NetFlix ideas and theories Jul31 '04

I’ve been utilizing the NetFlix online DVD service for about a month now, and it is a very impressive commodity. I like the enormous selection of DVDs to choose from, and the fact that DVDs come to me in the mail every few days, which takes less of my time, since I never have to visit a video store.

Two screens collide – how I watch DVDs

To utilize my time to the fullest, I have my computer area set up as such:

So, when I work on the computer, I can also watch movies at the same time. This way, I’m not wasting away my days watching DVDs – I can "work and watch" at the same time.

I know what you’re thinking. I can only watch one screen at a time, so which do I watch more?

Sometimes I watch more of the movie, and during slow times of the movie, I concentrate on my computer work. In truth, I’m not giving my FULL attention to either screen – it’s more like 50/50. So, I’m not AS productive as I am normally on the computer – and at the same time, I’m not giving my full attention to the movie, and therefore I miss key scenes or details.

I know... it’s not the best method, but it allows me to do two things at once, and I like that. I find it hard to sit through entire movies, anyway. I always have to be doing something else.

Watch as fast as you can

As my work area exhibits, NetFlix is all about efficiency. Since you can only have three DVDs out at a time, the key is to watch them fast, and return them fast. That way, you get more DVDs sent to you per month, which is more "bang for your buck." The more DVDs you can watch in the shortest amount of time, the better.

Return as fast as you can

Another important aspect of NetFlix is returning your DVDs efficiently. In this case, "returning" means dropping the DVD off at the nearest mailbox.

Unfortunately, this process is, by far, the slowest of all. The amount of time it takes the DVD to travel back to a NetFlix location, and for them to send out another one is about a week. That’s a long time, considering a DVD only takes a couple hours to watch. But that’s just the speed of the postal service. There’s nothing anyone can do about that.

Expedite the shipping process?

What if there was a way to speed up the postal process? Of course, there is such a thing as "overnight" shipping, or "two day" shipping... but that costs extra. Still... I think this would make NetFlix even better. Instead of waiting a week to recieve your next DVD, you’d only have to wait two days. Imagine how many DVDs you could watch then...

In this age of emails and instant messages – the postal service seems like the slowest thing in the world. I’m used to instant results.

Long term effects

As much as I enjoy the "treat" of always having a new movie on hand to watch, I wonder about the long–term interest in this type of service. I wonder how long I will be able to "justify" the monthly payment for this service, which is only $22, but sometimes not even that is justified.

Live for the present

In any case, I enjoy the service, and I am glad it exists. I recommend it to anyone willing to "try something new." For kicks, here is a list of all the DVDs I’ve "watched and returned" so far, via NetFlix priority mail: (most recent first)

• Something’s Gotta Give, 2003
• Peter Pan, 2003
• Mystic River, 2003
• Anger Management, 2003
• Black Hawk Down, 2001
• The Sum of All Fears, 2002
• Brother Bear, 2003
• Bowling for Columbine, 2002
• Seabiscuit, 2003
• Phone Booth, 2003
• Catch Me If You Can, 2002

I already discussed a couple of those movies.

Also, here are the movies are currently have out, which are waiting to be watched:

• Minority Report, 2002
• Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, 2001

More yummy links

I started NetFlix a while back, after weighing my options.

There is probably more than one, but NetFlix Fan is a "NetFlix blog" that I read. It shares in the "madness" that only NetFlix members can understand.

Categories: Movies , Services

Add Feedback (view all)