Is Netflix Right for Your Family? And CONTEST! (~OVER~)

WIN a Roku 2 & 6 Months of Free Netflix!

I had heard about Netflix for years before I took the plunge and set it up for my family.  The truth was I was not sure how it worked, and the idea of watching television and shows exclusively on my computer or phone did not appeal to me.  There's a kind of magic about watching a great movie in the comfort of my own home, on a nice flat screen tv! 

One evening while I was going through our extensive dvd library, I got a brainwave that it would be nice to have digital copies that did not take up storage space in my home.  I went to the Netflix website, but  I could not find the detailed information that I sought.  It was clear that you could watch Netflix on the tv via XBox 360, PS3 or Wii, but I did not own any of these devices.  You can also watch on some HDTVs, but I was betting there was some catch, and it would not work on my tv.

Some of April's Movies on Netflix

As I thought back on my favourite tv shows, I reflected how many were either retired or outright cancelled: Desperate Housewives, LOST, The 4400, Flash Forward  and others.  My family pays over $85 for our television subscription, but we watch at most 1 hour of television per week.  That's a lot of money for something we don't regularly use.  I took a leap of faith and thought I would try the Netflix service, feeling there was nothing to lose.  They offer a free trial of the first month, and it says you can cancel online at anytime if you don't like it.  And I did like that the cost of this service was $7.99 per month.

I decided to get a Roku 2 to make the tv viewing experience as similar to cable, with which I was already accustomed.  When I say that it took me minutes to set up Netflix, I'm not kidding.  First, I created a Netflix account on my computer.  Even if you sign up with a free trial offer, you do need to provide PayPal or credit card information in case you decide to keep the service.  Then I set up a Roku account on my computer, which was also simple.  You choose the options that will appear on your television, if viewing that way.  Then I connected my Roku internet streaming box via HDMI to my HDTV, and it worked instantly.  I was stunned, as I had anticipated problems and delays.

Making a Selection on Netflix

I selected a movie to watch and in about 2 seconds it was playing, no exaggeration.  There was no long delays waiting for the film to load, like the internet.  I also found the quality of the picture to be very similar to watching regular tv, although there was very occasional pixelling or blurring.  The sound was excellent.  I flipped through the Netflix Canada menu and saw that there were many recent and classic movies and shows to watch.  My husband was thrilled, and we started watching Netflix almost nightly! 

Some of the movies I've watched on Netflix so far have included The Hunger Games, X-Men: First Class, In Time and The Road.  My husband has watched wrestling and some documentaries so far.  My family has been very pleased with the service, and I would say my husband is doubly so.  Netflix Canada has a good-sized movie and show library, which I hope they continue building with more new releases and popular titles. 

Some Great Kid's Shows on Netflix

The kid's shows on Netflix are great!  My children watch about 1 hour of movies every night or so, and Netflix has a great selection.  They watched The Spy Next Door with Jackie Chan, Chipwrecked, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules, a Thomas the Train movie, and also started watching the 4th season of Sponge Bob Square Pants.  Instead of asking if they can watch a movie that night, they now ask if they can watch Netflix.

My family has really been enjoying Netflix so far, and we plan to continue on with the service!  

CONTEST (~OVER~)!   

WINNER: Dawn R.

WIN a Roku 2 streaming box, Roku remote control AND and 6-months of FREE Netflix!  Contest open to Canada & USA.  Ends Monday May 20th, 2013.

HOW TO ENTER:

Leave a COMMENT below stating what movies or shows you'd love to watch on Netflix (whether it's on Netflix or not), and then use the entry form below to enter.  ♧ GOOD LUCK! ♧

WIN Netflix 6-Month Membership & Roku Player! CAN/USA