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Wednesday, January 10, 2018

Hooking up on Netflix


Laura has wanted Netflix for, oh, all of her life: All my friends have it. You could save a lot of money over cable. I’ll never ask you for anything else (I remember that ploy when her and Emily’s ears were double pierced!). You could see what you wanted (a great improvement over Hall Mark channel, I suppose, which is the only decent remnant in all the cable TV “upgrades.”)

I do not give a rat’s backside about the content of our television. I have not turned it on or watched since the day after the last presidential election. I have an unfinished sweater by my empty chair, proving I have not even watched HGTV in the intervening months.

But, Laura wants Netflix. I ask friends. “Oh, you just need a streaming device. Laura can do it.” I listen to rapturous recitations of this streaming device and watching Netflix on my phone, my tablet, my computer. “You need internet, too.” Check. “Laura can do it.”

Since Laura wants it and can do it, I put her in charge. “Find out how to get Netflix.  Ask your friends. Ask you siblings. Ask your cousin. Ask google.”

After a decent interval, I asked for a Netflix report. “I don’t understand what anyone is saying.”

After another interval, I did it my way. I called Netflix. I told Brie I was building from the ground up, information-wise. How did I obtain Netflix for my granddaughter? “Oh, she can do it….”

Just tell me.

You need to create an account. “As in a way to pay you?” Yes. Check.

You need a smart TV. “How do I know if I have a smart TV?” Does it have an HDMI input? “I see HDMI on the screen; I can look around and see if there is an HDMI plug in.”

Then you need a streaming device. This is the point at which I consider screaming whenever I engage in the Netflix conversation. “Yes, I’ve been told. What is a streaming device?”

Oh, a Roku, a Firestick, a Chrome….

“A thing! Where do I get a Roku, a Firestick?”

Best Buy, Target. Like that.

I thanked Brie. I hung up. I uttered my standby obscenity, which may show up in comments. I fired up Amazon and bought a Roku, for delivery today. I’m pretty good at setting up accounts, that sort of stuff.


33 comments:

  1. The good thing about Netflix is that you never have to deal with adverts again, and you can sometimes find shows, both domestically & internationally made, that are very good quality TV.

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  2. I think Amazon Prime has better offerings than Netflix, but that might be adult vs teen preferences. My Roku has both and also HBO Now....also, be sure to put You Tube on the Roku, there are lots and lots of old movies on YT.

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    1. Got it now, doc. What a struggle for want of a definition. Since Amazon Prime is delivering, Amazon Prime may as well be installed. And all the rest, and I won't hear of this again.

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  3. Good for you Joanne. Currently I'm watching Netflix on line for the one month free trial. I wanted to watch The Crown series. It is really good.

    I had Netflix years ago but in Canada the offerings are very slim compared to what you get in the south so I cancelled it.

    I am reconsidering getting Netflix again but have been waiting (years already) for an upgraded internet speed (not available in my building).

    Best of luck. I'm sure you and Laura will enjoy it.

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    1. My daughter subscribes to Netflix, and has fixed it so that my TV (in a different house) can also receive it, when they are not watching! I've also been watching The Crown.

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    2. That's great Margaret. I remember hearing that one is allowed to share Netflix between households (and Netflix knows about it) even though there may have been a recent change to this practice. I'm glad you are enjoying The Crown. I can also view Netflix on my T.V. but haven't bothered to set it up that way yet. Perhaps once I upgrade the speed.

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  4. No Netflix here. Yet. Himself may succumb. And can do the hard yards in getting it, and setting it up.
    I hope you both find things to enjoy.

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  5. You're a brave woman. When I hear all that jargon about streaming etc my brain goes somewhere else.

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  6. Hari OM
    We get really good teevee in the UK; BBC, STV(ITV), Channel 4 and its subsets... that just about covers all for me. I just don't have that much time to spend on viewing. I like catchup online for those channels too. I occasionally pull out the HDMI cable and hook up Voovoo the Vaio to the (slightly) larger television screen, but mostly I just watch on the laptop itself. I love Vimeo for independent productions (many are free). As we have to pay a 'television license' here (don't get me on my soap box about that one), I refuse to pay any additional costs for viewing. YAM xx

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  7. I bet I can think of a few choice words right about now, seeing as I'm already in practice with our computer issue. Ahem.

    These are the conversations that make my head spin. But just think how many brain cells you are exercising! Wishing you the best of luck to go along with your brain and perseverance.

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  8. We got Netflix dads for years,now I'm addicted to streaming, lazy sod that I am I ressent having to get up and put a disc in. Wish the cat would do it.

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  9. No Netflix here either, but we have (and pay for) a ridiculous number of cable offerings. Plus, we do have Amazon Prime, which offers a whole 'nother panoply of shows.
    I wouldn't have the slightest idea how to hook up Netflix, by the way. I'm embarrassed to say I play helpless female in that department.

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  10. When I explained the Roku in the mailbox that neither of us will walk up to on the ice to Laura, she looked at my two heads and said "I know that". Give me strength.

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  11. You are much better at this stuff than I am, Joanne. You may find some interesting programs on Netflix. I have watched a few good series there.

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  12. Hi, Joanne. We have both Netflix and Amazon Prime. Through Amazon Prime we have two British channels---Acorn TV and Britbox. I think Acorn is $5 a month, and Britbox is $9. We have watched hundreds of hours of British, Australian, and New Zealand TV since Cheeto moved into the White House. Living in the Red State of TX, better to forget local channels. I think, given the price of going to one movie, what we have is a steal!! Many real stories with actual plots; some wonderful documentaries, Good for you that you allowed Laura to get Netflix. I think you will be pleasantly surprised.

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  13. I have Netflix the old fashioned way - DVDs come in the mail. I haven't watched television for over 10 years and gave up radio and newspaper the same day you gave up television.

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  14. We have netflix...on the computer. When Leo is feeling too tired to concentrate he has something to watch...and a lot of the stuff is surprisingly good. He is watching a series in Catalan at the moment.
    If we wanted to transfer it to a bigger screen we would - it seems - connect them with an HDMI cable.
    One fun thing is to have a proxy which gives you access to other countries' netflix offerings....or would the mere thought of it give you the heeie jeebies?

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    1. As long as it streams along the Roku thing, down the HDMI port, from the internet, I'm good.

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  15. My daughter has ditched regular TV for NetFlix. She goes on her device to get the local news and weather report once a day. There are ways to block out all the BS!

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  16. Have fun with your Netflix. You might enjoy watching some old movies or something. It's nice to not have to see the commercials and news blurbs.

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  17. All these complications with new technology. I gave up TV years ago and just visit our local library more often...:)

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  18. We have an ancient tv, bought in 1993 or thereabouts. No HDMI. We have Internet but no other device. I don't do Amazon. I don't do Netflix. I don't do cable, either. I have a very simple life.

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  19. I find it hard to watch all the shows I DVR form my Dish. We tries Netflix and never used it. But, we are old.

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  20. My Rare One streams Netflix through her Nintendo Wii Fit, of all things. But it works! We've only used it once for exercise purposes. All it does not is deliver Netflix to us.

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  21. I get so annoyed when people say "it's so easy, anyone can do it," and follow up with instructions only Stephen Hawking could understand. I've already arrived at the point where I've been left behind and now constantly say I'm happy enough with what I have because I'm pretty sure I can't assimilate any more tech knowledge. It's all moving too fast for me. And if it's something that needs an account and payment, forget it. This well is almost dry.

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  22. Our son has Netflix. We never see him !

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  23. We do Netflix on the Roku and it works fine. We can also do it directly on our smart tv. but for whatever reason, we get it better on Roku. Not better reception, but the way it works is better, like it's different software. Strange.

    We also subscribe to Acorn for British tv, and use it more than Netflix. Right now, we are watching 'East of Everything' a light drama from Australia.

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  24. my sister and daughter both have netflix and I know their passwords. Have to watch on my iPad or desktop though which is no big deal. I hardly use it anyway, just don't have time to watch TV. I'd rather read.

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  25. You will like Netflix, once you get the hang of it.

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  26. My brilliant daughter and brilliant husband set up our Netflix while they were here for Christmas. It is connect wirelessly to my phone and simple enough that even I can use it. Go bravely, dear friend.

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  27. The great thing about you is that you know what questions to ask, and that is no small thing.

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