Netflix now has "unlimited" online viewing

[trubluluc]

This happened a couple of weeks ago, but I didn't see a thread here.

So now for even those of us with the basic 1 movie out at a time plan,
you can watch an unlimited number of movies online.
On average I get 6-8 mail movies per month for $8.99
With all of the movies I watch online added to that, this is the best entertainment value I've ever had.

-Luc

[wingnut4772]

Not on my Mac.:(

[Bill Ayotte]

Not on my Mac.:(

Sweet, even more ammo in my can those a$$clowns bag....I find it astounding that mac still gets ignored for some reason...

[bobman1235]

They claim they are releasing a Mac player later this year (http://gizmodo.com/348514/netflix-watch-instantly-online-video-finally-landing-on-macs).


Macs don't get "ignored", but they do still have a less than 10% market share. If you're going to develop something, you're going to develop it to the 90% market first, I would think.

[AndyGwis]

What do you need in order to get the movies online?

How much bandwidth does it take to download them?

[Face]

I wonder how it will look via PC into a 56" DLP?

[trubluluc]

I had dsl with 2.0 mb per second with my old carrier and it looked and sounded great on my 24" computer monitor.
My new carrier (att) for some stupid reason can only provide my with 1.2 mb per second, and it look so so. Currently I'm mostly watching documentaries and some independent and foreign films online.
I signed up for the bundle home phone and internet service, so I get cheap long distance calling, but the internet speed is not as good as I had with earthlink.



What do you need in order to get the movies online?

How much bandwidth does it take to download them?

[trubluluc]

I would imagine it would suck unless you had major internet speed.
My Dad has about 24mb per second with his cable internet, I think that would provide good quality online viewing.

-Luc


I wonder how it will look via PC into a 56" DLP?

[bobman1235]

The video quality is not going to change with better or worse bandwidth, just the time it takes to download before playing. You're downloading the same file no matter how fast or slow you do it.

[jakelm]

My Dad has about 24mb per second with his cable internet, .

-Luc

:eek::eek::eek: Zoom Zoom Zoom!!

I clocked in @ 3.9mbs last night..

[timswim78]

Not on my Mac.:(

I plan on trying it on my iMac, via VMWare Fusion. I'll report back in a few days.

[trubluluc]

www.2wire.com or www.speakeasy.net?

3.9 will be plenty fast for a good picture.

-Luc


:eek::eek::eek: Zoom Zoom Zoom!!

I clocked in @ 3.9mbs last night..

[Face]

Download Speed: 11956 kbps (1494.5 KB/sec transfer rate)
Upload Speed: 1852 kbps (231.5 KB/sec transfer rate)

[jakelm]

www.2wire.com or www.speakeasy.net?

3.9 will be plenty fast for a good picture.

-Luc


I have peeked around 5mbs, but its pretty average on busy times around 3.5-3.9mbs.

I was going to use it with my 55" Mit. 480p via VGA cable. So bandwidth plays big importance.

[bobman1235]

??

Does netflix somehow magically decide what your connection speed is and send you different compressions based on the speed? I don't think so. Whether you're on a crappy DSL or a super-fast connection it's the SAME VIDEO QUALITY, isn't it? It will just take longer to stream on a slower connection, you won't get crappier video.

[jakelm]

??

Does netflix somehow magically decide what your connection speed is and send you different compressions based on the speed? I don't think so. Whether you're on a crappy DSL or a super-fast connection it's the SAME VIDEO QUALITY, isn't it? It will just take longer to stream on a slower connection, you won't get crappier video.

I thought it would be like most online players where you can manually set the speed?

[bobman1235]

Ohh I see. You're right, my bad.

I thought it was more like YouTube or something... just one set video quality, and if you're on a slow connection tough crap.

My bad, continue.

[jrlouie]

I thought Netflix forced a speed test that it performs and alters the video quality streamed.
Instant Movies (http://www.netflix.com/WatchNowMessage?msg=52)

[nadams]

This is probably the only reason I'm considering signing up for Netflix. Well, that and they have the entire Red Green catalog!!!

[Demiurge]

Keep in mind you can't just watch whatever you want. They have a nice selection, but it's not anywhere near the offering they have via mail. It is nice when you're bored and want to just watch something, though. I have piped it to my TV a few times. Looks fine.

[trubluluc]

...There is a netflix speed test that determines your connection speed.


I thought Netflix forced a speed test that it performs and alters the video quality streamed.
Instant Movies (http://www.netflix.com/WatchNowMessage?msg=52)

[trubluluc]

This is true, nowhere near the selection, but great for documentaries etc.

-Luc


Keep in mind you can't just watch whatever you want. They have a nice selection, but it's not anywhere near the offering they have via mail. It is nice when you're bored and want to just watch something, though. I have piped it to my TV a few times. Looks fine.

[sagasa]

I enjoy watching foreign movies and Netflix has a lot of it

[Willow]

are you sure it's 24mbps ?

On my laptop wireless 2flrs down I get 1.5

main system is 5mbps.

There are VGA to component machines out there

[AsSiMiLaTeD]

Two things:

1 - This doesn't appear to work with Firefox...bummer

2 - I have the one at a time plan, and on my subscription page it shows I get 2 hours per month, not unlimited

[trubluluc]

I didn't believe it. But I ran the speed test 3 times at both 2wire.com and speakeasy.net, and it came in at 24mbps at both sites. Of course that was download speed. Crazy! Yeah mine is 1.5 downhill with a tail wind.


are you sure it's 24mbps ?

On my laptop wireless 2flrs down I get 1.5

main system is 5mbps.

There are VGA to component machines out there

[trubluluc]

Yes, it doesn't work with Netscape either. So I keep a version of Internet explorer on my computer to watch with.

Do you have the 1 movie out at a time "limited" or "unlimited" plan?
I have the 1 movie out at a time unlimited plan for $8.99/mo.


-Luc

Two things:

1 - This doesn't appear to work with Firefox...bummer

2 - I have the one at a time plan, and on my subscription page it shows I get 2 hours per month, not unlimited

[PhantomOG]

is it HD yet?

[sagasa]

HD and Blue ray

[AndyGwis]

Okay, so do you download it to your harddrive, or what? I'm still trying to figure out how this whole thing goes down. Do I need to stop putting movies in my queue so they will stop shipping them out and then try out a instant one?

I, too, only have 1 at a time unlimited.

[jakelm]

I, too, only have 1 at a time unlimited.

Ok.. that makes alot of sense to me^^^^^^....:confused::confused::p

[AndyGwis]

Ok.. that makes alot of sence to me^^^^^^....


neither does the word "sence" to me!!! :)

[jakelm]

neither does the word "sence" to me!!! :)

Corrected Professor:p

[AsSiMiLaTeD]

I could do without them adjusting video quality in the middle of the playback...

Your internet Connection has slowed. We are adjusting playback to avoid further interruption.

I'm like, well you just stopped it on me for 4 minutes, doesn't even take that long to load in the first place...wth

[trubluluc]

Andy-

You have to download the netflix movie viewer software to start.
This option usually comes up when you try to watch but don't have it. You only download this once.
In internet explorer, all I do is click on the "browse instant" tab. Then click on the "genre" tab.
This will give you pages and pages of "watch instantly" movies.
I then click on "play" and netflix checks my internet speed.
A few seconds later a window pops up and asks "are you sure you want to open the web page?" Click "Yes".
A second window pops up with "play" and "cancel" ...click play and the movie starts.

No, keep you queue just as it is. They will continue to send you discs, but you also get to watch online.

-Luc


Okay, so do you download it to your harddrive, or what? I'm still trying to figure out how this whole thing goes down. Do I need to stop putting movies in my queue so they will stop shipping them out and then try out a instant one?

I, too, only have 1 at a time unlimited.

[sbpolk]

Are these streaming videos, or actual downloads? Just want to know if I could download one to my laptop and watch it on the plane...

(Don't have netflix, BTW...)

[bobman1235]

Streaming.

[PhantomOG]

is it HD yet?

clarification...

is online viewing content HD?

[trubluluc]

No.
And depending on your connection speed, mine is nowhere near as good as standard dvd. I think you would have to have at least 3mbps or better to approach dvd quality.

-Luc

clarification...

is online viewing content HD?

[burdette]

"1 at at time unlimited" actually does make sense. They have a plan that limits the number of movies you can get in one month. The "1 at a time unlimited" means you can only have one movie at a time, but you can send that back and get another as many times as you can cram into a month.

We just signed up, got the two weeks free offer. We went with the $16.99 "3 at a time unlimited" plan.

The downloaded movies work pretty well. We've had no issues with interuptions, but the quality isn't always great.

We need to get a little more systematic about scheduling - that is the only bummer with Netflix. We didn't get our movies in the mail on Wed, so we don't have new movies for this weekend.

[trubluluc]

...this is highly addictive.
I watched 3 online movies last night, none of which I had ever even heard of. Finally as the 3rd film was finishing I forced my mouse to close down the window.
Otherwise I might have stayed up all night.

-Luc

[roscoe1972]

My wireless Sprint connection gives me 500-700 kbps average and the movies look kind of crappy.

On a small computer screen it's OK but when I hook up my HD TV it looks bad.

Still OK when I'm bored. Like to watch Anime flicks.

[mrmusicman]

...this is highly addictive.
I watched 3 online movies last night, none of which I had ever even heard of. Finally as the 3rd film was finishing I forced my mouse to close down the window.
Otherwise I might have stayed up all night.

-Luc

Were they hardcore or softcore... cinemax style:eek:


J.K.:D I love netflix been a happy customer for quite a few years now.

[trubluluc]

No comment Mike...;)

Were they hardcore or softcore... cinemax style:eek:


J.K.:D I love netflix been a happy customer for quite a few years now.