I finally did it, I joined Netflix.  We had been using Blockbuster’s netflix copycat service but dropped it a couple years ago after we did the math. We figured it was coming out to about $20 per rental; we just weren’t watching enough to justify it. We signed up for the service BK (before kids) and choose it over Netflix because of the in store option.  If there was a movie we wanted to see, we didn’t have to wait for delivery, just bring one of the old DVDs back to a local blockbuster and take home what we wanted.  Eventually we realized considering how few movies we watch it was cheaper to just rent from Apple/ITunes or Comcast On Demand and there was no need to leave the house to watch what we wanted, when we wanted.

Not that anything in our lives has changed.  With 2 little ones we don’t have much in the way of popcorn time, and when we do there is enough TV the wife and I actually have in common that we are far more likely to fire up the DVR.  There are no time limits on the DVR like there is with Comcast and Apple rentals.  We often don’t have the time for a 1.5/2 hour  movie but might be able to squeeze in an hour of Grey’s or Glee or even a 1/2 of HIMYM.

So why join Netflix? Impulse I suppose but he selling point was the unlimited streaming.  You can stream as much as you want for no additional cost. You don’t like what you are watching stop it and stream something else.  No extra cost and this is above and beyond the DVD rental.  The video quality was only OK, but I am not sure if that was an impact by yesterday’s integration of Netflix into Microsoft’s Media Center; i’m sure Netflix’s bandwith was being put to the test last night.

I choose the $9 dollar a month – 1 DVD and unlimited streaming plan. I basically need to watch 2 movies a month to justify the cost. I think that is pretty doable.