| I like Spongebob Squarepants as much as the | | | | we just don't spend that much time in front of |
| next guy, but I don't want to watch each episode | | | | the TV, though the most popular plan, according |
| more than about 6 times (though, admittedly, my | | | | to Netflix.com, is the $16.99 plan, where you can |
| kids don't seem to mind). | | | | get 3 DVDs at a time (unlimited DVDs each |
| As a family with three kids of elementary-school | | | | month.) |
| age, we don't have a lot of time to sit down all | | | | 3. It's really convenient. When you're done with a |
| together in front of the TV. But, when we do, | | | | DVD, you just drop it in the mailbox in a prepaid |
| none of the kids are quite ready for the prime | | | | envelope. When Netflix gets it, they'll send you an |
| time dramas or even most of the sitcoms. These | | | | email and then another email when the next |
| programs either don't hold the kids' attention or | | | | movie in your queue is going out, so you'll know |
| they have inappropriate subject matter. And, | | | | when to expect it. Netflix has 100 shipping centers |
| beyond Survivor, we aren't huge into reality TV | | | | across the United States, so it usually arrives in a |
| programming. | | | | single business day. We live a couple hours away |
| Our nights to sit in front of the TV come along | | | | from any metropolitan area, and we still receive |
| so sporadically that we don't like to rent movies | | | | our shipments one business day after they are |
| from the local video store. Most of the time, they | | | | sent. (And DVD shipping is free both ways - all |
| would get returned (late) and we'd never | | | | you pay is your membership fee each month.) |
| managed to see them anyway. So when we saw | | | | The only downside that I've seen is that you can't |
| an ad for a free trial of Netflix, we decided to | | | | take the DVDs back to the store and pick up |
| give it a try. Since then, we have found Netflix to | | | | more, which is actually fine for us because we |
| be particularly great for families with young kids. | | | | don't live very close to a DVD rental store |
| Here's why: | | | | anyway, and I like the convenience of dropping |
| 1. The website has a huge selection of family and | | | | them in the mailbox. There's never a hassle - I |
| kids' titles, including my own childhood favorites. | | | | just drop it in the mailbox and then forget it until |
| When my two older kids finish reading a book, for | | | | a couple of days later when a new movie shows |
| example, they like to add the title to our movie | | | | up. |
| queue, and we are finally catching up, as a family, | | | | Netflix also has some titles that you can watch |
| with all those movies we had been wanting to | | | | instantly on your PC. At the time of this writing, |
| see. Sometimes, we draw a blank when we are | | | | there are as many as 10,000 movies and TV |
| adding movies to our queue. And that's when we | | | | episodes that you can watch on your computer, |
| use reviews from critics and other members on | | | | but you will need to have the minimum system |
| the Netflix site. You can also view | | | | requirements, which you can find on the Netflix |
| recommendations that are provided to you based | | | | site. |
| on how you rated movies that you have seen | | | | Netflix is a service that I have heartily |
| previously. You can go online any time and add | | | | recommended to my friends because it has so |
| titles to your queue - or rearrange the movies in | | | | enhanced movie night at our house. We were |
| your present queue. Over the entire site, there | | | | notorious for turning in movies late, even those |
| are more than 100,000 titles to choose from. | | | | we would get on loan for a week at the public |
| 2. It's inexpensive. The plans start at $4.99 per | | | | library. There's a lot more to our lives than |
| month, and there aren't any late fees or due | | | | movies and our daily schedules are so |
| dates. This was another big selling point for us, | | | | unpredictable. Now we are much more likely to |
| because with our busy schedules, it can | | | | have a good new movie to watch whenever we |
| sometimes take a few weeks to get around to | | | | can sneak in a movie night. |
| viewing a movie. Other times, we watch the | | | | At the time of this writing, Netflix is still offering a |
| movie the same day it arrives and turn around | | | | free trial. You do have to enter a credit card |
| and mail it back the next day. We upgraded to | | | | number when you sign up, but you can cancel |
| the $8.99 per month plan, which means we get | | | | anytime during your free trial period and you |
| unlimited DVDs each month, but just one at a | | | | won't be charged. |
| time. That works out really well for us because | | | | |