Hawk's Babble-Log

Speaking of Battlestar Galactica (the new series), I’m now renting the first season via NetFlix. If you’ve read my blog, you’ll know that I’m a satisfied customer of NetFlix. Well, it’s better than Blockbuster Online.

But my opinion of NetFlix is rapidly decreasing. I have less and less respect for them. They used to be my hero, the pioneers of the DVD-by-mail system. When Blockbuster Online came around, I tried ‘em because (at that time) NetFlix had raised their prices and that pissed me off. But as it turns out, Blockbuster Online was really, really bad. You can search my blog for my article on my experience with ‘em. To summarize Blockbuster Online: bad. And this was mainly because they sent me really crappy discs.

Well, tonight, just a few minutes ago, me and my roomie were watching the third episode of the first season of Battlestar Galactica. Six and a half minutes before the end of this episode, the disc craps out. And by this I mean that my high quality Sony DVD player starts skipping around and loosing it’s place. I take out the disc (while cursing) and check out the bottom. This disc has a huge gash near the outside tracks. I’m pissed off. My roomie is pissed off. We’ve got a living room full of pissed-off-ed-ness here, and there is no relief for at least a week, which is probably when NetFlix will get around to sending a replacement disc.

NetFlix used to be my hero, but now it seems that they’re just a crappy as Blockbuster Online. PLUS, I have noticed severe delays in receiving new discs since I dropped my plan level. Can we say THROTTLING? Yes, NetFlix does indeed practice throttling, as is stated in their legalese. What they promise (UNLIMITED RENTALS) is not what they deliver (THROTTLING).

I think it’s time I started using GreenCine. They do NOT practice throttling, AND they work on Saturdays! Their prices are higher than NetFlix, but only by a buck or two.

[http://www.greencine.com/](http://www.greencine.com/)

I’ll keep you updated on my experience.