PC died. Trying the legal options.

And fuck. I really miss plex. I've had Netflix and Hulu forever as family won't let me cancel. Decided to sign up to Paramount + for some Trek. Twice in lower decks it didn't save my watched episodes. Doesn't mark episode as watched if you exit during the credits. And multiple playback issues.

Wanted to add no ad Disney to the Hulu for some Doctor Who. Only the add supported is available through Hulu. So I'd have to cancel, wait for the month to end and sign up via Disney. Deal with ads or pay almost double the duo plan costs, or include ESPN, and honestly fuck sports.

What is so difficult about just providing a decent service for a fair price? Why is plex like a decade ahead of the streaming UI's? I'm trying to give you fucks money and you're making it extremely difficult.

96 comments

Some more examples of why piracy is a service problem

162
- It really is. Everyone splintering off to their own app is what got me back to it. Had Netflix, Hulu, max, Disney, prime and I think Apple plus or peacock for a while and I could never remember what service the shows I was watching were on. Opening up 4 streaming apps to find what I was watching the other day got tiresome. When it was mainly Netflix and Hulu I only pirated the few shows that were on like HBO that I wanted to see. Arr apps with plex is so nice in comparison.
  
  70
  
  I could never remember what service the shows I was watching were on. Opening up 4 streaming apps to find what I was watching the other day got tiresome.
  
  I know what community this is, but using something like a Chromecast w/ Google TV lets you search across all your streaming services simultaneously.
  
  11
- There are steps to piracy which cost time and effort. For most of the media I consume that time and effort cost is significantly less than the time, effort, and capital I would need to invest in a paid service. However, the time, effort, and capital I spend to play videogames has been less than piracy would cost for me for decades. Being able to effortlessly get those games running on a mobile steamdeck is orders of magnitude cheaper than what it would have cost me to set everything up myself even if I'm not paying for software and my costly version wouldn't be nearly as smooth. This quote would be true enough even if a counter-example didn't exist, but Steam and GOG are pretty clear demonstrations of the kind of service the average person is satisfied with even if they still have some real issues.
  
  8
  
  Am I the only one who has a distrust of pirating video games? Watching a movie is one thing but a video game is actual code running on your computer downloaded from an untrusted source.
  
  2
It cannot get better and it will definitely get worse.

Paying for enshittified services is not really "doing the right thing". It only encourages further enshittification.

84
A new PC will cost you far less in the long term.

58
- I'm working on it. Pretty sure it's down to CPU, GPU or motherboard. I have an old gtx 660 that I'm going to try. Then probably buy a new MB and see if that helps. Really hope it's not CPU or GPU as they're a 5900x and 2080Super. Not exactly cheap replacements.
  
  25
  
  Have you got a buddy with a computer you can test components with? Might help you speed up the troubleshooting process?
  
  4
Family won't let you cancel? Cancel anyway. Let them pay for it.

39
- Ahoy, FlavoredButtHair truly embodies the pirate ethos
  
  14
- Jellyfin + Sonarr/Radarr + Bittorrent = free personal netflix with infinite logins.
  
  I gave logins to my whole family over the holidays and now they can watch anything they want. They just text me the name of the movie and it's up there in 2 minutes.
  
  Streaming is becoming just as bad as cable was. I'm done playing their games.
  Hulu literally has adds on their PAID subscription.... People are getting WAY too used to being butt fucked by these companies
  
  edit: I used this guide to set it all up: https://lemmy.dbzer0.com/post/5911487
  
  10
  
  Ombi or Overseerr (I prefer Overseerr) will let them do requests automatically. Overseerr uses Plex logins so you don't need to manage additional passwords for them.
  
  7
  
  You can setup Overseer to manage requests and even sync Plex watchlists so that literally all they have to do is add something to their watchlist.
  
  There is a Jellyseerr which might work the same way.
  
  4
  
  People need to be more educated when it comes to VPN and piracy. Your setup is pretty awesome with that combo.
  
  The Plex pass pays for itself.
  
  3
  
  I have a similar setup but only use it in my own home. I'm just curious, how do you share to your family? Do they watch exclusively on Mobile/Web (or maybe casting) or do you also push for them to pick-up some form of Android TV or something else that supports the Jellyfin app?
  
  I could share to my family but I don't want to have to babysit them and I know unless it's incredibly simple, they won't bother with it or they'll both me with it every time.
  
  3
  
  Do you torrent directly from your jellyfin box or do you have a seedbox that then sync to jellyfin?
  
  I want to do a jellyfin setup, and wondering if I want a seedbox or directly torrent.
  
  1
For ~100€, through a Raspberry Pi, you can stream 4K60p to your TV. From there, you are the sole master of the seas, Captain.

32
- I'll get the pc fixed. Pi is being used for pihole currently. Do you need a Nas to connect the pi to the hdd that have the video files? Been a while since I messed with the pi, but I don't remember there being sata connections, or if there is, I have 3 hdd that would need to be connected.
  
  10
  
  I think the newer ones have a single SATA. I'd probably go the NAS route even if it had 3 connectors, though. There's something about having my data storage separate from my computing that I like. I've been trying to figure out exactly what since I've been typing this, and I've failed, though. :D
  
  6
  
  I have a usb drive connected to it. You may need a powered usb hub based on the consumption of the usb drive.
  
  3
  
  You don’t technically need a NAS, the Pi can be it, but you’d need a usb 3 enclosure (way cheaper than a NAS). But honestly just let your pihole be your pihole and don’t mess with it. You may wanna get a pi zero and use that as your DNS and your old pi as a Plex server.
  
  3
  
  I just recently got myself a Pi 4 8GB for €86 on Amazon, a barely used 10TB IronWolf NAS HDD for €120 on eBay, and an HDD enclosure for €20 that powers the HDD and plugs into the Pi via USB3. Currently it's running Plex Media Server, qBittorrent, Wireguard, AdGuard Home, Nextcloud, Caddy, and a few monitoring containers. It's handling all of that easily. I'm using it headless and just stream content to my TV. Currently I have no redundancy for my drive, but I'll get around to that eventually.
  
  You can of course keep using PiHole for your setup. I recommend you check out !selfhosted@lemmy.world and r/selfhosted.
  
  You don't even need to buy a microsd card anymore because they now ship with the firmware that can boot from USB.
  
  3
  
  The latest pi (5b) has a pcie connector that will allow you to connect sata drives, but I don't know if there's a commercial product for it yet..
  
  1
Jellyfin + Usenet and I’ve never looked back. I only use it intra-house. So no need for more complex setups. It’s flawless to date.

28
- Yeah, I can't find some kid shows, maybe I have the wrong provider.
  
  4
  
  Kid shows definitely are an issue in general.
  
  4
Enshittification getting stankier everywhere

22
Bro just buy an optiplex off ebay and go back to plex.

20
- Seriously. People don't realize how well Intel QuickSync transcodes (non-4k) stuff. My Plex/Jellyfin server is on a 6th gen Celeron with 12GB DDR3, and it can transcode 10+ streams simultaneously. Cost me under $150 USD.
  
  3
Thanks for a great motivational speech, I already was against all corpo streaming services, but now I'm going turbo-mode on building a new Jellyfin server with all my media to stream whenever I want :)

17
- I just made the switch last month. Even my partner doesn't touch his beloved Apple TV anymore. We'll never go back.
  
  4
  
  Lol once you taste the forbidden fruit of media freedom, everything else tastes sour.
  
  3
Everyone here who has used Plex has had fuck ups. Between finding corrupt movie files, Plex messing up meta data, or forgetting where I am in a movie (and between multiple devices this is especially bad); my list of Plex/xbmc fuck ups would far outpace any issues I have with the services.

In general most of the streaming services work just fine and have most features you need.

The biggest issue by far is the need for $140 in streaming services to get what you want. I'm probably just going back to cable IMO.

13
- Idk if I’m just lucky, but I’ve been running Plex on Linux for years without any major issue. Occasionally I had to hit things with a chmod, but that stopped being an issue after I changed a setting in qbittorrent, and that isn’t really Plex’s fault.
  
  Rarely, if it is transcoding something and I pause for a long time, I may have to stop it and play it again to get the transcoder running again. It is a very minor issue that I barely ever think about unless I’m traveling.
  
  Does it run differently on Windows or something?
  
  10
  
  Not really. I've run Plex for years now, and it's still infinitely better than the PS3 Media Server we ran before. Sometimes it crashes but that's always been resolved by a quick reboot. I have more issues with my Nvidia Shield than with Plex itself.
  
  2
- Sure there's occasionally issues with source media or how it was imported, but the big difference: I can fix problems with emby/plex. I can correct messed up metadata, or run a partially corrupted file through a converter to fix it, or just replace files entirely; all in a few minutes. (and none of these I have to do very often. Like one or two files a month, while constantly adding new content daily)
  
  Most of the problems paid streaming services have, just have to be delt with until the provider gets around to fixing it, if they ever do at all. Then you add on content being scattered across 10 different services, artificial quality limitations, tracking, lack of or very poorly implemented offline playback, the inability to share with friends/family, advertising (now even being added to services built-on being 'ad-free'), the list goes on...
  
  As a note: I use Emby and have never had an issue losing my watched position and have only had maybe 1 in 1000 items incorrectly identified (out of a library of 4k movies and 34k tv epps).
  
  9
- I've also had none of these issues on jellyfin either
  
  5
I have been using this Mini PC as an always on running Kodi for over a year. Up to 4K resolution.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0B2C1GL48?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

13
- I've coincidentally bought this machine for similar purpose, arriving tomorrow.
  
  I'm intending to install a Linux KDE environment on it and use it as a living room PC, steam Linux machine, stream from my PC for 4k gaming, and a Jellyfin /Kodi box. I could probably keep windows 11 on it but I prefer the privacy and control I get with Linux plus it'll be a fun little project.
  
  Was on sale for £270 here, and looks overpowered for what OP'd need.
  
  Raspberry Pi 5 is also available for like £80 and that's capable for 4k video (although frustratingly the web browsers aren't able to take advantage of hardware video accel from my tinkering; you have to use dedicated apps like Kodi, freetube etc). That could also be a viable route for Plex / Jellyfin / Kodi machine media server and player or even just server.
  
  Edit: worth point out a raspberry Pi costs the same as 10 months of just Disney+ without ads. Once you throw in other streaming subscriptions... May pay for itself much sooner...
  
  5
  
  I read on the Jellyfin site that the Pi5 has no hardware encoders...
  
  https://jellyfin.org/docs/general/administration/hardware-acceleration
  
  Since I'm only streaming locally (on a Pi4) I don't need to record anything but still.
  
  1
- I've got a slightly older (8th Gen Intel) off lease dell micro in my living room, mostly for early ed games for my kids. A quick user switch and it's steam time for me.
  
  Cost me about $150, then I tossed about $75 in upgrades, roughly 2 years ago.
  
  Ultra small form factor PCs like this and the beelink are fantastic options. I've got a stack of them running all of my home services.
  
  4
  
  I love it and it is so quiet.
  
  2
Just find an old desktop PC and install Plex on it?

9
My family still requires a couple of the services too, although they're decreasing their usage because they love Jellyfin so much. I just had to say that the Paramount+ app is utter garbage, especially in Apple TV. Most annoying was if you triggered the left hand menu by simply trying to navigate to the left then you weren't allowed to exit the menu without making a selection. They also deleted it ignored my watch history so the time too. Also fuck all their forced ads on ad free versions. Just because you call it a promo because it's an ad for your service doesn't make it less of an ad. That's what killed it for me. $173 12th gen i-3 mini pc off Amazon+Jellyfin and I haven't touched the Apple TV in six weeks. No problems encoding anything even 10bit outside my house. Love it.

5
Have you tried the library? It's definitely location dependent but I've found it's a good way watch obscure things and whenever I don't want to "find" this online I'll check there first. I also like that it gives the city a reason to keep the library open by having more people use it.

Try the library.

5
Bruh I've always been a goodie 2shoes and gone legit, but the current streaming wars have pushed me over the edge and I've been shocked at how easy it is to just do a quick search on qbittorrent and yoink down some content

4
Isn't Dr. Who on Max? That's where I've been watching it.

4
- The newest episodes with Tennant are on Disney, most of the 2005 series is on max from what I understand.
  
  4
  
  Oh so like just the 60th anniversary then.
  
  2
What is so difficult about just providing a decent service for a fair price?

Nothing. It's just not profitable.

4
Check my profile for a media share option, if you would rather not dive into the technical aspects yourself. Ditch the enshittified media services and improve your life for the better.

4
Why not use Plex if you love it so much?

4
I'm lazy. I just open fmovies on my phone and cast to my TV.

3
Check out real debrid and alldebrid

3
Your “PC died”? What does that mean.

2
- Computer no longer works. 'E's passed on! This PC is no more! He has ceased to be! 'E's expired and gone to meet 'is maker! 'E's a stiff! Bereft of life, 'e rests in peace! If you hadn't nailed 'im to the perch 'e'd be pushing up the daisies! 'Is metabolic processes are now 'istory! 'E's off the twig! 'E's kicked the bucket, 'e's shuffled off 'is mortal coil, run down the curtain and joined the bleedin' choir invisible!! THIS IS AN EX-PC!!
  
  11
  
  There are over 300 upvotes on this post. Why the hell does this comment have only 2 upvotes?
  
  Are you and I the only ones who enjoy this reference?
  
  3
  
  So you lost all your files?
  
  1
While I wholeheartedly support all your gripes with the streaming services, how come everyone loves fucking Plex with *arr so much? Plex has been nothing but janky for me and constantly tried to push it's own bullshit through dark patterns (some plex-tv-stuff added to a menu here, some recommendations to their own BS there), while looking and feeling super outdated. This is without the need to switch applications just to get to overseer.

Isn't Stremio more comfortable for most ppl?

1
- You can hide any that stuff you don't want. I have the lifetime plex pass and the UI in plex is better than any streaming service that I've tried. One thing I like that is missing from streaming services is the actor bios. Being able to see everything that an actor/actress has been in from the pause screen of the show/movie I'm watching if I want to see more. Then I can just add those to *arr from my phone.
  
  Haven't used stremio personally. Started with XBMC/Kodi. Plex is just better if you need to connect from multiple devices. And the *arr apps are a natural feeling progression to automate what I already know and have been doing.
  
  1
Why not do both 😇

-3

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