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The attack surface for other companies has just doubled If anything, that is an underestimate. I really can't understand what they are thinking. Since I am int

by frossie 15y ago

The attack surface for other companies has just doubled If anything, that is an underestimate. I really can't understand what they are thinking. Since I am interested in both DVD and streaming, up to now I was completely locked into Netflix because of the integrated system - my "Instant" queue is just the subset of my DVD queue that is streamable. If they break that link, and I derive no gain from being BOTH a Netflix-DVD and a Netflix-streaming customer, what is there to stop me switching to Amazon or other competing streaming service tomorrow? Absolutely nothing. This is such a bad decision I actually can't even begin to understand how it made sense to the dude for the whole length of time it took him to write that announcement. Edit: and another thing. Am I expected to believe that a technology company cannot figure out how to run two different business arms with a single customer-facing UI/website? This is something frigging clothing companies do every day.

Stratoscope 15y ago
> Am I expected to believe that a technology company cannot figure out how to run two different business arms with a single customer-facing UI/website? Even worse, the technology company we're talking about already does that and has done it for years.
perucoder 15y ago
What's to stop you from switching to Amazon? Have you tried watching a movie on Amazon? Way less usable and its hard to find movies sometimes. Netflix has a way better interface and what I find myself doing is checking on Netflix first, and then only if they don't have it, do I go to Amazon.
- cookiecaper 15y ago
  I've watched things on Amazon Instant in the past and didn't find it any less usable. In fact, I actually find Amazon more usable since it works on my operating system. It's kind of a moot point to say "Well, Amazon has a crappier interface, so Netflix is safe", since Amazon can always update its interface to something more friendly. The important point is that Netflix has given up one of the major incentives to use its service -- the integration of DVD and streaming.
  - deleted 15y ago
    [deleted]
- turtle4 15y ago
  I think the parent's point was, that is the case -now-. But that could change with one new release of Amazon's steaming service. Previously, even if Amazon released a new offering, the mailing service added an additional incentive to stay with netflix. Now if Amazon releases a better streaming option, you can simply dump Netflix streaming.
- burgerbrain 15y ago
  Amazon's streaming movies work great in linux. Even better than youtube fullscreened.
- absconditus 15y ago
  Amazon's online collection is much, much larger than Netflix's online collection. Are you referring only to their Prime service?
- originalgeek 15y ago
  Free is hard to beat. Actually, Amazon streaming is better than free. Instead of giving $96/year to Netflix, I can give $79/year to Amazon for a Prime membership, get streaming thrown in for free, and get the usual Prime benefit of free 2-day shipping. As far as the interface goes, are you really watching on your computer? I bought a Blu-Ray player just to stream Netflix, Hulu and Amazon. Works decently enough.
ShawnJG 15y ago
they've also given up on the complete Netflix brand recognition. Going with a completely new name is going to lose all the loyalty they built up. While you can get movies from practically anywhere would may Netflix unique was there streaming and DVD services. This is deadly instance of creating multiple targets for yourself, they were deathly stronger together.
recampbell 15y ago
What is there to stop me switching to Amazon or other competing streaming service tomorrow? The quality of those services compared to Netflix. Netflix realizes that they have to move quickly to cement their dominance in this field over the long term. If they are held back by their legacy business, they are going to die quickly. They would rather risk pissing off their biggest fans than jeopardize their stake in streaming.
- Bud 15y ago
  I just don't understand this argument. In what real, actual ways is Netflix plausibly "held back" by shipping DVDs to folks? And in what ways is this fixed by spinning that business off in such a way that the exact same people will now run that company? Because it seems to me that this is a lose-lose proposition, for the reasons stated by the commenters above.

by frossie 15y ago

Stratoscope 15y ago

> Am I expected to believe that a technology company cannot figure out how to run two different business arms with a single customer-facing UI/website? Even worse, the technology company we're talking about already does that and has done it for years.

perucoder 15y ago

What's to stop you from switching to Amazon? Have you tried watching a movie on Amazon? Way less usable and its hard to find movies sometimes. Netflix has a way better interface and what I find myself doing is checking on Netflix first, and then only if they don't have it, do I go to Amazon.

cookiecaper 15y ago
I've watched things on Amazon Instant in the past and didn't find it any less usable. In fact, I actually find Amazon more usable since it works on my operating system. It's kind of a moot point to say "Well, Amazon has a crappier interface, so Netflix is safe", since Amazon can always update its interface to something more friendly. The important point is that Netflix has given up one of the major incentives to use its service -- the integration of DVD and streaming.
- deleted 15y ago
  [deleted]
turtle4 15y ago
I think the parent's point was, that is the case -now-. But that could change with one new release of Amazon's steaming service. Previously, even if Amazon released a new offering, the mailing service added an additional incentive to stay with netflix. Now if Amazon releases a better streaming option, you can simply dump Netflix streaming.
burgerbrain 15y ago
Amazon's streaming movies work great in linux. Even better than youtube fullscreened.
absconditus 15y ago
Amazon's online collection is much, much larger than Netflix's online collection. Are you referring only to their Prime service?
originalgeek 15y ago
Free is hard to beat. Actually, Amazon streaming is better than free. Instead of giving $96/year to Netflix, I can give $79/year to Amazon for a Prime membership, get streaming thrown in for free, and get the usual Prime benefit of free 2-day shipping. As far as the interface goes, are you really watching on your computer? I bought a Blu-Ray player just to stream Netflix, Hulu and Amazon. Works decently enough.

ShawnJG 15y ago

they've also given up on the complete Netflix brand recognition. Going with a completely new name is going to lose all the loyalty they built up. While you can get movies from practically anywhere would may Netflix unique was there streaming and DVD services. This is deadly instance of creating multiple targets for yourself, they were deathly stronger together.

recampbell 15y ago

What is there to stop me switching to Amazon or other competing streaming service tomorrow? The quality of those services compared to Netflix. Netflix realizes that they have to move quickly to cement their dominance in this field over the long term. If they are held back by their legacy business, they are going to die quickly. They would rather risk pissing off their biggest fans than jeopardize their stake in streaming.

Bud 15y ago
I just don't understand this argument. In what real, actual ways is Netflix plausibly "held back" by shipping DVDs to folks? And in what ways is this fixed by spinning that business off in such a way that the exact same people will now run that company? Because it seems to me that this is a lose-lose proposition, for the reasons stated by the commenters above.