Something to remember..
That's nice and all..
but since the merger with COA, they still need to retrofit all of the COA metal with UAL's IFE, which includes Channel 9 (from the Flight Deck). Some COA metal may not have any IFE ready yet (haven't flown on COA metal since the merger, so I'm unsure).
Though, if this is with wifi, they may not mind people connecting to LiveATC.net either way..
Anywho, I wonder with them doing this if they are blocking Netflix/Hulu/Amazon Prime.. I mean, competition and all..
BL.
This could conceivably be done by putting a server on the plane (yes with the 200 movies on it). That would NOT require Internet access. If that were the case you may be provided access to the movies free, but not Hulu/NetFlix/etc.. for free. Nor would I expect it. United pays for Internet access from the plane, so I would EXPECT that price to be passed on to the user.
So in short, you may get access to inflight movies for free (or with ads, which would cause me NOT to use them), but you may not be provided free access to a competitor. If you are using Internet access, but Hulu/NetFlix/etc... were blocked, THAT would be an issue.
----------
Let the consumer worry about the electronics? Huh? There's a huge bit of elitism included here. Soon, I will be watching the inflight entertainment on my iPad, while the guy next to me who can't afford one will be bored.
Since you're obviously altruistic you should loan him your iPad. In fact let him keep it since he couldn't afford one. Then, since you have SOOOOO much, you can go out and buy another one, right?
Or, we could just allow someone to be responsible for their own entertainment?
Finally, airlines had started to integrate 10 inch screens into seats also in economy class, and now we take a step back? And people like it, because for some reason, the airline should only provide the content, and the passenger should worry about the device?
Let me help you out. Integration comes at a price. The cost is passed on to... THE PERSON BUYING THE TICKET. I'm NOT paying airlines to be a flying cinema. I know you don't seem to consider this a reality, but I (me, the person writing this) would prefer more room in a seat than all the extra technocrap that I can bring myself. Why NOT let me be responsible for myself?
How about bringing your own food onto the flight? Your own cup and plate? Your own seat cushion perhaps? What do you say? It's too heavy? Well, guess what, not everybody likes carrying an iPad either. And yes, of course, cheap airlines already charge you for every extra service, but I didn't realize United was a cheap airline.
I already do bring my own food on a flight. The rest of what you say is called... Slippery Slope. Kind of a cheap argument really...
Airlines have found another way how not to provide a service, and people are actually cheering. Please watch the South Park episode "The Entity". You guys would be prime customers for the device invented by Mr. Garrison.
Airlines have found a way not to charge for things people don't want, and ARE providing a service. The service is the set of movies you get to watch.