Netflicks?
Tried to get info from NetFlicks help/chat ... must be talking in Martian tho as I can't seem to phrase my questions properly. We're thinking of dumping the cable again - What a waste of a good TV ...
Forum Discussion
Netflix streaming will adjust the size of the stream to the bandwidth it detects, but NF does recommend at least 500k bits for standard definition, 1.5M bits for HD. Those rates need to be continuous, a lot of advertised rates are peak or burst rates. I do OK on a 3M bit cable connection, but a 3G MiFi device meant a lot of interruptions for buffering. I haven't tried a 4G MiFi.
If you don't like what is on TV, you might not like what is on Netflix either. Major studios do not release much to "unlimited service" streaming outlets, nor do they do the same with disks. Studios much prefer selling pay per view, which comes back to them on a per-title basis; it fits their accounting practices. Thus Netflix is heavy with old TV series, foreign films not released here, independent and Hollywood films never theatrically release, and material from old film libraries (but nothing quite like Turner Classic Movies).
There is no way for you to figure out if NetFlix works for you unless you open an account and try it. A list of their catalog is not going to help, most of what is there you will likely not recognize, the service is not about streaming box office hits, the studios simply do not do business that way. Many of the obscure titles are very good, better than the trash in the theaters, but you have to watch some to figure out whether or not that is what you want.
I tried the DVD service when it was a cheap add-on to streaming NetFlix, to get at titles they were not licensed to stream. It was not much value, turn-arounds and finding time to watch meant maybe one DVD per week. Renting from local video stores worked better, but that is shifting to vending machines having much smaller selections.
The streaming works for me because I like the old movies, indie movies, and the French and Korean films being streamed. But I still watch as much from TCM.
That's at home, because that's what your question seemed to be about, alternatives to cable. Another thing to look at would be satellite, there is a lot of video on demand and pay per view, more at least than the offerings of the only cable company licensed in my town.
Streaming does not work for me when RVing. I have not bought enough mobile bandwidth, and most of the places I go in the RV, there is no 4G service, seldom a steady 3G, and in quite a few, no cell phone at all. If you stay near metro areas you may find 4G more consistently, and along the Interstate road networks, 3G a lot of the time, but not always enough free bandwidth for continuous video streams.
My RVing entertainment solutions, when not sitting around with friends, are books.
If you don't like what is on TV, you might not like what is on Netflix either. Major studios do not release much to "unlimited service" streaming outlets, nor do they do the same with disks. Studios much prefer selling pay per view, which comes back to them on a per-title basis; it fits their accounting practices. Thus Netflix is heavy with old TV series, foreign films not released here, independent and Hollywood films never theatrically release, and material from old film libraries (but nothing quite like Turner Classic Movies).
There is no way for you to figure out if NetFlix works for you unless you open an account and try it. A list of their catalog is not going to help, most of what is there you will likely not recognize, the service is not about streaming box office hits, the studios simply do not do business that way. Many of the obscure titles are very good, better than the trash in the theaters, but you have to watch some to figure out whether or not that is what you want.
I tried the DVD service when it was a cheap add-on to streaming NetFlix, to get at titles they were not licensed to stream. It was not much value, turn-arounds and finding time to watch meant maybe one DVD per week. Renting from local video stores worked better, but that is shifting to vending machines having much smaller selections.
The streaming works for me because I like the old movies, indie movies, and the French and Korean films being streamed. But I still watch as much from TCM.
That's at home, because that's what your question seemed to be about, alternatives to cable. Another thing to look at would be satellite, there is a lot of video on demand and pay per view, more at least than the offerings of the only cable company licensed in my town.
Streaming does not work for me when RVing. I have not bought enough mobile bandwidth, and most of the places I go in the RV, there is no 4G service, seldom a steady 3G, and in quite a few, no cell phone at all. If you stay near metro areas you may find 4G more consistently, and along the Interstate road networks, 3G a lot of the time, but not always enough free bandwidth for continuous video streams.
My RVing entertainment solutions, when not sitting around with friends, are books.
