I Hate Cable Television (but can’t seem to ditch it)!
When I look at the image to the left, it reminds me of the ridiculous amount of money I spend on Comcast cable and Internet each month. Each month, I’m spending $123 for digital cable (no premium tiers) and their middle tier Internet connection. As you can imagine, having recently relocated and planning for a wedding, I’m definitely looking for ways to save money on cable (see my past articles on Modifying TV Habits and Media Centers)! Unfortunately, while I would drop cable in a heartbeat (as I prefer to watch movies, surf the Internet, or attempt other “productive” activities), my fiancé prefers television. After all, how else can she watch other peoples’ lives crash and burn (e.g. “16 and Pregnant,” “Teen Mom,” “Keeping up with the Kardashians,” etc). Anyhow… I digress…
My Netflix Dilemma
I had always thought of Netflix as a potential way to save money on cable, but never thought it was quite what I needed. Prior to 2008, there were restrictions on how much video was available to stream. Additionally, the price for the subscriptions which included streaming used to be a little higher than current subscription prices. As such, I had decided to keep Netflix on the back burner until the prices came down or the streaming library expanded. When checking up on the service a few months ago, I noticed that they now had a plan at $8.99/month that included one dvd at-a-time by mail, and unlimited streaming service. I talked it over with my fiancé and convinced her we should give it a test run.
There are two main ways to take advantage of a Netflix subscription: mail-service, and Internet streaming. Mail-service tends to be the more “traditional” Netflix service most folks would think of. If you’re not familiar, it works as follows:
- You build a queue of DVD’s you would like to view.
- Netflix mails you the first DVD(s) on your list (depending on your subscription level).
- You watch the DVD’s and return them in a pre-paid envelope.
- Netflix mails you the next DVD(s) in your queue.
The streaming service is slightly different. If you purchase a Netflix-compatible device (such as a device listed below), you can then browse the Netflix online queue and select a movie to watch via real-time downloads (similar to how YouTube videos work). This obviously requires a broadband Internet connection, but is a great way to have a plethora of movies at your fingertips. One thing I’ve noticed is that the library of movies available in the Internet queue is diverse and frequently changing. You can find anything from romance and comedy, to cartoon and foreign films. We’ve even managed to find old workout videos, and use them to mix up our mornings (kick-boxing, pilates, yoga, etc). You can also build a “queue” of movies via the Netflix website, in the same manner as you would for the mail-in service. Some devices also allow you to browse a subset of the new additions to the streaming library and build a queue directly through the device.
How to Get Started with Netflix Streaming
To get started, you’ll need a Netflix subscription that includes the unlimited streaming service. There are currently three plans from which to choose (all of which include unlimited streaming):
- One DVD at-a-time – $9.99/month
- Two DVD’s at-a-time – 14.99/month
- Three DVD’s at-a-time – 19.99/month
** UPDATE ** Netflix now has a $7.99 per month “Streaming Only” subscription offering, although for the extra $2.00 per month I’d probably prefer the option to get movies which aren’t available for streaming.
Once you’ve started your Netflix subscription, you’ll need a compatible device to download the stream. You have quite a few hardware options when it comes to streaming:
- A Windows or Mac computer attached to your TV – Great way to get started if you already have a computer that can connect to your TV and want to dip your toes into the streaming service before buying dedicated hardware.
- Compatible Game Consoles (Such as an Xbox 360 console with Xbox 360 Live 12 Month Gold Card, a Nintendo Wii Console, or a Sony Playstation 3) – Great if you plan to play games (or have already bought a console for your kids) and don’t want to clutter the media console under your TV.
- Roku XD|S Player – A full-featured streaming box that plays Netflix, Hulu Plus, and Amazon Video-on-Demand. An excellent option if your TV doesn’t have HDMI outputs.
- Western Digital TV Live Plus HD Media Player – A full-featured device which allows you to stream media of various formats from your computers to your TV, as well as stream movies directly from Netflix. It also lets you attach USB devices and play media directly from those devices!
- Some TV’s and Blu-Ray players – Devices already (or soon-to-be) in your media setup may be “Netflix-ready.” Simply check the manual that came with your device for information on activating the service.
The setup is pretty painless, and most of the players walk you through the process of connecting your device to your Instant Queue.
IMPORTANT: If you do decide to utilize streaming, I highly suggest you find a way to “hard-wire” your network connection to the streaming device. If you opt to utilize your wireless network, your mileage may vary. In my own experience (currently in an apartment), there are SO MANY wireless networks within range (and all the wireless channels are busy) that my connection can’t support the throughput for streaming without having to constantly stop the movie for buffering. This is also exacerbated by the fact that my router and access point are in separate rooms from my TV, and all the walls are concrete! If your wireless network connection is giving you problems, HowtoGeek.com posted a great article on how to optimize your Wireless Connection by finding low-use wireless channels. This could potentially help you fix streaming over your wireless network.
Final Thoughts:
To date, we’ve watched the entire first and second season of 24, and a number of movies and comedy shows (a mix of newer releases and classics). Compared to a “red box” at $1 per DVD per night, I’d say we’ve more than broken even on Netflix subscription versus DVD rentals. My fiancé and I have added some workout DVD’s to our instant queue, and have started mixing up our workout routines with pilates and kickboxing. If there are specific shows you’re interested in watching, take note: the Netflix customer service representatives seemed more than happy to check the queue for available options when I called them prior to subscribing.
My point is this – there really is something for everyone available in the streaming library. Add to that the DVD-by-mail option, and your options for viewing/entertainment are nearly endless! With a 30-day subscription starting at $9 and your first month FREE, it’s virtually a no-brainer to at least try a Netflix subscription that includes the unlimited streaming service. After all, think of the money you could be saving by dropping cable and using your Netflix subscription for all your TV and movie entertainment needs!
As always, if you would like any additional information on what I’ve covered in this post, feel free to Contact Me!
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