Netflix Disc Rental Future

[alchav21]

Originally Posted by PenguinInfinity

It doesn't matter how fast your connection is; Netflix, VUDU, Amazon, Sony Ultra, iTunes, etc don't provide anywhere near 75Mbps.

It's possible they will at some point, but the fact is that right now disc bitrates are much higher than streaming bitrates. Trying to dispute facts just makes you sound foolish.

Who's the foolish one? All those sites you mentioned can average 25Mbps, enough for 1080P Disc Quality. Blu-ray Players average 20Mbps so the Quality is there. UHD Disc Quality is not too far behind, I think averaging 50+Mbps should be more than enough. Technology waits for no one!

[PCFan]

Originally Posted by Vilya

Over here now spreading your false gospel, eh? New location, same misinformation.

Streaming in HD averages a bitrate of just 16 Mbps; a blu-ray disc averages around 25-27 Mbps.

Streaming in 4K averages a bitrate of 25 Mbps; a 4K disc averages a bitrate of 75-80 Mbps.

Both streaming levels only offer lossy audio. Both disc formats can offer lossless audio.

Streaming is much more compressed.

You can stream just fine over a wireless network, too. Most people do exactly that- including a CIO and software engineer that is a personal friend of mine- he streams with no issues over a wireless network. He has told me directly that you do not need to be hard wired in order to stream these anemic bitrates, which average just 25 Mbps for a 4K stream. A properly setup wireless network with even an ancient G standard router can support the streaming bitrates listed above. A N router does it with ease and a new AC router handles it with hands tied behind its back and blind folded.

Therefore, by all objective measures streaming has NOT matched disc quality. Maybe someday, but that someday is not today.

The problem with wireless is that sometimes the speeds will drop due to interference. So for example, most of the time you may be getting 25 mbps from the wireless router but then sometimes the signal will drop to 6 mbps due to an sudden interference. Ethernet does not have this issue.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by PCFan

The problem with wireless is that sometimes the speeds will drop due to interference. So for example, most of the time you may be getting 25 mbps from the wireless router but then sometimes the signal will drop to 6 mbps due to an sudden interference. Ethernet does not have this issue.

Random interference has never been a problem here. Unreliable Internet service, however, is a recurring issue.

If signal interference is a problem, a wired connection will solve it. Many people use wireless home networks for streaming, so signal interference must be rather uncommon. It is not difficult to run an ethernet cable after all. Anyone can do that, it's just most of us don't need to do so.

[JupiterMission]

Does Netflix's disc service have much from Scream Factory, Arrow, Vinegar Syndrome, Kino, Scorpion and/or Code Red? I suppose it could be a good way for me to sample titles instead of blind buying so much.

[SuperFlyHighGuy]

Originally Posted by JupiterMission

Does Netflix's disc service have much from Scream Factory, Arrow, Vinegar Syndrome, Kino, Scorpion and/or Code Red? I suppose it could be a good way for me to sample titles instead of blind buying so much.

They don't have any of that stuff. I'm still a disc subscriber and I mostly use it for newer releases and tv shows. Going through The Wire series on blu now.

It's worth it for me cause I don't have cable, sat, or an internet connection. So I don't stream or anything, so I can justify $16 a month for 2-discs at a time. Biggest issue I have is that I sometimes get blu-rays that won't play, and the disc is brand-new looking. Netflix tries to tell me it's my player, but I'm current with my firmware, and I think it's actually the stickers they put on them.

The service is very good for getting most of the newest Criterion blu-rays though, if you're interested in that.

[SleazyForWeasley]

This is literally the first month without DVDs from Netflix (I refuse to call them DVD.com) in over 14 years. Echoing what splintersean said, I couldn't keep up with discs they were sending me when trying to keep current on streaming options and what I already own on disc. Glad to read they're doing well with the discs still. If I ever get to the point where my viewing habits change back and I have time, I'll GLADLY go and rebuild my queue, which had become quite bloated with a lot of things I really wasn't that interested in.

[stonesfan129]

Not worth it imo. I have had so many discs that were either defective or so marked up that I couldn't even watch them the whole way through. I'd rather just go down to Redbox and rent a Blu-ray for $2.00/day or buy the disc used on eBay or Amazon.

[storythecorgi]

I prefer physical over streaming because of quality. However, I just use RedBox since I only rent a new release about every other month. (Wow, that just made me realize how shitty movies have been lately).

[Paul.R.S]

Ouch--I either knew and forgot about Schindler's BD absence or didn't know about that one at all. Another egregious example. On the one hand, I can't help but think that's something that would happen only at Steven's behest. But on the other, I'd like to think his perspective would be that he wants as many people to see that picture as possible whether it be via buying, renting, on a plane, whatever . . .

I'm trying to understand what you mean by 'comped.' Since they don't charge on a per-rental basis, how much credit do you think a customer should receive when they are sent a DVD for a title that is available on BD?

I'm not so much as questioning the merit of the broader idea as I am wondering about the specific logistics of how they would implement it. I thought about this years ago and it seems to me they would need to stop applying a monthly fee and create an accounting system wherein an additional charge is applied when a BD ships. Fifty cents? (But there would still need to be an opt in so that folks agreed they were going to be shipped BDs when available. There are some BD-only titles out there. And we all know there are folks out there who still don't have BD players.)

Can you tell I miss HackingNetflix.com?

[The_Donster]

Maybe compt is a poor choice of words? I just feel I should get what I’m paying for, which is a 2 disc BD plan. So rotate movies that have been upgraded to BD and get a system that insures movies returned are replenished in a timely manner. USPS scans them in as they receive them, so it isn’t like they don’t know a disc will be in their hub that day or the next. Otherwise don’t ask for more if you can’t deliver. But despite all that, I haven’t had too much to complain about outside of that.

[Paul.R.S]

Playing Devil's Advocate somewhat, I think the service would say they are 'delivering' and we are 'getting what we pay for.' Kinda. No where do they promise to provide BDs of all titles available on the format. (This is the same company that bailed on HD DVD and thereby sent me scurrying to BBuster Online for those discs and has not yet started renting UHD BDs. And prolly won't.)

Five years ago the rationale that BDs are more expensive to manufacture started to fall flat IMO. Now I think the rationale for a lotta MIA BDs is likely that discs aren't a growth business for them. Per the CNBC article linked a page back, even an insider says they are simply keeping the service "alive" until it dies on its own. Adding more BDs to satisfy the niche within niche aud that complains about their absence is not going to add to their bottom line.

(And c-o-m-p-e-d is the spelling.)

[The_Donster]

Yes and no? I’m sure they see it the same way as you do. And we’re both correct on the spelling

[Paul.R.S]

Is something getting Lost In Translation? Devil’s Advocate doesn’t mean that’s how I feel or that I’m in agreement with the speculation about the service’s position on the matter.

And sorry, but “compte” (which you later spelled “compt”) is a different word in a different language with different meanings. And it’s a noun. None of the four definitions to which you link are applicable to the context in which the concept first came up, which is as a verb.

[The_Donster]

Are you being serious? Is it really that important to you that feel the need to always be right in a forum? What’s next, potato vs potatoes?

[Paul.R.S]

Oh! One other BD grouse, apropos of spinning The Equalizer recently in prep for Denzel tonight: "Rental copies." It used to be that Nf didn't do this; mainly it was redbox. But the BD I got from Nf of Equalizer is devoid of supps that are on the sellthrough.

[halloween5309]

just joined the 3 at a time plan , they ship fast and so far all blus have been like new.

[Paul.R.S]

Cool, Halloween. It's nice/interesting (to me, at least) to know that there are still folks *joining* the disc service.

You're obviously not new to "Blu" as you've been on the site for over eight years. What brought you to start doing Nf disc rental recently?

[The_Donster]

Originally Posted by Paul.R.S

Oh! One other BR grouse, apropos of spinning The Equalizer recently in prep for Denzel tonight: "Rental copies." It used to be that Nf didn't do this; mainly it was redbox. But the BD I got from Nf of Equalizer is devoid of supps that are on the sellthrough.

Sadly, this started around the release of Bridesmaids? Apparently the studios put pressure on Netflix to purchase rental copies? Universal and another studio (Lionsgate?) seem to be the most consistent? While I love my extras or uncut versions, I get it. I personally use Netflix to gauge whether something is a buy or pass.

[Paul.R.S]

Sheesh no Mr. Deeds Goes To Town BD? C'mon Netflix.

[Paul.R.S]

I wonder if Netflix will toy with the idea of making Roma and other Nf shows available on disc exclusively to subscribers. Purchase it via the Nf account tied to a certain e-mail address.