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Anything better then Netflix yet?

Casually HardcoreCasually Hardcore Once an Asshole. Trying to be better.Registered User regular
edited March 2012 in Help / Advice Forum
So, yesterday, a friend and I was spending 10 minutes naming movies we want to see again but Netflix failing to have it as a stream option.

it basically gotten to the point of 'Why the fuck am I paying for this?'.

So, my question is, is there a streaming service that have movies that I want to watch, not a just large selection of syfy movies and blockbuster flops?

Casually Hardcore on

Posts

  • L Ron HowardL Ron Howard The duck MinnesotaRegistered User regular
    Amazon Prime is supposed to be pretty good.
    There is a chart somewhere showing that they (supposedly) have more movies and get movies from the theaters three months before Netflix does.

  • amateurhouramateurhour One day I'll be professionalhour The woods somewhere in TennesseeRegistered User regular
    Amazon Prime has roughly the exact same thing as Netflix, but you get the added bonus of all the free shipping options if you regularly buy from amazon, which is nice. I think it also equates to something like $2 cheaper a month unless they've changed price, but when I was looking at it you had to pay the entire year up front.

    I think they've got probably a 10% difference in Netflix (I.E. Netflix has a few movies AP doesn't, and vice versa)

    I think you can browse their catalog online for free to see if they've got what you want to watch though, so try that.

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  • EsseeEssee The pinkest of hair. Victoria, BCRegistered User regular
    There's always Hulu and, of course, Hulu+ (assuming you're talking US-based Netflix). I know some people prefer their service. I haven't really taken a look at their selection, but maybe they have movies that are more interesting to you? I'm guessing Amazon Prime might be better in general from what I've read. I need to go look into all this stuff 'cause I think my mom's planning to subscribe to one of these services really soon, haha.

  • EshEsh Tending bar. FFXIV. Motorcycles. Portland, ORRegistered User regular
    Essee wrote: »
    There's always Hulu and, of course, Hulu+ (assuming you're talking US-based Netflix). I know some people prefer their service. I haven't really taken a look at their selection, but maybe they have movies that are more interesting to you? I'm guessing Amazon Prime might be better in general from what I've read. I need to go look into all this stuff 'cause I think my mom's planning to subscribe to one of these services really soon, haha.

    Hulu+ has a big selection, but it's much more oddball/indie/low-budget. They DO have The Criterion Collection though which is pretty amazing unto itself.

  • zerzhulzerzhul Registered User, Moderator mod
    The difficulty with Amazon is that there aren't as many methods to watch your content on your chosen device. It's pretty much designed to be PC or Internet Enabled TV only. No android/iOS apps, no ps3/360 integration. (last I checked anyhow)

  • illigillig Registered User regular
    All of the movies worth watching are not on any of the unlimited monthly streaming plans like netflix, hulu, or amazon. And they won't ever be imho. $7/month just doesn't pay for them.

    You can easily watch them by renting for $2-4 from amazon or apple, tho.

  • NeurotikaNeurotika Registered User regular
    illig wrote: »
    You can easily watch them by renting for $2-4 from amazon or apple, tho.

    Or Sony, I just now realized there was a "Movies" section of the store, haha.

  • TychoCelchuuuTychoCelchuuu PIGEON Registered User regular
    A good tip for Netflix is not to name movies you want to see but to see what Netflix has (Instantwatcher.com can be nice for this). If you go in looking for something specific, chances are you won't find it, but there are hundreds and hundreds of fantastic movies that are on Netflix.

  • EshEsh Tending bar. FFXIV. Motorcycles. Portland, ORRegistered User regular
    edited March 2012
    TychoCelchuuu wrote: »
    A good tip for Netflix is not to name movies you want to see but to see what Netflix has (Instantwatcher.com can be nice for this). If you go in looking for something specific, chances are you won't find it, but there are hundreds and hundreds of fantastic movies that are on Netflix.

    I might be crazy, but I feel like I see more Netflix movies for streaming on my laptop than I do when I look on my PS3.

    Esh on
  • MushroomStickMushroomStick Registered User regular
    Esh wrote: »
    TychoCelchuuu wrote: »
    A good tip for Netflix is not to name movies you want to see but to see what Netflix has (Instantwatcher.com can be nice for this). If you go in looking for something specific, chances are you won't find it, but there are hundreds and hundreds of fantastic movies that are on Netflix.

    I might be crazy, but I feel like I see more Netflix movies for streaming on my laptop than I do when I look on my PS3.

    Well, if you're crazy than maybe I am too. I think its not so much that the movies aren't there, its just that a few updates ago the PS3 app removed all logic from how the categories work.

  • EggyToastEggyToast Jersey CityRegistered User regular
    illig wrote: »
    All of the movies worth watching are not on any of the unlimited monthly streaming plans like netflix, hulu, or amazon. And they won't ever be imho. $7/month just doesn't pay for them.

    You can easily watch them by renting for $2-4 from amazon or apple, tho.

    This. There are alternatives to Netflix, but they're not substantially different. Hulu will get TV shows earlier. Amazon's offering is OK but their interface is terrible, and it's difficult to find, sort, and save anything. It's basically a perk for being a prime member, rather than the other way around.

    The thing is, for anything that isn't on Netflix, the problem isn't that Netflix sucks, it's that the movie just isn't available to stream. There's not some alternative that carries every single movie ever.

    For people like you who want to find something to watch right away, the Video-On-Demand services mentioned above would be a better bet, along with things like RedBox. If you find yourself rarely watching things on Netflix, it might be worthwhile putting the money into VOD services.

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  • Dr. FrenchensteinDr. Frenchenstein Registered User regular
    I think there is a licensing difference between PS3 and PC.

    i think i remember seeing the same thing, some show i wanted to watch was on my PC, so i go to watch it on the big screen and lo and behold, it isn't there.

    The PS3/360 linkup is pretty much the only think keeping me with netflix.

  • EshEsh Tending bar. FFXIV. Motorcycles. Portland, ORRegistered User regular
    Can't you queue it up on your PC though and have it appear on the PS3 or 360?

  • Dr. FrenchensteinDr. Frenchenstein Registered User regular
    Most of the time, yeah. But when there is a licensing issue, it wont show up in your queue on the other device.

  • DarkewolfeDarkewolfe Registered User regular
    Amazon Prime's streaming videos are less useful to me because, unlike Netflix, I can't use them to watch the movies on my tv. There are all sorts of technical solutions to this, but they all revolve around running a cable from my PC to a tv.

    What is this I don't even.
  • TychoCelchuuuTychoCelchuuu PIGEON Registered User regular
    Esh wrote: »
    TychoCelchuuu wrote: »
    A good tip for Netflix is not to name movies you want to see but to see what Netflix has (Instantwatcher.com can be nice for this). If you go in looking for something specific, chances are you won't find it, but there are hundreds and hundreds of fantastic movies that are on Netflix.

    I might be crazy, but I feel like I see more Netflix movies for streaming on my laptop than I do when I look on my PS3.
    I've seen this happen on a Wii too. Pretty crazy stuff. This is why being a member of the glorious PC master race pays off :P

  • zerzhulzerzhul Registered User, Moderator mod
    TychoCelchuuu wrote: »
    Esh wrote: »
    TychoCelchuuu wrote: »
    A good tip for Netflix is not to name movies you want to see but to see what Netflix has (Instantwatcher.com can be nice for this). If you go in looking for something specific, chances are you won't find it, but there are hundreds and hundreds of fantastic movies that are on Netflix.

    I might be crazy, but I feel like I see more Netflix movies for streaming on my laptop than I do when I look on my PS3.
    I've seen this happen on a Wii too. Pretty crazy stuff. This is why being a member of the glorious PC master race pays off :P

    It doesn't really pay off if I want to watch stuff on my TV without connecting it to my PC ;)

  • amateurhouramateurhour One day I'll be professionalhour The woods somewhere in TennesseeRegistered User regular
    I know that the movies that arrive new on instantwatcher don't usually show up advertised on the 360 for a week or two. I can search and find them, but they won't be in the new releases section.

    Also the big asset to Hulu+ is not movie watching, but the fact you can almost completely cut your cable line if you've still got one.

    are YOU on the beer list?
  • MushroomStickMushroomStick Registered User regular
    Dr. Frenchenstein wrote: »
    I think there is a licensing difference between PS3 and PC.

    i think i remember seeing the same thing, some show i wanted to watch was on my PC, so i go to watch it on the big screen and lo and behold, it isn't there.

    The PS3/360 linkup is pretty much the only think keeping me with netflix.

    This is an issue with Hulu, but not Netflix. As far as I can, the PS3 version of Netflix tries to show you stuff that it thinks you'll like instead of a comprehensive list. Everything they have shows in searches though.

  • Dr. FrenchensteinDr. Frenchenstein Registered User regular
    i haven't looked into it in a long while, but it definitely happened a ways back. (possibly years)

  • KetarKetar Registered User regular
    Dr. Frenchenstein wrote: »
    i haven't looked into it in a long while, but it definitely happened a ways back. (possibly years)

    There was at one time some differences between what could be streamed on a PC, and what could be streamed on any other device. That is no longer the case, so far as I know.

  • Linespider5Linespider5 ALL HAIL KING KILLMONGER Registered User regular
    Dr. Frenchenstein wrote: »
    I think there is a licensing difference between PS3 and PC.

    i think i remember seeing the same thing, some show i wanted to watch was on my PC, so i go to watch it on the big screen and lo and behold, it isn't there.

    The PS3/360 linkup is pretty much the only think keeping me with netflix.

    This is crazy.

    I've often wondered why non-PC Netflix lacks such a robust means of browsing (search by actor, director, that sort of thing), probably related, I suppose.

    Huh.

  • emp123emp123 Registered User regular
    Ketar wrote: »
    Dr. Frenchenstein wrote: »
    i haven't looked into it in a long while, but it definitely happened a ways back. (possibly years)

    There was at one time some differences between what could be streamed on a PC, and what could be streamed on any other device. That is no longer the case, so far as I know.

    I think the only difference now is that some things that can be streamed in HD to your 360/PS3 cant be streamed to your PC in HD. Although this too may have changed.

    Steam
  • MulletudeMulletude Registered User regular
    MushroomStick wrote: »
    Dr. Frenchenstein wrote: »
    I think there is a licensing difference between PS3 and PC.

    i think i remember seeing the same thing, some show i wanted to watch was on my PC, so i go to watch it on the big screen and lo and behold, it isn't there.

    The PS3/360 linkup is pretty much the only think keeping me with netflix.

    This is an issue with Hulu, but not Netflix. As far as I can, the PS3 version of Netflix tries to show you stuff that it thinks you'll like instead of a comprehensive list. Everything they have shows in searches though.

    Exactly. You aren't viewing their entire catalog when you are looking through the categories on your console.

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  • illigillig Registered User regular
    For those looking for an affordable device to stream all of these, get a roku box. They're like $50 refurbed.

  • MetroidZoidMetroidZoid Registered User regular
    Seconding the Roku. I personally like the first 'generation', because they all come with composite hookups (and I don't have an HDTV yet. but there is output for it), as well as wireless comparability WITH an Ethernet port. Just compare hook ups in the back to get what you want.

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  • DjeetDjeet Registered User regular
    I quite like Netflix, easily worth the 9$/month or whatnot I pay for it, but it's not an "I get any movies I want streamed to me" service. If you want an easy interface for that then do iTunes or Amazon for a-la-carte rentals, or pay $100+ monthly to get cable/IPTV/satellite with decent on-demand.

  • HandgimpHandgimp R+L=J Family PhotoRegistered User regular
    Just a heads up, Amazon Prime videos are now on PS3.

    PwH4Ipj.jpg
  • tralevtralev Registered User regular
    Handgimp wrote: »
    Just a heads up, Amazon Prime videos are now on PS3.

    Read about this, I'm really curious how their streaming lineup compares to Netflix.

    Steam: tralev PS3: GeekMcD
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