NETFLIX.

[powderman]

Does anybody here use it?? How about service??? Hidden costs, shipping, dependability??? Are they reputable??? POWDERMAN. 

[MGMorden]

I've used it for a few years now.

No hidden costs, and they're very reputable.  You setup your wishlist of movies that you want.  They'll mail you however many you can get on your current plan (depending on plan you can have different amounts out at a given time).  They pay the shipping.  When you get them they include a return envelope that also has the shipping paid.  Whenever you're done with it (which can be however long you want - so long as you pay your monthly costs they don't have a limit as to how long you can keep it out), just put it back into the return envelope and mail it back.  They'll get them, then send along whatever's next on your list.

By far it's the easiest way to watch/rent movies these days.  They've almost single handedly destroyed Blockbuster which is now having a lot of financial problems.  EVENTUALLY as the broadband infrastructure builds out though, I think renting/watching over the internet will take over.  Netflix has kinda saw that as well though and they've already got internet streaming movies available that you can access included with your monthly subscription fee.

[james25889]

Ive been using netflix for years. Never any problems and no hidden costs.

[steve y]

My wife signed us up and we've been happy with it. Now if I could just get her to pick a good one. Steve

[powderman]

MCMORDEN. How is payment handled?? They say you can get the movie directly on your own TV without actually posessing it, how does that worK??? They say you can get as many as you want. Am I to understand correctly that I would have to make up a ist for them??? Do they have a list of whats available??? I know I ask a lot of questions but this is new to me. Thanks for all the responses. Charlie. 

[MGMorden]

MCMORDEN. How is payment handled??

I just have them charge my debit card monthly.  There may be other payment methods available but that's easiest for me. 

They say you can get the movie directly on your own TV without actually posessing it, how does that worK???

They're referring to their online service for this.  In addition to watching on your computer, Netflix has partnered with a few set-top box type devices (such as Microsoft's Xbox360, which is what I use for this) that can connect to the Internet.  With that, for any movies they have available on that service, you can just flip through the list on your TV, choose which one you want, and it'll start playing.  Imagine it as kinda like satellite TV, except it connects to your internet router instead of a satellite, and you get to pick what you watch - anytime you want, rather than looking at things on set channels coming on at specific times.

You'll need a relatively fast connection for this though.  I'd say at least 3Mbps.  Also, only a select set of movies are available this way.  This seems to be where things are moving though, so I'm sure that the selection will expand over time.

They say you can get as many as you want. Am I to understand correctly that I would have to make up a ist for them??? Do they have a list of whats available??? I know I ask a lot of questions but this is new to me. Thanks for all the responses. Charlie. 

Yes.  The wishlist that you make applies to them mailing you the DVD's in their more traditional DVD-by-mail service.   For your wishlist you search through everything that they have, and when you find  a movie you like you just click it and add it to your wishlist.  It's kinda like shopping at an online store, except that you're queuing movies to rent rather than buying them.  There's some additional tools for managing priority and such (for instance, you might want to move a movie that you just added to the top spot in your list) as well.

Overall, it's pretty easy once you get used to it.

[teamnelson]

MGM, thanks for the details. I was wondering about the bandwidth issue. We're dropping cable back down to basic; haven't used our blockbuster card in months and all their movies are junk, but like to watch movies so NETFLIX sounds good.

[Squib]

I hear the xbox 360 elites are good, but I had TWO of the original 360's and they cooked from overuse, be sure you get a warranty on them because they overheat BAD if you run them hard (I was a nerd stuck in a barracks and not yet alcoholic so I would play mine for 12 hrs at a time on the weekends, which lasted not long before they were burnt out).

[MGMorden]

I hear the xbox 360 elites are good, but I had TWO of the original 360's and they cooked from overuse, be sure you get a warranty on them because they overheat BAD if you run them hard (I was a nerd stuck in a barracks and not yet alcoholic so I would play mine for 12 hrs at a time on the weekends, which lasted not long before they were burnt out).

From my understanding the heat issue was related to the graphics chip which is being manufactured using a different process now.  The problems are MOSTLY worked out on newer ones (which is why the Elite in particular is noted as being better, as all Elites were manufactured after the issue was solved, but even newer units of the regular variety have the same fixes implemented).  Either way, the fiasco caused by the early units has caused Microsoft to adopt a nearly no-questions asked replacement policy on dead 360's.  If it dies, call them up, tell them it the situation, and they'll typically fix it at no charge, even if it's out of warranty (standard warranty is 1 year).

FWIW, my 360 is 2-3 years old (it's a standard Arcade model that I added the Elite-sized hard drive to later), but was made after the new graphics chip was adopted, and it's never given my any trouble.

[Squib]

I just wanted to warn him about the idea if he wanted to skip out on the computer monitor and hardware/software bs BUT he's probably not gonna put nerd strain on one like I would/did/will again

my roommate ripped it open after it broke down (because I lost my warranty because in a anger of rage i threw it off a balcony, went down stairs to get it back to the balcony and threw it back off again) and discovered two top of the line video cards back to back in there, and the case was solid aluminum and did NOT have any venting, just second rate water coolers that would pop if overheated- frying and corroding the insides if someone were to.... play oblivion non stop while on leave after a deployment.. ahem, cough 

[littlecanoe]

I've used NF for just over a year.
We have dvd's sent and enjoy the option of watching online.
With decent speakers and wide screen monitor (23") it's really convenient.
No problems with service other than an occasional disc that is scratched and skips.
This issue is still much less of a bother than renting from the local store.  It seems that every disc there was ragged and problematic.

Highly recommend NF.

[powderman]

Thanks for all the great input guys, this sounds pretty darn goog. I couldn't use the box though, dialup is the pits. POWDERMAN. 

[GH1]

I had Netflix a few years ago and found it to be a good service.  The only reason I cancelled it was because I never got around to watching any movies.  What I really liked about it was all of the obscure titles that were available, I just didn't use it enough to make it worth my while.  If you watch movies frequently then you'll probably be very happy with it.
GH1

[Oldshooter]

POWDERMAN, We had it a while back, It worked ok and all but we got several movies that had been abused and we had problems with them playing, not the norm but it did happen. Our experience was like GH1's we just got to the point that we didn't watch enough to keep the service, plus we got satilite, and just didn't take the time to deal with it. But it worked, as you have read if you dont have a fast internet connection watching movies from the internet just wont happen.

[Foxxtrot]

They say you can get the movie directly on your own TV without actually posessing it, how does that worK???

the news about it
http://www.samsung.com/us/news/newsRead.do?news_group=productnews&news_type=consumerproduct&news_ctgry=blue_ray&news_seq=11189

One of the Samsung bluray players that is setup for such things

http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-BD-P1590-Blu-Ray-upscaling-Netflix/dp/B002JRZ0FC

[Foxxtrot]

I just looked on Netflix and you can get old television shows seasons. Man, that is pretty cool.

Magnum PI and Simon & Simon entire seasons.

[3006softpoint]

Your kids got a christmas Gift certificate from netflix! From there aunt! Broke up the cold days of January! Works Slick! Netflix get 5 out of 5 STARS from us! Dale