Comments on: Netflix welcomes Mac users to 'Watch Instantly'

Through Microsoft's Silverlight technology, video rental site enables its movie-streaming player to work for subscribers who use Intel-based Apple computers.

[FireyIce01]

Too bad they don't support the PowerPC Processors in most legacy macs (the ones that poor people like me buy, cause the intel version's still way too expensive, and my G4 does fine running everything I use, incl. photoshop and final cut pro)

[exmsft]

Alas, that's Microsoft's decision - not Netflix's

[babloo80]

I guess building a PC would be cheaper than buying a PowerPC I guess.

[iamcrispydammit]

Yeah, I'm in the same boat. I officially give up on Netflix. I was waiting for this for a really long time, but since their solution is continuing to use DRM and to use a Microsoft product that doesn't have decent Mac support, I'm done with them.

[jwmpc]

Well finally.

[dasium]

It's nice that they have support for Mac OS now. I emailed them asking about Linux support a couple months after the Watch Instantly feature came out because I wanted to take advantage of it, and they responded saying that they were working on Linux and Mac OS support but had to work on security issues, so I stuck with it thinking that I would eventually be able to take advantage of the feature. Over a year later, there was still no Watch Instantly for Linux, so I canceled my subscription. I hope they eventually get around to it.

[munir956]

this i s great news i am home body si can watmovies at home i hope this will expand for other computers

[chrisueland]

This is a step in the right direction! Good job guys.

This also comes with the Tivo announcement. With Apple keeping a stronghold on the DRM, this is the best type of move a company like NetFlix can make at this time.

--Chris
http://www.ueland.com

[AppleSuxLeo]

MSFT to the rescue ! Apple is the closed , secretive company with their "FairyPlay" DRM and all. And MSFT has become the one to produce products to be cross-platform and browser-agnostic.
The new WMP 12 even supports Xvid and Divx...basically every codec except Apple`s "FairyPlay" which Apple refuses to license. Macs are for fairies/DRM lovers.

[dissenting_adult]

are you serious? THE 'closed, secretive company'?!? as opposed to microsoft?

amazing that after all these years, i can still get irritated by a troll. but while i am feeling it, fyi: macs are typically for people who love to actually be productive, rather than have to keep track of patches. and as far as i can tell, your computer in particular is for idiots. but maybe that was a personal attack, as opposed to your general one, which is not covered in the terms of use. which, in fact, is typical of someone so obviously closeted and self-loathing.

[kelmon]

@AppleSuxLeo

If that were true, why won't Microsoft license Windows Media Player DRM for use on the Mac? Since Microsoft killed Media Player for the Mac and handed over responsibility to Telestream Inc. the company has been told that Microsoft won't license the technology for the Mac.

Silverlight is another Microsoft Trojan Horse and I am having nothing to do with it based on past history. I have no love for Apple's FairPlay DRM but at least I know where I stand with it.

[Seaspray0]

Macboys, are you annoyed at applesuxleo's comments? You should be. He sounds like you do but on the other side of the fence. What an irritation!

[Vegaman_Dan]

Dissenting_Adult:

Your comments are far more insulting and childish than anyone's on this thread so far. What does that say about the person making them?

Just something to consider when you are posting.

[drumstorm]

My wife has a MacBook Pro laptop so she'll welcome this news. We currently "Watch Instantly" on my Toshiba laptop but I don't think I have MS Silverlight downloaded. What is this Silverlight?

[Groucho6]

I don't have the slightest interest in installing any Microsoft crap on my systems anymore. iWork is superior to Office and both QuickTime and Flash Video are superior to Silverfish....oh sorry, Silverlight.

[kelmon]

I'm as pro-Mac as they come but you can't seriously say that iWork is superior to Office. Keynote is still better than PowerPoint (but that gap has closed) but both Pages and Numbers are considerably inferior to Word and Excel, which is to be expected given the years that both have been in development. The gaps will likely close further in future years but right now there is a significant gulf. However, that's pretty much OK because iWork costs peanuts in comparison and covers the basics. I will be very interested to see what iWork 09 looks like when it is no doubt unveiled in January.

No idea about the relative benefits of Flash/Silverlight since Lucifer will be skating to work before I install Silverlight on my Mac.

[atish505]

Microsoft Silverlight with DRM is a nightmare, it is buggy and not stable even on Windows platform, not to mention security loophole. It is suitable only for really low resolution small screen layout when you do not mind stability.

Not a platform to watch a two hour movie in High Def. It is a joke.

They will be done with soon by iTunes store as they start offering movie downloads and rentals in near future.

[Seaspray0]

What a bunch of bull! 1. The DRM is contained in the media itself, not the program used to play it. Both netflix and itunes put DRM on the media. 2. Silverlight is a proven success. It broadcast the olympics from china to millions simultaneously without a hitch. Silverlight is a pluggin to the browser and is only used when called by a webpage that uses it. Take your shill comments elsewhere.

[monicam-1]

Well, as a PowerPC based Mac user, I'm officially canceling my membership and writing a tersely worded letter to Netflix headquarters. I've been holding out the past year waiting for their promises to come through on Mac compatible instant viewing and now this. In all fairness, they should offer an even lower-cost plan that does not include instant viewing if not all subscribers may partake in that particular service. Until then, goodbye Netflix.

[lordshaq]

You have to be kidding me! LOL. "writing a tersely worded letter to Netflix headquarters" Why? Because you're still using a PowerPC? Thats kinda funny, I remember being a PowerMac user as well, but wow, its almost 2009! Get an intel mac already!

[Vegaman_Dan]

You may also want to send a letter of complaint to your local horse and buggy dealer for no longer supporting your vehicle.

[macuserandhappy]

Why cancel your netflix account? they still have the best mail service. I also bought the little box which allows me to watch instantly on my television. I am a Mac user and I love my mac but Netflix is the best. Does Blockbuster offer watch instantly to watch on PC or at all?. Canceling Netflix is shooting yourself in your own foot.

[dtwodoors]

What little box did you get to watch netflix movies instantly on your tv?

[Spimby]

Can Linux be far that behind? PAH_LEEEEZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ???

[streamOG]

the Mono Group are working on Silverlight support for Linux with the Moonlight effort:

http://www.mono-project.com/Moonlight

[funyun2]

I'm really happy about this, but it's kind of glitchy. That's because it's in beta though.
It runs pretty well on Safari, but I use firefox more so I do that. Sometimes it shows an upside down picture of the video you're watching on firefox in another tab.

[knic1590]

i downloaded silverlight from the microsft website and it still says my system is not meeting the requirements i have a new intel based macbook and when i had my windows machine i coudnt use this feature from them either because my windows was not validated and i am getting annoyed. but i just dont get why no one else is having this problem. any ones help will be appreciated