Comments on The Official Netflix Blog: Back from Thanksgiving

Holy cow, Phatz!That's quite a little holiday list...

2007-12-03T22:23:00.000-08:00

Holy cow, Phatz!

That's quite a little holiday list you've thrown together. Nice effort!

If I were you, I'd spread news of that one. Hey. I think i can help. Hold on.

For a hodgepodge list of Holiday movies try this L...

2007-12-03T21:22:00.000-08:00

For a hodgepodge list of Holiday movies try this List: http://www.netflix.com/StrangerLists?prid=128911990&showList=156025

Hope that helps.
Cheers!
Matt

No disappearing stars, but you might find it more ...

2007-12-03T21:17:00.000-08:00

No disappearing stars, but you might find it more productive to search for theme-specific movies on one of the many search engines out there rather than on Netflix, who's now vastly improved search feature is geared specifically to names, be it movies, directors or actors.

There does need to be a suggestion forum! PLUS, if...

2007-12-03T20:33:00.000-08:00

There does need to be a suggestion forum! PLUS, if you are not going to provide email support, then I think that the site needs to say that since most places do. I wasted about 15 minutes looping around in the help category trying to find a way to contact email support. My problem is that whenever I try to click on a star to rate a movie, all the stars go away. It's like my cursor is some kind of cyber eraser. I have to refresh the page to get them back, and the same thing happens again. I also think better search features would be nice. I've been trying to search for holiday movies and am having a terrible time finding what I want, unless I know the title. Anybody else have disappearing stars?

Ang said "Wasn't there a suggestion thread around ...

2007-12-03T18:48:00.000-08:00

Ang said "Wasn't there a suggestion thread around her somewhere?"

Only 'Ask Mike' (August archive) and my suggestion to have an ongoing one - and a darn good suggestion, I might add, judging by this uncharted outpouring.

Ang and Baff's points are excellent ones. Either people who use 'Watch now' in any given month should pay slightly more, or people who can't for whatever reason (or choose not to) should pay slightly less. It really ain't that complicated, in normal marketing terms. But it doesn't happen to fit in with Netflix' current advertising strategy, namely : with us you get something for nothing. They just don't make it clear that by 'you' they mean only those that happen to have the necessary hardware and software.

"Just to play devil's advocate, what about those o...

2007-12-03T17:57:00.000-08:00

"Just to play devil's advocate, what about those of us on Windows who can't use Watch Instantly because of older computers or slower internet connections? Should we get a discount, too?"

Sure. What I would like to see is another subscription plan that doesn't have any Watch Now hours, even if it were just $1 less. Then anyone that can't use it for whatever reason can get the discount.

In the meantime, I get my dollar's worth by complaining here.

Just to play devil's advocate, what about those of...

2007-12-03T16:49:00.000-08:00

Just to play devil's advocate, what about those of us on Windows who can't use Watch Instantly because of older computers or slower internet connections? Should we get a discount, too?

Anyway, the real reason for this post, and to bring us back around to the topic (well, not quite, but close)... wouldn't it be cool if one of the genres on Netflix was holiday movies? Maybe not all 12 months of the year, but at least November and December.

Wait. Wasn't there a suggestion thread around her somewhere?

"You were saying I should just install Windows on ...

2007-12-03T15:05:00.000-08:00

"You were saying I should just install Windows on my Mac. It is not possible to install Windows on my Mac."

I guess you could run a VM like parallels, but that is not something I am interested in, either.

I would certainly love to see instant viewing for the MAC -- this is really the only reason I have not switched to MAC myself.

Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't this really the fault of the content owners? Are they only accepting DRM that is included in Explorer? I thought this was the case, but after all these comments, I am not so sure.

I have come to really enjoy the VOD NF offers. How else could I watch trash like "Black Woman/White Woman"? Classic.

Gotcha, thanks for the clarification. And yes, (he...

2007-12-03T14:28:00.000-08:00

Gotcha, thanks for the clarification. And yes, (he said through clenched teeth) only the newer macs with intel chips can be dual-mounted with Windows, as we're regularly - and caustically - instructed to do.

"What kind of system do you have that cannot be up...

2007-12-03T14:03:00.000-08:00

"What kind of system do you have that cannot be updated?"

You were saying I should just install Windows on my Mac. It is not possible to install Windows on my Mac.

"I'm not sure what Baff was referring to when he spoke of 'a much better deal for mac users'."

On Netflix, Mac users can get about 20 movies/month and Windows users can about 30 movies/month. BB was offering their Total Access plan which got people about 30 movies/month. So, it was a much better deal for Mac users, but not for Windows users.

Has anyone else had unplayable Hairspray DVDs? I ...

2007-12-03T09:53:00.000-08:00

Has anyone else had unplayable Hairspray DVDs? I returned 3 discs because they didn't play on any of my 2 DVD players or 3 computers including a brand new laptop. The DVD players just stuck on LOAD and wouldn't even eject unless I turned the player off and back on. The computers only played the Golden Compass trailer but not the movie using PowerDVD. The only way I finally got it to play was with Windows MediaPlayer. What's up with that???

Impressively responsive and thorough - I withdraw ...

2007-12-03T09:09:00.000-08:00

Impressively responsive and thorough - I withdraw my "uninterested" comment. A couple or three random responses, begging other readers' indulgence :

BB has acquired Movielink so they can offer downloads - no Mac support either, so I'm not sure what Baff was referring to when he spoke of 'a much better deal for mac users'.

You'll find 'reductio...' in the English dictionary as a description of a particular form of argument (but obviously 'orig. Latin').

We understand that NF can't offer downloads to anyone other than users of Windows 'XP Service Pack 2' (?) or 'Vista' for reasons beyond their control at this point (wouldn't the studios baulk if they converted it into an easily copyable format?), but - leaving aside your own 'silly' argument that everyone should use Windows - that's no more our fault than theirs, so all most of us are asking for is some minimal conciliatory compensation, like an extra rental per x hrs of non 'Instant Watch' time - especially for those that have been sucked-in by all those ads and then find they can't use it; almost bait and switch. AND a proper (along the lines of your very good 'key' analogy) and more courteous explanation other than just 'not compatible'.

Over and out.

@Anon2… But since you seem totally uninterested in...

2007-12-03T07:29:00.000-08:00

@Anon2… But since you seem totally uninterested in anyone else's viewpoint...

Thats not true at all, it just seems like a lot of folks are getting mad at the wrong person (NF). Its not NF fault that these keys are not being made available to certain users by the manufacturer.

@Baff… The only way to get Watch Now to work on my computer is to buy a new one. There are no update "choices" that will change that. My computer is less than 2 years old, so I have no intent to replace it right now.

What kind of system do you have that cannot be updated? Just curious. If its a mac and if mac would distribute an appropriate key it would be an update for whatever viewer your using (quicktime, i-video).

;-) All I can say (Grin)seeing as Anon2 used latin) is…

Caveat Emptor The axiom or principle in commerce that the buyer alone is responsible for assessing the quality of a purchase before buying.

While macs may be more secure and for the "new" user less crash prone then windows based pc's… I didn't choose a mac because apple puts too many restrictions on a thing that is supposed to be owned by the buyer. You can only use mac OS, software, hardware, etc.

Whereas on an infinitely more expandable and user friendly PC I can choose to use a windows OS, or any of many flavors of Linux, I can swap out hardware in a blink, and can still upgrade my current box that is 6 years old.

If BB has a feature like "Watch Now" that works on Mac's its likely then the reason there isn't a key is because Mac wrote it and did an exclusive licensing agreement with BB to not offer support for any other viewer. Though I think that may be bordering on illegal. Or perhaps BB is converting the videos to a quicktime or other apple format.

That is something that NF should do till proper support available.

Yea, guys - i don't mind the offtopic here (honest...

2007-12-02T20:24:00.000-08:00

Yea, guys - i don't mind the offtopic here (honestly: what's on topic? Thanksgiving-with-relatives stories?)

Seriously: i wish we were building things these days that were more visible, but they're not. Just as much work, of course, but behind the scenes stuff, and larger things. No, I think the random thoughts are fine here.

Previous anonymous: this really isn't your average...

2007-12-02T20:13:00.000-08:00

Previous anonymous: this really isn't your average blog; this is pretty much the only gathering place for Netflix afficionados, and I don't think Michael really cares about a little off-topic. Also, I don't think there really is a topic for this particular post that we are commenting on--but if there was, your post would be just as off-topic as the rest of ours.

Pete said:Sure, but who reads any but the first fe...

2007-12-02T20:07:00.000-08:00

Pete said:
Sure, but who reads any but the first few (i.e. current) threads, and maybe 'Ask Mike'? Michael presumably gets a copy of the post as an e-mail however long the thread has been archived, but aren't we talking to each other here as well as to him?

But it is disrespectful to post off topic in someone else's blog. Let's respect the blog and post on-topic.

Michael,As instant viewing expands its offerings, ...

2007-12-02T17:23:00.000-08:00

Michael,

As instant viewing expands its offerings, do you think that section could mirror the wider site a little more. For instance, we can click on subgenres (Argentina, UK or Russia, for instance) when we're in an instant viewing movie page, but there's no way to go directly to that from the genre index, which only offers 'foreign'. Also, one can't see what's available with instant viewing by director or actor, which would be nice.

Yes, its hard to use a phone when your mouth is wi...

2007-12-02T14:56:00.000-08:00

Yes, its hard to use a phone when your mouth is wired shut or numbed with novocain. Sorry, couldn't resist.

I assume they are referring to Americans with Disabilities Act.

The American Dental Association?

2007-12-02T14:12:00.000-08:00

The American Dental Association?

Tough love, Ang, but thanks for the ADA larf. Alth...

2007-12-02T09:18:00.000-08:00

Tough love, Ang, but thanks for the ADA larf. Although we all know they meant the Dept. of Justice, naughty man.

@FrustratedThere are many free TTY/relay services ...

2007-12-02T07:45:00.000-08:00

@Frustrated

There are many free TTY/relay services a person who is hearing impaired can use. I'm surprised you don't know that.

And good luck contacting the "ADA". Let me know if you find a phone number for them.

@ Frustrated. Many of us have been pressing for e-...

2007-12-01T21:43:00.000-08:00

@ Frustrated.

Many of us have been pressing for e-mail customer service to be re-introduced to supplement the very much improved (I can assure you) phone support; but primarily for reasons of time and convenience. But shame on me - and them - for not having even thought of your considerably more serious and valid argument. There's no feedback from 'Contact Us', so it won't help with anyone's immediate issues, even if it serves to improve the site long term.

@frustrated Anonymous: Click 1)contact us2)Suggest...

2007-12-01T20:29:00.000-08:00

@frustrated Anonymous:

Click
1)contact us
2)Suggestions
3)on the drop down menu select "user suggestion"

OR copy this link: http://www.netflix.com/Suggest?type=2&lnkctr=cu_suggest

Then type your email in the field and click send.

Netflix will receive your communication.

Hope this is helpful.

Cheers!
Matt

I am BEYOND frustrated with your website.I can fin...

2007-12-01T19:51:00.000-08:00

I am BEYOND frustrated with your website.

I can find NO WAY to contact customer service except via telephone!!!

There is no email anywhere under CONTACT US.

There is no online 'chat' type of service either.

Have you never thought you might have a HEARING IMPAIRED customer that cannot use a PHONE?

This could easily be grounds for an ADA lawsuit, not to mention a huge inconvenience for users in general.

I will be contacting the ADA about this matter.

Since I am not a member of Facebook, I was not abl...

2007-12-01T18:59:00.000-08:00

Since I am not a member of Facebook, I was not able to publish a comment on the Netflix facebook page to a post made by "rubin" from Netflix, (who I think is the same person as "Michael" on this blog) so I am posting it here instead. On the facebook page, In the "watch instantly" thread in the discussion board section, I agree with you that your restaurant metaphor isn't the best.That situation would never happen in a restaurant, so the metaphor didn't make me, a Mac user, feel any better, but thanks for trying. It's nice to know that you are a Mac user, too, and have written so many books about Macs.