Evolution of the Netflix Envelope

An anonymous reader wrote to mention an article over on CNN Money. They go into some detail on what seven years of tinkering has done for the simple red Netflix envelope. From the article: "Years of experimentation went into creating the perfect DVD envelope. In 1999, Netflix started out with a heavy cardboard mailer. With only 100,000 subscribers, costs weren't a concern yet. Then the company experimented with plastic envelopes, which proved not to be recyclable, and padding, which added too much to postage costs. Both top-loading and side-loading envelopes made an appearance."

Careful!

[2.7182]

They re use those things and don't forget what most people rent! I wouldn't seal them with a lick.

Re:Damn! I was SO interested in the history of the

[urbanRealist]

Um, p2p?

evolution and intelligent design

[AhtirTano]

I'm at a loss. The envolopes were clearly intelligently designed. But they appear to have evolved to match the current pressures of cost and safety applied by their environment.

Only a pointless flame war can guide me through this conundrum. That's why I'm turning to you, O Wise Slashdotters.

My Postman

[Ankou]

I love the innovation but personally my postman always seemed to find that ONE weakness in em. I was at an apartment complex with those little metal boxes. I swear the postman would fold them every time and I'd still get a envelope of broken pieces. Happened more times than I'd like to recall.

Re:My Postman

[st1d]

Ah, such an innocent assumption. Perhaps your mailman's second job was at the local movie rental shop? :)

Re:Lies from the article

[Fhqwhgadss]

I'll go out on a limb and guess that word problems are not your forte.

Re:Mod This Comment Dumbass!

[dl107227]

Would that be +1 or a -1 dumbass mod?

I hope Ubuntu sees this

[bzipitidoo]

I tried Ubuntu's ShipIt service for a few free CDs. They came, but the cardboard holders had scratched the surface enough that the disks were no longer reliable. Of course I found this out 3/4 of the way thru an install in front of a bunch of people I was trying to impress with Linux.

Evolution?

[Anonymous Coward]

I dunno. Sounds more like intelligent design to me.

Hmm.....

[Bill, Shooter of Bul]

Now, if we make a change to the accounting software to redirect a fraction of that penny left over from rounding operation to a different account we could bring down the evil of Netflicks! Who's with me?

Re:Synopsis

[Jules Mercuri]

Don't forget OMG! PONIES!

Re:perfect paper envelope... NOT

[BeoFebenna]

YES! Yes, we realize that. We do. We really do. It's okay. We all totally realize it. And we're grateful. Did we say we're grateful? We are. Okay. Now. Just put down the rifle...

Re:Hmm.....

[JM Apocalypse]

I'm in! But I sometimes misplace my decimal point.s

Re:Evolution?

[pintomp3]

FSM works at netflix? i guess it takes a lot of noodly appendages to juggle all those dvds.