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Netflix vs Hulu Plus

xenuprime said:
Quick question for you Netflix users:

How many devices does the $8.99 package let you use? I only need three (xbox and 2 iphones).

Thanks for the help!
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I have the 3-movie plan--and I don't see any indication anything is different for other plans--but in the user manager area of Netflix it shows what devices can stream movies--and the maximum is 6--but I don't think that includes iPhone or iPad since those are managed differently with their own apps.

I like both--streaming and Blu Ray so Netflix is the only choice for me. Second choice for me would not be Hulu but Amazon on Demand.
 
Thanks for the responses! As soon as I get my white iPhone 4 (please no laughing!) I am signing up.
 
iphone1105 said:
I'll say its not infinite, but I have 4 xbox's and 4 iphones on my instant watch account(spread between family and friends)
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So if it's not infinite, then how do they track the devices that you use? I know for consoles they will send you a disc, but for computers and iPhones, how would they know?
 
I have 2 computers, 1 xbox, 2 iphones and an ipad all on the same account.

Edit: and those devices are using netflix.
 
aluren said:
So if it's not infinite, then how do they track the devices that you use? I know for consoles they will send you a disc, but for computers and iPhones, how would they know?
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Well for consoles you can get instant queues as well - Xbox, etc. I can watch a show as soon as I turn it on without waiting for the disk.

As for tracking - each device needs to either be registered on your account or logged in with your credentials. That makes it pretty easy to track, imo.

Im sure if they noticed that you wre using your account on an iphone in cali and someone else used the acct in nj at the same time, it would raise some red flags
 
mrathee said:
Im sure if they noticed that you wre using your account on an iphone in cali and someone else used the acct in nj at the same time, it would raise some red flags
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Ehhh, I live in Cali, my account is in Cali, but I have fam and friends in Boston, NYC, Oregon and Philly who all watch on my CA based account and my credentials....
 
iphone1105 said:
Ehhh, I live in Cali, my account is in Cali, but I have fam and friends in Boston, NYC, Oregon and Philly who all watch on my CA based account and my credentials....
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How long ahve you been doing that?

Maybe netflix isnt trying to be a money hungry company then - who knows
 
mrathee said:
How long ahve you been doing that?

Maybe netflix isnt trying to be a money hungry company then - who knows
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Been doing this since xbox released their Netflix app, so maybe a year now I've had 4 xbox's across the country viewing my netflix stream...and now with the iphone app I've added more.

As far as being money hungry, umm all companies should be, they're in business to make money. But, Netflix(beena member since day 1) has never doneme wrong ever, ever!
 
aluren said:
So if it's not infinite, then how do they track the devices that you use? I know for consoles they will send you a disc, but for computers and iPhones, how would they know?
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Well when you are streaming something there is a connection between your device and their servers. That makes it pretty easy to track. I do love how no matter what device you are using, you can pick up where you left off on another.
 
aluren said:
So if it's not infinite, then how do they track the devices that you use? I know for consoles they will send you a disc, but for computers and iPhones, how would they know?
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Under you user account it list what devices you have registered to view netflix and it does list the iPhone & touch. I have my iphone, touch, ps3,laptop and a bluray player listed as streaming devices under my acct

The $8.99 allows for streaming to one device at time. You can have 6 different that are allowed to stream. Meaning if you have your iphone and a xbox set up to stream you can watch it on one or the other.

The next plan that allows for two disc out allows for two different devices to stream at the same time
 
It really depends on what you are watching. I prefer Netflix for quality and no ads, but the TV selection is not as good and they have few current seasons. I use Hulu as a fall back on my HTPC, but I would not pay for Hulu+.
 
I have both right now that I'm paying for and they're kind of for different things.

Hulu Plus is really great for TV, the backlog of full seasons is pretty decent but missing some big names such as House and Bones and such. I figure as they pass this "beta" phase those will fill in. The picture quality is pretty good, really fine for the iPhone and probably even iPhone 4. The commercials suck a little but are really only on first run releases, if you get something from season 1 and the current season is season 4, there won't be any commercials or maybe at most one. (Talking from experience with 30 Rock)

NetFlix is awesome for movies, although I still have looked for a decent number that I found were only offered via DVD, it's really upsetting that you can't stream them but you can wait a day or two for the DVD. Either way, right now it's nice to have the option to do both (though I hear a streaming only cheaper plan may be in the works). The quality is a little bit better but the audio levels seem to be a little lower which makes listening without headphones a little hard. The TV shows seem to be hit or miss. They have stuff that Hulu doesn't (Nip/Tuck, etc) but they often don't have up to the current season, and if they do, you've got to wait till the season DVD release sometime in the fall rather then using the summer slow TV time to catch up on the spring episodes you missed.

Probably with both you'll be able to ditch cable, or at least damn near ditch it and for what, $18 a month or something? It's honestly not that bad, especially when you can rent as many DVDs as you want too if you return them fast (one out at a time).

I believe both have been updated for the new AirShare output to TV... I at least remember for sure one was updated, I think NetFlix but I'm almost positive that Hulu was updated too.
 
I have both right now that I'm paying for and they're kind of for different things.

Hulu Plus is really great for TV, the backlog of full seasons is pretty decent but missing some big names such as House and Bones and such. I figure as they pass this "beta" phase those will fill in. The picture quality is pretty good, really fine for the iPhone and probably even iPhone 4. The commercials suck a little but are really only on first run releases, if you get something from season 1 and the current season is season 4, there won't be any commercials or maybe at most one. (Talking from experience with 30 Rock)

NetFlix is awesome for movies, although I still have looked for a decent number that I found were only offered via DVD, it's really upsetting that you can't stream them but you can wait a day or two for the DVD. Either way, right now it's nice to have the option to do both (though I hear a streaming only cheaper plan may be in the works). The quality is a little bit better but the audio levels seem to be a little lower which makes listening without headphones a little hard. The TV shows seem to be hit or miss. They have stuff that Hulu doesn't (Nip/Tuck, etc) but they often don't have up to the current season, and if they do, you've got to wait till the season DVD release sometime in the fall rather then using the summer slow TV time to catch up on the spring episodes you missed.

Probably with both you'll be able to ditch cable, or at least damn near ditch it and for what, $18 a month or something? It's honestly not that bad, especially when you can rent as many DVDs as you want too if you return them fast (one out at a time).

I believe both have been updated for the new AirShare output to TV... I at least remember for sure one was updated, I think NetFlix but I'm almost positive that Hulu was updated too.
 
Kadman said:
Hundreds of millions of people with cable and satellite service? Wow, some people are a bit slow around here. :rolleyes:
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Anyone comparing cable/sat selections to hulu selections are the slow ones

His point about commercials is spot on and discussed numerous times every day on just about any forum discussing Hulu Plus especially when just about everyone is pitting Hulu with Netflix which has no commercials

This idea of people dismissing the commercial complaint b/c of cable is laughable and has little if any relevance other than people trying to find a way to a way to defend Hulu
 
Netflix has way more TV selections than Hulu.

Yeah maybe there are some very specific recent things that Hulu has and Netflix doesn't, but let's face it most of that is drivel.
 
ok, tried some searches but no clear answers:

if I get Hulu Plus do I get TV Shows like Desperate Housewifes and similar immediately when they air or is there a one day delay like the free hulu?

also, how many movies can I stream with a $10 plan from netflix? what happens when I don't watch the entire movie?

finally, what are the chances to stream/airplay Hulu plus to the new apple TV?

these would be requirements for me to ditch cable and switch to ATV.
 
I use Netflix on my iPhone, Xbox and Laptop. Streaming on the IPhone using wifi is flawless and over 3G buffering is very minimal. I'm not really into watching TV shows on Netflix. Mostly movies and documentaries for me, so I don't really care much for watching any TV episode the day or two after it aired.

I personally don't know why Hulu is making people pay for something that is free on a computer when they run just as many ads on their app. Wouldn't that only limit the amount of mobile viewers which decreases their ad revenue?
 
andiwm2003 said:
ok, tried some searches but no clear answers:

also, how many movies can I stream with a $10 plan from netflix? what happens when I don't watch the entire movie?
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The Netflix $10 plan (actually $8.99) offers unlimited streaming. Also, I often watch just a portion of a movie or TV show on my iPhone in the car while waiting for my wife. When you go back in, it continues the program from where you paused it. Very nice!
 
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