Welcome Back Online, Netflix

Netflix returned this evening after being down for nearly a day. For a company whose Web site represents their entire existence for their customers, such a long period of downtime is devastating. Somewhere in Los Gatos, there is a very sweaty Server Admin.

To add insult to injury, the stock was down 7% as the company announced losses.

Netflix is in a serious battle with Blockbuster. Customers of Blockbuster Online have the option of returning their movies to one of those brick-and-mortar stores taking up space across America, and picking up an additional film while they are there.

I hate Blockbuster with every fiber of my being and haven't been inside one of their stores in years. They were the first company that I came to despise - even before Wal-Mart. But I have to admit, Blockbuster has taken the apparent liability of all this real estate and turned it into a competitive advantage, one that Netflix currently doesn't have an answer for.

The Netflix Watch Now feature is a step in the right direction. It's an interesting counter to Blockbuster, but until they release a Mac client (which doesn't seem too likely right now) I can't get too excited about it.

Come on Netflix, pull out of these doldrums. It's time for Act 2: get these movies over the Web onto my TV.