Netflix Video-On-Demand == Lameness
This morning, I checked out Netflix’s new Video-On-Demand (log-in required) service and find myself fully and completely hating it. It’s a joke, except I’m not laughing.
What would have been an awesome service for me, a paying customer is completely useless. To use this service they call “Instant Watching”, I must use Windows XP or Vista, Internet Explorer 6+ and Windows Media Player. I’m not surprised that support for Linux is non-existent, but what about Mac?
This is a service I would have like to be able to use. I do have a Windows partition I could boot, but I’m not going to. I never use it. It’s a hassle. No. Windows sucks. Internet Explorer… forget it. I use Linux. No support for it? Fine, I’m used to that, but what about this nice, huge-screen G5 Mac sitting in my living room? This is what they tell me:
Your system is not compatible with instant viewing
Your computer’s operating system is not compatible with instant viewing.Try again from a computer running Windows XP Service Pack 2 or Windows Vista.
To watch instantly, you need a computer with the following configuration:
Minimum Requirements
- Computer running Windows XP with Service Pack 2 or higher, or Windows Vista
- Internet Explorer version 6 or higher
- Windows Media Player version 9 or higher
- An active broadband connection to the Internet
- 1.0 GHz processor
- 512 MB RAM
- 3 GB free hard disk drive space
Recommended in addition to minimum requirements
- An active broadband Internet connection of at least 1.5 Mbps
- 1.5 GHz processor
- 1 GB RAM
There’s no love for anything but Windows and I call foul. Microsoft DRM is buggy bullshit and I don’t understand the point of having it in the first place. Yes, doing a bit of work, a person can record streaming media to disk and share it, but honestly, that same person can just rip the DVDs that Netflix sends out in the mail, possibly with better results. Slapping DRM around it and limiting use to one operating system is a joke. It excludes customers and creates an unnecessary hassle.
I hope this changes, but I doubt it. I’m really disappointed in Netflix. This is not a “service”, it’s an embarrassment. If this is the way they plan on doing things, they’re no better than Walmart and they can kiss my ass.
February 15th, 2007 at 2:59 pm
1. This just debuted a couple of weeks ago – you’re really surprised Mac support isn’t there yet? I’m a lifelong Mac user, and *I’m* not surprised. Give them at least six months.
2. You’re really mad at *Netflix* for the bullshit DRM? Don’t you think that’s 75% Hollywood’s fault, 25% Microsoft’s, 0% Netflix’s?
DRM on music is about to go away, as EMI is rumored to be planning and Steve Jobs is pushing for. But DRM on movies will probably be with us for at least a couple more years. I hate it, I decry it, but I also know I’ve gotta live with it (and work around it, coughbittorrentcough). Content companies move glacially when it comes to policies that require them to have a brain.
Personally, I think this new Netflix service borders on visionary. By adding it to preexisting subscriptions, they’re ensuring instant adoption and building marketshare instantaneously. And by making it (mostly) foolproof and YouTube-like – i.e., browser-based – they’re inviting the Joe Sixpack user to try it with minimal downside. Finally, the ability to “surf” movies and dump a movie you don’t like after a few minutes is totally new.
I wish it were ready for Mac, and they’d damn well better make it work with Firefox, but generally, I think Netflix is on to something here.
February 15th, 2007 at 3:25 pm
1. No, I’m not surprised. Netflix is licensing with MS Janus DRM, so I’m not holding my breath for Mac compatibility anytime, if ever. Likely the set-top box that supposedly is coming out sometime (maybe) this year is going to be the answer.
2. Yes, I am mad at Netflix. I DO levy some blame on them. This is not the way to move forward. I understand the possibilities of it, but as long as it’s locked down in the retarded way it is, I’ll never agree with it. DRM…whatever it’ll just be cracked in a week anyway, just not Janus and not Microsoft. Sure, it borders on visionary, I agree, but it still is not right with me.
As far as Firefox compatibility…I don’t know. If the issue is DRM control under MS, I’m not so sure as the issue is closed-source WMP’s interoperability with IE and Janus and as I understand it, a plugin that needs to be installed into the browser. Walmart’s not doing it, so who knows.