When are you guys going to do a good write-up on t

[mark_knecht]

When are you guys going to do a good write-up on the mess NetFlix has created with their websites and how users are feeling about it?

- Mark - longtime reader of HDTV Magazine

[Shane]

Anything in particular you'd like us to research? Any particular complaints?

Thanks,

- Shane

[mark_knecht]

Late last week NetFlix decided to do an overhaul of their web site primarily making streaming for PCs very similar (my opinion) to streaming on the Roku. This was announced via their blog:

http://blog.netflix.com/

and resulted in 5000 comments, apparently running 99:1 against, before the comment area was locked. My POV is that the site has lost the ability to research movies before I watch, as well as no longer having a real Watch Instantly queue but rather a list which isn't rearranagable. (sp?)

Seems to me this is a big misstep by NetFlix and it will be interesting to understand why they did it, what they think the response has been, where they're going in terms of keeping their customers happy. (I'm a long term NetFlix customer)

[alfredpoor]

Hmmm... my list can still be rearranged. I'm not sure if I think the new browsing interface is better or not. For the moment, I lean towards better; it's more like the experience I would get when I went to the video rental store and browsed the shelves by genre. If I find a title and cover that piques my interest, I can "pick it up" and read some of the liner notes by hovering the mouse pointer. And if there's something specific I want, I can always use the search box to find a title or actor that I want.

I haven't read the comments on the Netflix blog so I don't know what everyone finds so abhorent with the new system. We still use Netflix for about 40% to 50% of our evening television content.

Alfred Poor
HDTV Almanac