Linux and netflix

I have been a paying customer of netflix for about a year now. Within the last 2 months I have migrated from windows Vista to Ubuntu Linux. I was quite disappointed when I found out that netflix does not support linux with it's "Watch it Now" feature.

Now, what I don't understand is the fact that soon you will be able to steam netflix video on your Nokia cell phone, xbox360, and PS3... but yet linux continues to be ignored.

So it has come down to this...

If hulu and amazon can support linux users, why should I continue to bother with netflix? So, until linux is supported consider me one less paying customer to your site.

Tags: instant video, linux, watch now

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Sock Puppet on November 4, 2009 at 10:11pm: Well... Perhaps you shouldn't...

So... Click here to Cancel membership.

That's the only way to let big business know that you mean business!

I mean considering how long it took to get Mac support on IW. Of course you could use IW on Linux, you just need VMWare to run Vista in, and Voila!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Joseph on November 4, 2009 at 10:35pm: Already did click there. =)

I liked netflix... I want to continue to give netflix my money so I can watch their content... they are not letting me do that.

Also, why would I want to go out and buy a copy of windows to run virtually within linux just to watch movies when I can just go to hulu and amazon?

Come on netflix. Give me the option to be your customer!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Sock Puppet on November 5, 2009 at 12:32am: Well you said you "were" a Vista user, so that means you should already have a copy from that installation.

Also once the linux geeks figure out Moonlight, then you will have the option back.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Dr. Anton Phibes on November 5, 2009 at 1:21am: Moonlight 1.0.1

The dev source is also posted, so if you don't like it, you can always rewrite it to your liking...
or wait patiently, content in the knowledge that someone is already working on the issue.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Joseph on November 5, 2009 at 10:59am: Vista came installed on the computer. I never bothered to create a "restore" disk. Not a big regret of mine either.

That said, I do have windows Vista x64 installed still on a different hard drive. I am duel booting. But I rarely use it as so far I have been able to get most of the software that is windows native to run better via wine then they did via Vista. I am not going to reboot into Vista just to watch movies, as most of the time I am watching them in a small window as I am doing other tasks.

That said, I made this post to voice to netflix that they lost another customer. I know currently the list of linux subscribers that have ended their service with netflix is over 800... now, in the grand scheme of things you are right, that is not many. But doing some simple math will show that it is still a size able chunk of cash flow for netflix.

My biggest frustration, and the one that led me to cancel my service with them, was when they announced that soon you can watch netflix video on a Nokia cell phone, xbox, PS3, and maybe the iPhone. So if it is a matter of market share, I would think linux users are a little bit larger then the Nokia crowed. Maybe I am wrong though.

I am not trying to get into an argument with anyone. I just wanted a place to voice my frustration where hopefully netflix staff will see it. And I hope others voice theirs as well.

Like I said... I want to be their customer. I want to give them my money. I am not asking for anything free.

800 * 8.99 = 7192

Thats $7,192 that netflix misses in their cash flow a month and the number is most likely larger. That is a minimum estimate.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Dr. Anton Phibes on November 5, 2009 at 12:27pm: Linux... traditionally has been the operating system of choice for those who want to take responsibility for their systems at the most basic functional level.

Linux started not as a business, but as a proof of concept project written by a college student in Sweden... and he made the copyright open so that anyone who wanted to develop it could.

Linux has only within the past 5 years become something you might call "user friendly" in the way a Windows user understands the phrase. Up until recently if you wanted Linux to do something you wrote the app that did it and then in the spirit of Linus Torvalds you posted it so others could enjoy it as well.

Now we have a new crop of Linux users coming in who realize that Linux has potential for those who don't write code themselves. Most of them just typical Windows users, inept, demanding, and unappreciative of the work being done mostly by volunteer coders to support the applications that make it a very powerful and flexible platform.

You can go hit the link I posted for you, or continue to whine about how this is NFs problem, or you can boot Vista and run Silverlight and enjoy... or stomp your feet and leave.

At this point what you're complaining about is a user error. You the user, failing to use that which is available to solve your issue... and failure to understand and appreciate the limitations of an operating system you adopted which is indeed better than anything Microsoft has ever written, but which isn't magically functional in every way to every user. Linux philosophy is that an operating system is "better" by being secure and survivable, before it is functional for any particular purpose. Windows philosophy is writing features and then chasing behind the security holes left by sloppy coding.

Either download Moonlight, or boot to Vista... Either solves your issue without anyone having to listen to your assertions that this is somehow all NFs fault. Or, "shut up and code it yourself" in the tradition of the Linux Open Source Community... but do it quietly please.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Knaldskalle on November 5, 2009 at 1:29pm: written by a college student in Sweden

Finland. Linus Torvalds is Finnish.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Dr. Anton Phibes on November 5, 2009 at 5:06pm: well that explains it all then.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Joseph on November 5, 2009 at 3:03pm: Here is the thing I would like to point out about this discussion.

At no point was I stomping my feet, yelling, screaming, or demanding anything for free.

I was calmly giving feedback to a company that I like and want to purchase a service from.

What I do not understand is why you find it compelling to go on the war path, Dr. Anton Phibes, and make this into a confrontation?

I have not insulted anyone in my posts. Unlike your last post that was clearly an insult directed at me.

My post was to explain to a company, that I like, why I am no longer going to be their customer.

Also, I know what linux is all about. I have been working with linux servers for a long while now. The problem here is that netflix chooses a platform that is not compatible with linux due to Microsoft's DRM stacks. Netflix could go with a solution that is 100% cross platform that is used by many others successfully (hulu and amazon for example), Flash. So, it is Netflix's problem. Moonlight will only beable to support "watch it now" when and if Microsoft allows them to port their DRM.

Now, can we please remain civil and avoid insulting each other? That is not what I intended.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by D._ on November 5, 2009 at 4:43pm: My post was to explain to a company, that I like, why I am no longer going to be their customer.

*sigh* If this was your intent, Joseph, then you should have told the company.

This place... Movie Fans is not the company. The few people that work for the company who frequent this forum of Movie Fans may or may not even say anything to there boss' who would tell their boss who would tell their boss at the corporate office, "Dammit, now we lost Joseph because we don't support Linux. When are we going to fix that so he'll come back."

Joining this community is for one basic common purpose... because we all love movies and various other forms of entertainment. Normally we discuss topics about entertainment. Occasionally we get new members that wish to display there anger, resentment, disapproval, or issues concerning customer support, such as yourself. This, however, is another form of entertainment for those of us that join to stay here... because we love movies.... and to see newbies that relentlessly stick a bullseye on their ass.

Don't think anyone here will take you serious when the only discussion you've made is to bitch. Have you even considered discussing what this forum is all about? Hmm...; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Joseph on November 5, 2009 at 5:07pm: I have tried finding an email address or a feed back form for netflix. I was unable to find such a method for submitting my frustration. I found this, which is hosted and maintained by netflix (I mean, it is their sub-domain and all) and thought it was the place I should voice my opinion as netflix does not seem to have a clear way to submit feedback.

I was never intending on creating a conflict and for those of you that seem to have been upset or offend by my post I am sorry.

How many times do I have to explain that I am not looking for conflict here. The original post was simply my way of trying to reach out to a company that I LIKE and let them know why I am leaving.

Can we just leave it at that?; ▶ Reply to This