But sometimes I take a leap. I finally decided to subscribe to Netflix for my free month (and beyond). And of course, for me, the impediment was technical. I wanted to play it on my Xbox, but ever since I'd done an old roommate a favor, my account was all wrapped up in his. Years later, I'm skittish of putting money into an Xbox Live that's in his name, and so my console has connectivity problems. So I fiddle around with it, it makes a massive update (oh yeah, that's right, I never got the console on the wi-fi after changing providers like 2 years ago), and there's the Netflix app inviting me to click it. It takes a lot of attempts before I finally make a new account from a different email which can act as my "Live manager" before it finally allows me to get on, but on I get.
Another reason I didn't particular feel the need to subscribe is that my preferred format is DVD. An old habit to be sure, but accumulating physical objects is part of the geek DNA. I DID throw off the shackles of the paper comic book however, and am currently all-digital (or trade), not that I've purchased or read a single new comic in almost a year. Point is, that stuff takes up a lot of room, whereas streaming does not. Since I buy a lot of movies sight unseen, on hunches and advice, I might be accumulating stuff I will then have no intention of watching again. But even if I stream some of it, my challenge will now be to nevertheless put time in clearing the shelves of new purchases. I can get lost on the stream and neglect the things I've actually invested money in.
So given these arguments, why get Netflix at all? Several reasons. First, there are more and more shows and films made directly for Netflix, some of them geek-sensitive (what I would call things that interest geeks and generate spoilers). Because Netflix has a vested interest in keeping its content exclusive to itself, DVDs are slow to come, and may never come at all. Daredevil is on its second season, for example, and no plans have yet been announced to make the show available in another format. And if I want to be a completist about it, I can't watch the much-heralded Jessica Jones without first checking out the not-so-ballyhooed DD.
And then there's the way our movie nights work. Someone from the group will say they want to present a film, and then expect it to be available to me. Well, they aren't always, and sometimes we have to change plans on the night because someone assumed someone else had a copy. Netflix doesn't have a complete archive of cinema history, obviously, but it puts chance on our side.
And look, at ±7 bucks a month, I get my money's worth pretty quickly. Should bring my Amazon bills down some. (Okay, that's a complete lie and I know it.)
How long did it take you to make the plunge? If you haven't yet, why not?
Comments
But I do understand why you were reluctant. Actually I think it's kinda cool that some people buy DVDs of movies.
With a streaming service you only get the movie. You can't look at a cover box. You can't hear a commentary track. You can't get all the features that you will like.
I don't think you will go all Netflix. But it will be a nice complement to your body of knowledge and it will contribute to your geekdome.
And I know you love food... Check out Cooked on Netflix, it's great.
Apart from the Marvel shows and House of Cards I haven't found much that interests me on the service, but then it's got a pretty limited selection this side of the Pond compared to other places, presumably due to licencing.
Alan.