If you like netflix, like their "view instantly" feature you'll love their new player that connects to your standard def or HDTV. I'd been thinking about building a media PC just to watch netflix stuff from the family room.

They partnered with Roku to create a device (http://www.roku.com/netflixplayer/) that only does one thing, stream netflix content directly to your tv, but it does that extremely well.

Mine arrived today. $110 including shipping. No extra fees to view any of netflix's online content (just your regular netflix subscription).

Video quality over broadband with a wired ethernet connection is DVD quality (depending on the source media). Connects directly to your TV via composite, component, or HDMI. It's HD capable if they start streaming movies in HD.

High Plains Drifter never looked better.

Maniac Nurses was a little rough.

If you're into older movies, indie movies, old TV shows (both network and cable) it's great. About 10,000 titles and they're adding more every day. (their DVD titles number over 100,000 now).

It pulls your "view instantly" queue instantly and allows you to select from this using your TV and a remote. To add movies to your queue you have to use your computer.

Joe Bob says, "Get one."

If you like netflix, like their "view instantly" feature you'll love their new player that connects to your standard def or HDTV. I'd been thinking about building a media PC just to watch netflix stuff from the family room.

They partnered with Roku to create a device (http://www.roku.com/netflixplayer/) that only does one thing, stream netflix content directly to your tv, but it does that extremely well.

Mine arrived today. $110 including shipping. No extra fees to view any of netflix's online content (just your regular netflix subscription).

Video quality over broadband with a wired ethernet connection is DVD quality (depending on the source media). Connects directly to your TV via composite, component, or HDMI. It's HD capable if they start streaming movies in HD.

High Plains Drifter never looked better.

Maniac Nurses was a little rough.

If you're into older movies, indie movies, old TV shows (both network and cable) it's great. About 10,000 titles and they're adding more every day. (their DVD titles number over 100,000 now).

It pulls your "view instantly" queue instantly and allows you to select from this using your TV and a remote. To add movies to your queue you have to use your computer.

Joe Bob says, "Get one."

I'm thinkin' 'bout it.

roku+2

time shall now be measured in the number of days since receiving this device.

quality of life shall be measured in view instantly activity.

Netflix hiccuped on Roku+0 at about 23:00 necessitating a trip to the fridge and toilet. It seems they have some teething problems.

but I'm beginning to feel a bit like Bruce Dern looked towards the end in Silent Running (this was roku+1's first viewing).

It's become the Year of Living Dangerously around here (at least if I don't mow the lawn).

If I'm not careful I may go Dirty Harry on someone or get Shafted in the process.

I'm waking with the sailors of Nimitz and dining with Weeds. Dexter is my best friend.

Life is good.

Steve - can you record the films?

FAQ says no. haven't tried but I suspect there is some sorta copy protection at work.

Edit: FAQ doesn't specify. I can't imagine that there isn't copy protection at work. The digital protection is in full force (it uses microsoft's DRM protocol) but I don't know what happens via the composite video output.

Edit edit: take note: the movies are streamed with the same VC-1 codec used on Blu-ray Discs and Xbox Live Marketplace's video

from this link (http://reviews.cnet.com/digital-media-receivers/netflix-player-by-roku/4505-6739_7-33018087.html)

roku++

son's xbox 360 now receives netflix instant movies. It's a no-brainer if you subscribe to netflix, subscribe to xbox live, have broadband and a TV.

roku boxes upgraded themselves this week and are now 720p HD capable. Too bad my retarded philips hd only does 1080i, but the picture looks much nicer in just 480p.

I think xbox will do 1080i, I may have to requisition my kid's console.

Still don't know if you can copy content, but who cares? I prefer to leave it on netflix's server and call it up when I want to.

Currently watching Jericho alternating with Alfred Hitchcock Presents.

I have Netflix on my XBox 360 and I LOVE IT! I've been watching entire seasons od SeaQuest DSV, Heros and a bunch of anime stuff. Its awesome not to have to wait for the DVDs to show up. Just go to the website, add it to the queue and go watch it!

BTW, Very little of the content is over 480i. And the stuff that is, is only 720p max.

The complete Firefly series was just added to netflix "watch instantly." Roku (have two now) continue to stream trouble free after 2 years. Not a hiccup.

Good show. Kind of limited thematically (after viewing 3 out of 14 episodes). I'm entertained but not challenged in any way. Some of the acting is pretty bad. Maybe it's the writing. Still, I'm entertained.

Serenity looks rather like it was thrown together from odds and ends on a sound stage (interiors). At least they didn't use a brewery.

Now for intellectually challenging Joss Whedon, I recommend Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog (also on netflix view instantly and also starring Nathon Fillion as a singing super-hero, The Hammer).

http://www.hobbytalk.com/bbs1/attachment.php?attachmentid=105842&d=1270396035

The Roku is the best $100 I have spent entertainment wise in my life!
Well worth the money.
I am also streaming Netflix on my PS3 with the FREE disc that they will send you if you ask for one and I have my free disc on preorder for the Wii.

Best bang for your entertainment $$$

huzza!

Roku will now access content on your home computer for playing videos (in MP4 format), music (mp3s) and displaying jpgs in a very nicely done "private channel" over your TV either wired or wirelessly.

This requires a high level of geekdom (2nd order minimum); they have not created a PC application to act as a media server, you must download 3 freeware programs to convert and catalog your video media and act as your server (additional programs for music and pictures):

a web server (Mongoose works)
video converter to get your ripped DVDs in MP4 format (Handbrake works)
an xml generator to create an xml database of your videos' information to generate menus on Roku (Personal Video Database (PVD) works)

Your PC should have a fixed IP within your home network so Roku can find it each time. The web server requires opening ports on your firewall if you run one (but you're still behind the router firewall so it's safe). And the Roku must be given the fixed IP address and folder names to access on your PC.

If this summons your inner geek, visit roksbox's wiki (http://roksbox.wikispaces.com/) for a complete tutorial including links to the freeware and instructions on setting up Roku.

It's all free. (once you have a Roku starting at $79 (http://www.roku.com/)).

I've used the Roku Internet radio tunes for 2 years now and its also a good lil box. Doesn't sound quite as good on the 'ole Audiophile soundsystem than the Apple Unibody 15" Macbook Pro (with audio by Harmon-Kardon) but not by much.