Comments Needed: DishONLINE Reviews

[tnm]

I posted some initial findings early in this thread and have continued to try out the service in order to just be able to say I gave it a chance. I just used it for the last time until I hear something positive on this forum or from Dish themselves. The last straw... I downloaded 2 more films. One was fine, the other one did not play and says it wants me to resume (like I already started watching it). That means that it will be deleted within 24 hours and I never saw a frame of the movie. Calling Dish for a refund on that one, but these interfaces and services are really bad along with the selection and fees. I also agree that Direct is doing a lot more customer orientated stuff which is making them look more promising to me each week. Ive been with Dish over 10 years exclusively and have gotten others to use the service. I can't recommend them right now for this poor representation of on demand. With so many options out there for people to get Video content, Blockbuster, Movielink, Cable with on demand, Direct, and others that are there now and soon to be coming on line, what are the people at Echostar thinking?

My history with this product...

First two downloads Both fine, Slow to download.

Second attempt. System screwed up, Locked up my 622, No notification from Dish that there was a problem with the system but it was obvious that no one could use the system based on posts here.

Third attempt. Ok One film, Still slow download.

And the final try, 2 films. One watchable, One not. Slow to download still.

Dish you should take some customer service training and at least learn to give some feedback when things go wrong or don't work as planned. Technology goes wrong, it's inevitable I understand this as an IT manager. But if i didn't give feedback to my supervisors and users when we are having technology issues, I would be unemployed. Dish has a way to communicate with customers built in to the system (at least they used to) but rarely use it except to try and sell you something.

Rant over.

 

[Hall]

All I get is the Dish logo on the recommendations, is anybody seeing anything else?

That's my point....

 

[vicw]

I really like the concept of downloading movies to my new 722 for viewing at my convenience, but I really have to wonder what the marketing folks at Dish were thinking when this servce was designed and released.

They could have followed the approach of Amazon Unbox, offering some appealing choices at very little, or no cost, just to get customers past the initial learning curve and establish comfort with the app, and they could have set up the screens for easy browsing, as well as stocking it with a significant number of choices, perhaps 2000 instead of 200 - but they didn't do any of that.

The structure of the app seems clunky and archaic to me, with a big fear factor for the customer, with no indication of prices within the initial selections, and no indication what will follow if any of the selections are made. I never got to the point of actually choosing a movie, and just withdrew each time I have ventured into it.

Also, I wish I could use the DishOnline app on the PC to make selections to download to the 722, but if that can be done, I haven't figured out how. I think there is tremendous potential here, but Dish really needs to go back to the drawing board.

 

[sprintcarcrazy]

I would never pay for a movie that's going to expire or self destruct in a couple of days. That's why I never used the XBox 360 download service.

If Dish decides to expire the PPV's so I can't archive them and watch them whenever, no more PPV rental !!!

Need the selection in HD, service seems clunky, they have like underdeveloped it server and line speed wise ? If you are going to charge that price for a movie, it better not self destruct in a few days.

 

[rcdallas]

I love my dishonline, I've ordered 25 movies so far. It's the greatest thing out there....... it grooves the groove that it grooves so well...... I don't know how ya'll are not enjoying it like I am.

I can't live without my dishonline !!

 

[tawhite]

Ok Dude, pass the pipe!!!

 

[rcdallas]

hahaha I think those where the words between the jackass that made dishonline.com and the dipstick that decided to roll it out on L446

 

[birdo]

I did hook mine up last night. Nothing too exciting. And I am not going to pay for downloaded movies when I have Netflix. I know our local cable had option to view episodes of HBO series like Curb your Enthusiasm, Sopranos and stuff like that, plus you could view movies at your leisure if it were currently on HBO or SHO or other movie channels. If you were subscribed to them, it was part of the package. I would hope Dish follows that at some point. At this point, it is not much of a selling point IMO

 

[Allin4greeN]

...The structure of the app seems clunky and archaic to me, with a big fear factor for the customer, with no indication of prices within the initial selections, and no indication what will follow if any of the selections are made. I never got to the point of actually choosing a movie, and just withdrew each time I have ventured into it.

Also, I wish I could use the DishOnline app on the PC to make selections to download to the 722, but if that can be done, I haven't figured out how. I think there is tremendous potential here, but Dish really needs to go back to the drawing board.

I agree with the points you make. I recently got L477 on my 622 and played with the menus for DO... I didn't download anything, and probably won't.

I prefer the UI of XBL for VOD. It provides a good amount of information up-front, without having to guess at what will happen if I make a selection.

Except for the adult programming, pricing doesn't seem too bad for DO content but, it would be nice to see some freebies in there. This would encourage me to see how the download works and I might then be tempted to try a movie. I just don't see myself using this feature, and I certainly won't be upgrading to a 722 just to pay more for HD content...

 

[tawhite]

hahaha I think those where the words between the jackass that made dishonline.com and the dipstick that decided to roll it out on L446

True!

 

[dlsnyder]

Most customers outside of those who frequent these forums do not even know this feature exists. If enabling Dish Online means that they will eventually stop forcing VOD movies on to my 622 and free up space for me, then I am all for it. They have already freed up space on the 625s. Maybe we will see this on 622s soon as well.

 

[Hall]

Most customers outside of those who frequent these forums do not even know this feature exists.

My 8-year old son noticed "DishONLINE" in the DVR menu the day after our receiver was updated....

 

[tawhite]

That's my point....

So, you not getting the pics either? anybody else?


Anyway, I have to agree with the reviews so far. The selection is poor and over priced. I wouldn't mind renting some of the oplder movies if they were like $ .99 but 2.99 for movies 20 yrs old is not gonna happen. There definately needs to be free content, get people using the service then they might pay. The new release section is a joke!!! What does new release mean, since movies were filmed in color?

 

[tawhite]

OK, solved my own problem. Parental controls was blocking ths pics from being downloaded to the box. Set up the 622 with my privelages and it works now. Kinda funny that I could browse the adult section without problems but it blocked the pics for all movies.

 

[Heavie]

I have two 622 with america everything HD program package and I love dish. I also have comcast basic cable for the howard tv on demand. I love the comcast VOD with plenty of free movies and tv programs to watch.

I use to sub to netflix, but I use red box now for the latest movies.

Dish charges a fee for everything with dishonline. $11.99 to watch those same weak porn movies. You do better subscribing to the porn channel for $22 dollars.

Every form of entertainment is trying to get into this VOD format. The internet speed is got to boost about 10x to get the most out this media format. We need to drop big brother and allow better bandwigth to paying customers. Consumer bandwigth has been cap since 9/11 for big brother to keep a watchful eye.

 

[kaman]

My take on all this:

On the selection:

WTF??

On the pricing:

WTF??

On the 24-hr self-destruct concept:

WTF??

If E* feels that it "must" impose time limits, then 1) start the clock when download is COMPLETE, not STARTED. 2) 24 hours isn't realistic since most people will start the download and watch it later. If it takes 3 hrs or so to download a movie, then they aren't going to watch it that night. They go to bed, then get up in the morning and go to work. They come home, grab some dinner, and sit down to watch it...only to have it expired/disabled.

On HD content:

I understand not having everything on day one, but it needs to happen very quickly


On network VOD (like HBO/Sopranos, etc):

See HD comment above.
Also, if it isn't "free" (meaning it's included with the channel package), then it will simply fail miserably and E* thinks it can get high by smoking weed through its ass. IMHO, this should have been the first content DO rolled out.

On the user interface:

WTF??

Overall impression:

WTF??

Since Scott wanted something to quote for his article... here's one: DishOnline has the impression of nepotism gone awry. It looks like Chuck hired his 19 yr old nephew and made him the project manager for DishOnline.

Other than that, it's awesome.

 

[JIGGIEFLY]

I got my update today and took a look and this Dish Online it is a waste of time for me if i want to watch a movie im not going to pay for a program and then wait up to 3 hrs to watch it and if i dont watch it its gone in 24 hrs, DISH YOU SCREWED THE POOCH ON THIS ONE I WILL NEVER USE IT AND FROM WHAT I READ NO ONE ELSE SEEMS TO BE EITHER SO DISH YOU LOOSE AGAIN.

 

[Hall]

OK, solved my own problem. Parental controls was blocking ths pics from being downloaded to the box. Set up the 622 with my privelages and it works now.

You're kidding.... It's parental control that's blocking the pictures ? Is that documented anywhere ? So much for "testing" on Dish's end. They've had this working internally or with beta testers since February or so....

 

[tawhite]

I don't know about any documentation. I was just thinking today that maybe my parental controls was blocking the Dish boxes so I assigned them my priveges. It has seemed to allow the graphics to download in Dish online. I have had to do this with my Xbox 360 and PS3 to be able to access online content.

 

[MLBurks]

If E* feels that it "must" impose time limits, then 1) start the clock when download is COMPLETE, not STARTED. 2) 24 hours isn't realistic since most people will start the download and watch it later. If it takes 3 hrs or so to download a movie, then they aren't going to watch it that night. They go to bed, then get up in the morning and go to work. They come home, grab some dinner, and sit down to watch it...only to have it expired/disabled. [/I]

The 24 hour time limit begins when you start watching it. Once you download it, it will expire in 7 days if it does not get watched.