Netflix “Watch Instantly”
By Jenn | January 29, 2008
I’m a big fan of Netflix– I live in a neighborhood which lacks a decent video store (let alone one which caters to my documentary proclivity), so I truly appreciate my Netflix membership. Also, as someone who simply cannot return things on time, this has been a lifechanging service– no more $30 charges for a forgotten video (yes, it’s happened to me; yes, I realize how insane that is).
But, you know, all the mailing of DVDs around– it’s not the most green of practices. There’s a lot of paper used in those ubiquitous red mailers (no indication that it’s recycled), and a lot of energy consumed in the shipping (flying and/or driving around) of the discs. Enter their “Watch Movies Instantly” scheme, which lets members download movies to their computers for free, thereby eliminating the toxic production of the discs (made from PVC!) themselves plus the aforementioned paper and shipping waste.
Regarding the “Instant” program, I recently received this email from “my friends at Netflix”:
Dear Jennifer,
As part of your current Netflix subscription, you have the option to watch some movies and TV episodes from the Netflix library instantly on your PC at no additional charge. Now, we’ve made it unlimited!
So watch instantly on your PC when you want, and as often as you want. Select from our separate, smaller library of over 6,000 familiar movies and TV episodes available to watch instantly.
- Your friends at Netflix
Problem is, I don’t own a PC. Every time I login to Netflix I’m on my MacBook. Don’t you think they’d know that? So that’s the rub– the “Instant” service isn’t currently available for Macs, though word around town is that it’ll be available by the end of the year, at which point they’ll hopefully have improved the selection of “Instant” movies ’cause from what I hear it’s currently a weak collection. And I’m looking forward to my movie nights having significantly less of an impact on the environment.
PS-If you’re a Mac user also, tell Netflix that we need lovin’ too.
Topics: Activism, Transportation |
I love watching things instantly on netflix. You don’t get to download them, though, but you have to watch them “streaming.” I find that right now the collection is really strong on classics and tv shows - two of the things I most want to watch!
Have you tried Bootcamp? If you have the latest Mac OS version you can load XP on your mac (with a valid copy of XP, of course), and switch back and forth when you need to. It’s a minor pain in the ass but at least you get to watch all those 30 Rock episodes non-stop.
Oh right, you did tell me about this! I think that, if I can legally purchase a valid copy of XP, then I’ll give it a shot… thanks for the reminder!
My SO has watched Netflix on demand movies on his MacBook. I’ll try to find out if he’s using anything special to do it.
He confirmed he’s running XP on his computer, and that it’s an ok option.
Thanks so much, Amy!
Not like Umbra (your link to grist.org) to get it wrong, but there is no PVC plastic in a standard CD or DVD. The hard plastic portion of the disc itself is Polycarbonate plastic (same thing as Nalgene water bottles, not without problems). A standard DVD case could have some PVC involved, but not in the case itself (polypropylene, #5), but in that shiny clear plastic sleeve over the paper insert that tells you about the movie (looks suspiciously like vinyl to me). In case you wondered about any of that…
Hey Mikhail! Thanks so much for the clarification– I’m thrilled to know the lowdown on CD/DVD content now. So yes, I did wonder about that. :)
i am an avid netflix user (so much so that i suffer from “throttling”), and i do my best to recycle the top portion of the rental envelope.
i have been upset by the instant viewing situation for some time. i pay the exact same amount as someone with a PC who has the privilege of watching more films than i do because of their computer’s platform. i think it’s ridiculous, a class-action lawsuit waiting to happen. kind of like that “throttling” lawsuit . . .
I use the Canadian version of netflix - zip.ca - and I always felt it was more environmentally friendly than going to a videostore! First, no gas with me driving to and from the store, and the store I have to go to is way across town because that’s the one where I can get foreign language films and documentaries and all of that. Secondly, no store, with it’s hundreds of bright lights and heating eating away at the environment. Whereas the post office, post-men, and all that jazz operate whether or not I receive my movies through the post.
And I always recycle the packaging …
More layers to think about!
Interesting– for a car-based life, I wonder which would come out on top (Netflix vs. Driving to a video store). Since I don’t own a car, for me the question is Netflix vs. public/personal transportation– and Netflix is the clear loser there.
Fascinating!
i’m a mac user too. i just caved and got a roku box. so glad i did!
Hey Susie– tell me more about the Roku box– I just googled it and it seems awesome! So it works with Macs too?
ps– love your work!
[…] in January I wrote about my Netflix love, and how their “Watch Instantly” feature is just about the greenest way to watch a […]