Whether it be cable, DSL or satellite internet, high speed broadband has revolutionized nearly every facet of our lives. Not only is it an infinite resource on every topic known to man, but also has done wonders for the way we communicate, work, shop and not least of all, view our entertainment. Gone are the days of video drop boxes now that Netflix is bringing movies directly to your door and even better, instantly to your computer screen with broadband or satellite internet.
With a selection of over 100,000 movies to choose from, Netflix blows its competition out of the water. Foreign films, cult classics, obscure documentaries, hilarious horror flops, full seasons of TV series, you name it, it’s on Netflix. In comparison, Blockbuster Online only has 80,000 titles and the average video rental store between 15,0000 and 40,000. With these kinds of numbers, you could spend hours going from video store to video store searching for a little known independent film that could be found instantly on Netflix without having to leave the comfort of your own home.
Furthermore, using Netflix is as easy as getting your mail. Without changing your daily routine or taking time out of your day to head to the video store, Netflix delivers your movie along with the rest of the post. You get to choose whether you want to receive one, two or three videos at a time. As soon as you finish them, put the discs back in the post with the rest of your mail and within days your next shipment will arrive in your mailbox.
The charges for the service are monthly, which means that no matter whether you return your DVDs 15 times in one month (meaning 45 movies if you order 3 at a time), you still only pay the flat monthly fee. This is vastly superior to having to pay per movie at a standard video rental store. If this isn’t incentive enough, Netflix also offers a free trial for weeks before charging you for the service. Cancel before the end of these two weeks and you owe absolutely nothing.
Probably the best feature of all is free, unlimited, instant movies directly to your desktop. If you have high speed internet (cable, DSL, satellite internet) you can choose from 17,000 different titles instantly on top of the movies you order in the mail absolutely free. If you have an X-Box, PlayStation3 or Blu-ray player, you also have the option to stream your instant movies directly to your TV. This makes having a movie night even simpler by not only eliminating the trip to the video store but also the waiting time for mail delivery.
With all of these benefits, it’s easy to see why the emersion of Netflix has sent other video rental stores scrambling for ways to compete. Now that satellite internet has brought this technology into rural homes, even big box rental stores are having a hard time contending with the online giant. As more people become privy to the convenience and affordability of Netflix, actual in-store video rentals will inevitably become obsolete.
BOLA TANGKAS
27 de diciembre de 2017
