Hi gypsymom,
I think something for everyone to realize is that success with streaming is really dependent on two main things: 1. Your DSL or cable modem download speed and 2. Your computer. If either of these are lacking streaming can be frustrating at times. We certainly understand and get this.
The server problem we have had for the last week is really an unusual event. Our up-time for the last year has been 100% and that's a lot better than most sites and a heck of a lot better than healthcare.gov
But if you want to know real frustration try doing live broadcast like we do. The equipment we have had to purchase for our broadcast is very expensive, yet only about 25% of the equipment we purchase actually works. This means we waste countless hours ordering, installing, trying to figure out what is wrong, returning and then re-ordering different or replacement equipment that is not defective. It's frustrating, but we never gave up and over the months. We conquered these setbacks and developed a streaming studio that does't currently have an equal in our industry. Just as we didn't give up we hope customers having streaming problems don't give up either. I'm sure we will have issues with some of our future broadcasts, but we will solve those issues too.
We've dealt with consumers for years with our downloads and we realize from our experience that some people are wiz kids and others barely understand how to use a computer. Some people have the latest computer and operating system while others have 12 year old computers still running Windows 98 and IE6. If everyone just had a 100 mbs DSL and a new Mac things would be so easy for us.
I know many people are reluctant to switch to streaming. We heard the same arguments and complaints back when we started switching from VHS to DVDs years ago. For years after we first started making DVDs consumers purchased both VHS and DVDs because many preferred VHS over DVDs. We expect this will now happen with switching to streaming too.
Just as people have issues with streaming today, customers used to have many more problems with the new DVD technology. Over time the problems with DVD became less and consumers started to enjoy the advantages of their DVDs like "Premixes" and the ability to instantly go to a chapter point. VHS then slowly faded away and DVDs became the new standard.
Now DVDs are starting to fade away as streaming starts to take over as the new delivery system. You have to understand DVDs are an industry that is in decline and is collapsing rapidly. Blockbuster is gone and Collage Video closed and was then sold. I can tell from the stress in our duplicators reps voice that they know their business will soon end too. Though I think fitness DVDs will be the last to go because they offer certain advantages, they too will end in a few years or less.
My point with all of this is you need to realize that everything is going to streaming and you're going to need to make a switch at some point. There will eventually be no choice. We're still making DVDs, but just like when we starting switching from VHS you need to start preparing for streaming. For people that don't have a fairly new computer or have a lousy DSL this may be frustrating at first, but you can find a solution if you put an effort into it and don't give up.
On our end things will also improve. Soon we will release Cathe Cloud#2 with an adaptive player that can also handle Chapters and Premixes. By the end of this year features on our streaming will surpass those offered on our DVDs. Streaming delivery will improve too. In our office we have FIOS with a download speed of 312 mbs. In a few years this will be considered slow. Those of you that have really slow DSL's will fairly soon see your speed increase too. Even rural areas will eventually get high speed internet thanks to new technology.
We're not trying to make people jump to streaming from DVDs yet, but you should at least start thinking about switching and start making plans. Just as we conquered lose DVDs in their cases, fluctuating audio, FF an RW issues and other problems with DVDs, we will eventually do the same with streaming. You just have to be patient and not give up when you encounter an issue.
