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Review : Netflix Online Video Rental Service
For the past two months I have been using Netflix online and mail video rental service. I know that this is not exactly new but it is pretty good now that the company has really hit their stride.
The way that it works is you subscribe for $14 a month and select a list of DVDs you want to see and they mail you the DVDs in an envelope. You watch your movie and do what ever data manipulation type events you might want to do and then mail the DVD back in the same envelope. The postage is paid per movie and after you return the DVD off your movie queue.
Their selection of movies is huge and they have just about every DVD released in English in North America except for porn and video games. I started with the two disks at a time plan at 14 bucks but I upgraded to the three disks at a time plan for 18 a month. I used to rent DVDs from the store all the time and this really pays for itself since you have access to a steady stream of movies with about a day for them to mail it to you and a day to mail it back. I have a bunch of independent documentaries and Hong Kong action films on my queue that you just can't get at your local monotonous video store. I know that Wal-Mart tried to have a similar service and that Blockbuster is trying hard to compete with Netflix but they are one of the few dot-com success stories. The Anime and TV-Show on DVD selection is pretty good.
Now they are not prefect and there was a bit of a controversy where if you return your movies quickly often they will not send you the new releases as fast. This is know as throttling but so far it has not been a problem for me.
Netflix has made me look forward to checking my mail every day and if I move in a month or so I will face giving up cable and I might go ahead and just use my steady stream of Netflix movies instead of cutting a check to the cable monopoly. I know the whole concept of using the postal service to mail around a steady stream of DVDs seems like a weird fusion of 21th and 19th century technology but it works. The monthly fee is less than renting a weekend of movies at the store and it is cheaper than taking the girlfriend to the movie theater. For nerds that love watching movies on DVD I have to say that Netflix is pretty sweet.
Jake at April 10, 2006 
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Comments
I have to agree, sounds like a pretty interesting thing.
But they don't have that yet where I live (Europe).
Posted by: Jim at April 10, 2006 4:52 AM
Good to know that you've fell into Netflix's spell. I've been using their service for a few months now, and have been pretty happy overall.
My main problem with the service is that it takes well over a day for me to receive my DVDs. The shipping facility is about 4hrs away, yet it takes 2-5 days to receive my DVDs. When I ship them back, they get them within one day. Doesn't make much sense at all.
I use them because of their selection. It's great! I finally got to see Hard-Boiled, Once A Thief, A Better Tomorrow 1&2! I'm a huge Hong Kong action fan as well.
Jake, feel free to add me to your friends list on Netflix. It's a great way to get recommendations from other people and such.
Posted by: snortin_php at April 10, 2006 5:27 AM
