Speed

No choice for Netflix

They had to give their existing customer base free access to the online service.

I was watching Blockbuster ads pimping their stores as a quicker way of returning the movie and not having to wait for a replacement - well, Netflix can tell the lazy customer (like me!) that now, they can download a replacement, no need to drive to some store.
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inteller
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join:2003-12-08
Tulsa, OK
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edit:
January 16th, @09:37AM

Re: No choice for Netflix

Netflix is going to have their ass handed to them by Blockbuster and this new bring it to the store plan. This is the best flexing of brick and mortar muscle I have seen. People aren't going to futz with streaming download bullshit for hours when they can go down the block to their blockbuster and drop off the movie and get another one.

If I had stock in netflix, I'd be selling.
--
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Blasterbator
Sent By Grocery Clerks

join:2001-02-20
Jackson, MS

Re: No choice for Netflix

I subscribe to Netflix so I don't have to go to Blockbuster.

juilinsandar
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Re: No choice for Netflix

said by Blasterbator See Profile :

I subscribe to Netflix so I don't have to go to Blockbuster.
Dittoes.
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inteller
Sociopaths always win.

join:2003-12-08
Tulsa, OK
enjoy waiting for your intentionally delayed movies while others pick up news ones from blockbuster.

Zealotry gets you no where.
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Blasterbator
Sent By Grocery Clerks

join:2001-02-20
Jackson, MS

edit:
January 16th, @09:48AM

Re: No choice for Netflix

Have you ever been to a Blockbuster store? Driving in traffic to get there, the lines once I do get there and the idiotic people... why exactly would I waste my time?

Netflix does exactly what I need.

inteller
Sociopaths always win.

join:2003-12-08
Tulsa, OK

Re: No choice for Netflix

I can walk to Blockbuster if I wanted to. You must live in the sticks.....oh wait I see Jackson, MS. No wonder.
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cbrigante2
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Re: No choice for Netflix

said by inteller See Profile :

I can walk to Blockbuster if I wanted to. You must live in the sticks.....oh wait I see Jackson, MS. No wonder.
Tulsa is the cradle of Western civilization now?

inteller
Sociopaths always win.

join:2003-12-08
Tulsa, OK

Re: No choice for Netflix

compared to North Aurora, IL....yes.

cbrigante2
Cubs 20??
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North Aurora, IL

Re: No choice for Netflix

said by inteller See Profile :

compared to North Aurora, IL....yes.
But the comparison was not with North Aurora, it was with Jackson, MS?

inteller
Sociopaths always win.

join:2003-12-08
Tulsa, OK

Re: No choice for Netflix

Jackson, MS, home of Worldcom crooks....nuff said.

Nightfall
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edit:
January 16th, @03:54PM

Re: No choice for Netflix

said by inteller See Profile :

Jackson, MS, home of Worldcom crooks....nuff said.
Jeez, what a retarded arguement. :P

Lets get back on topic here. It was never about blockbuster. This was about free downloads from Netflix. If Blockbuster makes you happy, then great. You don't need to argue your point to the point of insulting other users. :P
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notyou

@xo.net

Look, a Blockbuster Troll!

Who cares? This thread is about Netflix and downloads, not Blockbuster and their only selections of BIG hit movies (no obscure or indie films, or if so, in supply) and 90 copies of Open Season with only one on shelf...oh look, the pimple-faced clerk has 4 copies behind the counter but wants to chat about his level 50 WoW character with the other over-weight, pasty-faced clerk-asst mngr.
mobbo

join:2005-04-13
Denton, TX

Re: No choice for Netflix

Yup. My Blockbuster doesn't even carry Scarface. I was stunned when my friend wanted to see it for the first time and my BB didn't have it.

kamm

join:2001-02-14
Brooklyn, NY
·Packet8

said by inteller See Profile :

I can walk to Blockbuster if I wanted to. You must live in the sticks.....oh wait I see Jackson, MS. No wonder.
... posting it from Tulsa, OKLAHOMA which occupies the shockingly high 93rd spot on the list of largest cities in North America?

Hilarious, ROFL.
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Trub

join:2002-12-25
Plano, TX
Like Tulsa is a happening place? Get a grip cowpoke!

KrK
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Re: No choice for Netflix

said by Trub See Profile :

Like Tulsa is a happening place? Get a grip cowpoke!
Nice, from someone in Plano, Texas. I think the number #1 thing to do there is 'hang' at the Super Wal-Mart....

Trub

join:2002-12-25
Plano, TX

Re: No choice for Netflix

You clearly do not know your geography my son. Maybe you do better with pictures! »www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?se···zipcode=

Pirate515
Premium
join:2001-01-22
Brooklyn, NY

said by Blasterbator See Profile :

Have you ever been to a Blockbuster store? Driving in traffic to get there, the lines once I do get there and the idiotic people... why exactly would I waste my time?

Netflix does exactly what I need.
One of the reasons I ditched Blockbuster 4 years ago. I used to drop off my returns early in the morning and still be charged late fees because some incompetent monkey was too lazy to check them in on time. If that kind of thing still goes on at Blockbuster, then this ability to return movies to your local store as opposed to mailing them in makes no difference.

Luckily, traffic was not an issue for me as it was for you, my neighborhood Blockbuster is just around the corner from where I live.
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said by inteller See Profile :

enjoy waiting for your intentionally delayed movies while others pick up news ones from blockbuster.

Zealotry gets you no where.
That is exactly why I am now subscribing to Blockbuster and cancelling my Netflix account. They intentionally delay movies from being reported as being recieved, even though you drop them all at the same time. I work at the main Postal facility and know how the system works, when the driver for Netflix arrives to pick-up the thousands of discs. For them to report that not all of the discs have been returned is horsebleep! We won't even get into throttling. See ya Netflix.
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See 7 replies to this post

morbo
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I agree that Blockbuster's new strategy is a great one. Preserves the "need" for the retail stores and provides consumers with choice. Netflix's strategy is also a great one but limited by crappy cappy download speed, non-integrated home media centers, etc. If they can use TiVo's that are already connected via home networks that would be a step, and I think that is their strategy.

See 6 replies to this post

kyramilan

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edit:
January 16th, @11:05AM

said by inteller See Profile :

Netflix is going to have their ass handed to them by Blockbuster and this new bring it to the store plan. This is the best flexing of brick and mortar muscle I have seen. People aren't going to futz with streaming download bullshit for hours when they can go down the block to their blockbuster and drop off the movie and get another one.

If I had stock in netflix, I'd be selling.
You can only return movies not rent any but 1 a month with Blockbuster. And, look at the crappy selection at local stores that are smaller than Burger King.

inteller
Sociopaths always win.

join:2003-12-08
Tulsa, OK

Re: No choice for Netflix

smaller than burger king? WTF? All the blockbusters here are HUGE.
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Rob
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Re: No choice for Netflix

said by inteller See Profile :

smaller than burger king? WTF? All the blockbusters here are HUGE.
Most of the ones here have been closed down.
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said by inteller See Profile :

smaller than burger king? WTF? All the blockbusters here are HUGE.
It all depends on where you live; the closest Blockbuster is over 25 minutes away, and it's not a particularly large one at that.

B52GUNR
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said by kyramilan See Profile :

You can only return movies not rent any but 1 a month with Blockbuster. And, look at the crappy selection at local stores that are smaller than Burger King.
BZZZZT! Wrong answer. I dropped Netflix ages ago due to crappy delivery. With the new blockbuster system, I can take all three of my envelopes down do to the store and here's what happens:

1) I get 3 rentals of my choice
2) The next day the movies clear my queue
3) My next 3 movies ship.

So, in total, I now have 6 movies when I'm only paying to rent 3.

Explain to me, exactly, how that is only renting on movie per month? Or how that's only able to "return movies"?

Do some research on how it really works before spouting off garbage.
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NPGMBR

join:2001-03-28
Arlington, VA
·Verizon FIOS

Thats an extremely shortsighted view. Netflix subscribers that have not already jumped ship for Blockbuster won't.....and that reason is because they are happy.

I myself do not run home every day just to sit on my azz and watch movies. I have dinner dates, homework assignments, Movie dates and other social activities that keep me busy. As a result I have downgraded my Netflix subscription to two out at a time because I don't watch the movies quickly enough.

I belive the only people that are gonna run to Blockbuster will be those like my roommate whose sole existence is to come home watch movies, eat, drink and smoke in his bedroom at every moment he gets, because hes a lazy azz with no life.

Now don't get me wrong. There is nothing wrong with having a day to yourself and vegging out, and doing things that make you happy.....but my roomie will park his car on Friday after work and go to his room and neither he nor his car would move until its time to go back to work.

He might switch to Blockbuster but im guessing that hes too lazy to get off his butt even if it meant getting movies faster.
shashinka

join:2000-09-16
West Boylston, MA
·Verizon Online DSL
·Charter Pipeline

I have had all 3 (blockbuster, netflix and walmart). I like that I can bring my mailer(s) to the store and get another rental right away. Sometimes I want to watch more or less movies that week. This doubled my amount of movies! until someone comes out with a cheap way to download (there is a company that does it over the air) directly HDMI to my TV then I will keep with this.

tiger72
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said by inteller See Profile :

Netflix is going to have their ass handed to them by Blockbuster and this new bring it to the store plan. This is the best flexing of brick and mortar muscle I have seen. People aren't going to futz with streaming download bullshit for hours when they can go down the block to their blockbuster and drop off the movie and get another one.

If I had stock in netflix, I'd be selling.
Let's not forget that you are forced to watch the movie on your PC now too.
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Ahrenl

join:2004-10-26
North Andover, MA

Re: No choice for Netflix

Not if your PC is hooked up to your TV.

tiger72
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clubs:
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Re: No choice for Netflix

Which is still the exception. Even at that, I have this wierd feeling that to view movies, you have to have IE open and you're watching it in some kind of window like that.

If this came in some Media-Center plugin i'd be a little happier.
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dodgetech2

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edit:
January 16th, @12:28PM

said by user=tiger72 :

Let's not forget that you are forced to watch the movie on your PC now too.
Thats why my PC is hooked to my 37" widescreen

Grail Knight
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join:2003-05-31
Erie, PA
·Verizon Online DSL

Don't count out Netflix yet.

It is not even worth signing up for Blockbuster Online to be able to trade movies at the local brick and mortar store when the selection at my local store sucks and quantities are limited.

Blockbuster could stand to spruce up their web site also. It is almost as primitive as BMG IMO.
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kamm

join:2001-02-14
Brooklyn, NY
·Packet8

said by inteller See Profile :

Netflix is going to have their ass handed to them by Blockbuster and this new bring it to the store plan. This is the best flexing of brick and mortar muscle I have seen. People aren't going to futz with streaming download bullshit for hours when they can go down the block to their blockbuster and drop off the movie and get another one.
I'd never even try to deal with BB and its craptastic local staff again, let alone its sorry-ass retarded selection.

If I had stock in netflix, I'd be selling.
I'd buy it. BB has only couple of more years to live then it'll die and noone will cry for them - their store selection sucks compared to Netflix, period.
I'm not interested retarded-shitty, lame American action heroes at all.
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flankspeed8

join:2001-07-20
Saint Paul, MN
clubs:
Well the stores in my area are franchises so they don't have to participate and are not as of now. Just like back when they got rid of late fees, half the stores didn't honor it.
bohn

join:2006-05-30
Scarborough, ON
That makes sense. We are led to believe bandwidth costs about 100 times more in canada than in the rest of the world so no netflix in canada ever. It would cost the subscriber millions of dollars.

AR
Premium,ExMod 2001-04
join:2000-09-21
Toronto, ON

Re: No choice for Netflix

You guys have netflix equivalent services (no download though) here in Canada though...
chemaupr

join:2005-06-06
Alexandria, VA

This NO DOWNLOAD SERVICE

I have been waiting for something like this from Netflix for a while. But this is NO DOWNLOAD. It just streaming. It would have been nice if it was integrated to the MCE PC. Like VONGO/Starz will do with their download service and Vista. AHHH and they do not have limitation on time. All you can see from their library for 9.99
desreversti

join:2002-09-03
San Antonio, TX
·RoadRunner Cable

Re: This NO DOWNLOAD SERVICE

said by chemaupr See Profile :

I have been waiting for something like this from Netflix for a while. But this is NO DOWNLOAD. It just streaming. It would have been nice if it was integrated to the MCE PC. Like VONGO/Starz will do with their download service and Vista. AHHH and they do not have limitation on time. All you can see from their library for 9.99
I agree that Vongo is looking better compared to Netflix. I had them and enjoyed their service (even having a projector hooked up to it). Although money is a bit tight, so I unfortunately have dropped them (tis' the price of being a substitute teacher only at one school.... soon I hope to be working at others!), but first I dropped my cable TV service. Even downgraded my connection to RR Lite @ $26.95/mo. due to not being able to get re-rated at the intro price. Oh well, tis' better than dial up.

Rob
In Deo speramus
Premium
join:2001-08-25
Kendall, FL

Great!!

This is great news. Now they just need to allow us to download movies directly to our Tivos.