Netflix, why do you make things harder than they need to be?
Here are the steps I took to try to watch instant content on my computer through Netflix:
- Switch from Firefox to IE, as they only support IE 6+
- Install an ActiveX control
- Get a new DRM file with a unique ID
- Upgrade Windows Media Player to version 11
- Upgrade a component of Windows Media Player
- Get a DRM license to watch the show or movie
By contrast, here are the steps required to view something on a site like Amazon Video on Demand:
- Open it in your browser
Or Hulu:
- Open it in your browser
I've been a long-time customer of Netflix, but recently they seem intent on snubbing customers any way they can, whether it is this video playback runaround, or their announcement not too long ago that they would be removing the ability to have multiple queues per account (a decision that, thankfully, they decided not to follow through with after the backlash from their customers).
If Netflix is truly a believer in video on demand as the next big thing, shouldn't they get it right? Netflix is not exactly putting their best foot forward here.
