Netflix has been in the news regularly for over a year and until recently that news was good. The DVD and streaming video service has habitually grown it's user base as well as capabilities and has been a service I enjoyed using. I've been a subscriber for over two years and have rarely had bad things to say about it. I've enjoyed receiving DVDs by mail as well as the capabilities of watching movies and TV shows using my Internet connection and PC or Xbox 360. Until lately I always thought I was getting a good deal in terms of what got versus what I paid for it. I was able to have one DVD at home and watch unlimited streaming video for just under ten dollars. Quite the bargain. Recently that has changed. Starting next month I, like everyone else, will have to pay more to keep the same service. A dollar or two I wouldn't mind, but it will be effectively doubling my costs, just under twenty dollars. Before I make up my mind, I would like to examine pros and cons of the service and think about my personal alternatives to Netflix.
First, let's examine the DVD by mail system. It is highly efficient with very little effort on my part to use other than returning the DVDs to the outgoing mailbox. As easy as that is, I still find myself not returning the DVDs in a regular fashion. It isn't because the DVDs I receive aren't good, but rather I never think to put them in the DVD player when I have down time.
This leads right into the greatest strength of the streaming video. I always think to watch a streaming movie when I have down time. It is convenient to turn on the Xbox, launch the Netflix app, and almost instantaneously start watching a movie. There is an ok selection of movies and shows I want to watch. I've caught up on years worth of Doctor Who and Torchwood episodes I never would have watched otherwise and as such found a two series I truly enjoy. The greatest weakness of the streaming videos is the DVD's greatest strength, the back catalogue. Selections aren't great streaming and title's availability seems to fluctuate often due to licensing agreements. The DVD catalogue is great, but is highly inconvenient. What is a person to do?
If I were to keep the DVD catalogue, I could use Hulu to watch some series, but with ads and often shows I am not interested in. If I were to keep the streaming only, I could use a Redbox location to rent DVDs for a night I knew I would watch them, but I would pay daily if I didn't return them. Additionally, I would be subject to the DVDs' availability at the kiosk I was using, because I know I wouldn't reserve the movies online for pickup. Also, Redbox mainly has new releases, most of which I don't want to see.
In conclusion, there is not a good answer to my dilemma. I wish to get the same service I have presently at a lower cost than what Netflix will soon start to charge me. I know other people who have made the decision to go with only one service, but no one who has gone with both and I understand why. Why should you pay more for the same you had before with nothing truly new in return? Scott posted on Twitter that Netflix has left door open for competition to come in and compete, but I don't see anyone coming in the near future. Maybe Netflix will realize their price increase was too great and I'll consider having both services again, but until then I will be using just the one. The question is but which.
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