I have an HDTV that is not hooked to cable of any kind. I want to stream movies from Netflix. Am I better off spending $80-100 and getting Roku, or spending +/- $120 and getting a Blu-Ray player with Wi-Fi?

SoFlaBear;473280 said:

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I have an HDTV that is not hooked to cable of any kind. I want to stream movies from Netflix. Am I better off spending $80-100 and getting Roku, or spending +/- $120 and getting a Blu-Ray player with Wi-Fi?

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PS3.

I use it for DVDs/Blu-Ray/video games/AND streaming Netflix

I'd say blu ray is the better choice, but make sure that it can specifically stream netflix. I believe some brands have wifi, but not netflix...

I think this comes out to $89 with free shipping. The price will be shown in the cart right before confirming the order(after entering in CC info). I pulled this off a deal site I visit often, but did not try it personally.

http://www.us-appliance.com/bdc5500.html

We're a Wii family. The Wii is what we use on our other TV for Netflix. Good suggestion, though!

The full blown Roku XDS is a mere $99 on Amazon. Looks like a good deal.

http://www.amazon.com/Roku-XDS-Streaming-Player-1080p/dp/B00426C57O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1297217602&sr=8-1

The Roku XD is 69.99 after $10 off on amazon (if you tweet about getting the $10 off)

Link

edwinbear;473283 said:

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PS3.

I use it for DVDs/Blu-Ray/video games/AND streaming Netflix

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Same, minus Netflix, but don't forget there's also Hulu+ (which seems to suck) and VUDU (which is great).

I have a Sony internet TV box....really good Blu-ray player, and easy access to Netflix...also nice to get to the internet on your TV, as well as the rest of the features (Pandora,etc) and some that I haven't even tried out....can't play Hulu.com stuff yet though...

It depends. I'm assuming that your TV does not already have Netflix capabilities. Most new TVs have it already included. Try updating your firmware to see if it was added later by the manufacturer. If you don't have a Blu-ray player but have a HDTV then I'd suggest getting a newer one (made within the last three years). If you don't play games but have a blu-ray player get a Roku. If you want something similar to a Roku but want more functions then get a WDTV Live Plus (it can play a lot more different video files and can render subtitles more correctly; it can't play high quality 1080p videos). If you play games and don't have a Blu-ray player then I'd suggest getting a PS3. If you play games but have a blu-ray player already, get a Wii or an XBox. None of these consoles can play 1080p video or MKV files or render stylized subtitles correctly. They can play 720p videos and MP4 files. If you have a computer (at least dual-core) nearby your TV, get a video card with HDMI output. If you have a laptop (at least dual-core) with an HDMI output, just use that for Netflix. I currently connect my computer to my TV since it offers me the greatest verstility. The only downsides are that a computer can be difficult to fit in a typically entertainment center. You'll also need to get a wireless mouse and keyboard which can cost anywhere from $15 to $40.


If your not going to connect a computer to your TV then, you'll probably need a special wifi dongle (usually the TV manufacturers make you use theirs which typically run anywhere from $20 or $50 more than a generic $10 one), or you can run a really long ethernet cable (that can be unsightly unless you put it in your walls with an appropiate outlet), or you can get a router that can also serve as a wireless access point (this is what I currently use; it costs about $15).

bologna;473693 said:

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None of these consoles can play 1080p video or MKV files or render stylized subtitles correctly.

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Minor correction, Netflix and VUDU on the PS3 support 1080 (limited content) and 5.1DD (also limited content). VUDU also recently added 3D support, no idea how much content there is for that though. You can't play your own videos in 1080p unless you burn a disc following some really obscure process, though.

If you don't have a blu ray player (or any other HD source) definitely go for the blu ray with streaming. Most internet connections aren't fast enough and content good enough to support close to true HD through a device like the roku, and to me that's a waste of a HDTV right there. I barely use the gaming capability on my PS3, but the blu ray and streaming video capabilities are well worth it. It's a powerful device that will keep being updated to play current content. Sony Blu Ray Players and PS3s use almost identical menus to drive playback and other features, definitely easier to use than a lot of the more complicated solutions out there.

I have a Roku and recently bought a sony blue ray with wifi / netflix streaming. What I would say is that the interface on the Roku is MUCH better than the interface with the sony blue ray player. Similarly we also have xbox with netflix and wii with netflix (I have a bunch of kids who spend way too much time in front of screens) and the roku interface is much better. They have a better search function, suggestions, etc. The Sony player only allows you to see what is already on your list. I got mine BR player from Amazon for christmas for about $150 if i remember correctly.

It is nice to get Hulu and other channels on the sony player but Roku also offers those as well.

I have a Samsung Blu Ray that is WiFi. It has a host of apps, Netflix and pandora I use the most. I love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I could get really techie on you, but I wont. I don't know much about PS3 since I don't game. Good Luck

elpbear;473708 said:

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Minor correction, Netflix and VUDU on the PS3 support 1080 (limited content) and 5.1DD (also limited content). VUDU also recently added 3D support, no idea how much content there is for that though. You can't play your own videos in 1080p unless you burn a disc following some really obscure process, though.

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Sorry for not being specific enough. I meant 1080p video files (MKV or MP4). I don't think any set top box except maybe the newer Popcorn Hour or the Boxee Box can actually handle this type of media, even then you might have problems because both boxes use hardware decoding and sometimes the files are not encoded to be compatible with hardware decoding. Unless you have a dual core processor I can pretty much guarantee that you will encounter massive stutter during playback especially if the videos also use stylized subtitles. I previously had a 3.8GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, and I would still see 60-80% CPU utilization when playing back 1080p videos.

Here is a file that would be impossible to play on single core processors, even some dual core processors would have trouble with it.

http://www.filesonic.com/file/11960723/Planet_Earth_From_Pole_to_Pole_1080p_sample.mkv

It's the bird flock scene from BBC's Planet Earth. Use Videolan (VLC) to play the file.

Wife got me a Roku for Christmas, have since killed cable. Are you seriously going to buy Blu Ray discs going forward? keep it digital, get the Roku. super duper value

bologna;473693 said:

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It depends. I'm assuming that your TV does not already have Netflix capabilities. Most new TVs have it already included. Try updating your firmware to see if it was added later by the manufacturer.

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It's an Apex (read: no name) with 1080p that I got [U]dirt cheap [/U]on sale at Tarjay. I'll re-read the owners manual, but I doubt it has many capabilities beyond turning on and displaying a picture.

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If you don't have a Blu-ray player but have a HDTV then I'd suggest getting a newer one (made within the last three years).

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I do not have a Blu-Ray player, and I own no Blu-Ray discs. On one hand, I could certainly rent them from Redbox or the local video chain. OTOH, I'm not keen to invest a lot in a technology that basically hit the market as obsolete.

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If you don't play games but have a blu-ray player get a Roku.

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I play some games, but I have a Wii, and I don't particularly now want to invest in PS3.

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If you want something similar to a Roku but want more functions then get a WDTV Live Plus (it can play a lot more different video files and can render subtitles more correctly; it can't play high quality 1080p videos).

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I don't particularly care about subtitles. I don't watch enough foreign cinema to make that a big priority. The different video files could be a big plus, but I want 1080p capability, since I have a 1080p unit.

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If you play games and don't have a Blu-ray player then I'd suggest getting a PS3. If you play games but have a blu-ray player already, get a Wii or an XBox. None of these consoles can play 1080p video or MKV files or render stylized subtitles correctly. They can play 720p videos and MP4 files.

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See the above regarding the Wii, which is hooked to another TV, which is why I'm looking at a Blue-Ray or Roku.

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If you have a computer (at least dual-core) nearby your TV, get a video card with HDMI output. If you have a laptop (at least dual-core) with an HDMI output, just use that for Netflix. I currently connect my computer to my TV since it offers me the greatest verstility. The only downsides are that a computer can be difficult to fit in a typically entertainment center. You'll also need to get a wireless mouse and keyboard which can cost anywhere from $15 to $40.

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While I have many computers, not a one is dual core laptop. Still, it's an interesting thought.

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If your not going to connect a computer to your TV then, you'll probably need a special wifi dongle (usually the TV manufacturers make you use theirs which typically run anywhere from $20 or $50 more than a generic $10 one), or you can run a really long ethernet cable (that can be unsightly unless you put it in your walls with an appropiate outlet), or you can get a router that can also serve as a wireless access point (this is what I currently use; it costs about $15).

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This will sound argumentative and I'm not trying to be. If I'm going to this much trouble, why don't I just spend $50 more and get a Roku?

Thanks, that was a very long, thoughtful answer

Roku seems to be the consensus choice so far, with PS3 a surprising close second.

My dilemma is this. $100 for the all-bells-and-whistles Roku v. $120 for a Blue-Ray that streams. I don't necessarily want to be invested in Blue-Ray, but I'd like the capability to play discs (even DVDs).

Thanks. Good to know about the Costco.

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If you don't have a blu ray player (or any other HD source) definitely go for the blu ray with streaming. Most internet connections aren't fast enough and content good enough to support close to true HD through a device like the roku, and to me that's a waste of a HDTV right there.

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I got this HDTV on the cheap (<$400). It's my first one, and, as I told my wife, we'll hate it in a year, but right now I don't know enough about it to know what I want and don't want in an HDTV. The point here is that it's so cheap, whatever we do with it won't be a waste. You are the first person I've interacted with on the subject to site the connection speed with the Roku.

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I barely use the gaming capability on my PS3, but the blu ray and streaming video capabilities are well worth it. It's a powerful device that will keep being updated to play current content. Sony Blu Ray Players and PS3s use almost identical menus to drive playback and other features, definitely easier to use than a lot of the more complicated solutions out there.

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Several others here have suggested the PS3. Sony always has made excellent products. They also make what I'm told is an excellent (if expensive) internet set-top box/Blue Ray combo.

Today's deal on Woot.com (one deal a day) is a bluray player that does wifi and Netflix for $89 (+ $5 shipping).

Do you have a Fry's Electronics near you?
I found this:
http://www.frys.com/product/6205550

It's a Sony Blu-ray player for $80
It's only wi-fi capable, so you're going to have to get a wireless access point, which might be too much of hassle.
The ad expires tomorrow.

I think there is also a Memorax player for $95 on woot.com, but the Amazon reviews are not very good.

If you want to buy a Roku, its on sale on Amazon. It's $70 now, it was $60 during Amazon's After Christmas sale. Also if you are outside of Washington and Oregon you don't have to pay tax. Remember to get the XD or XDS models that have built-in WiFi rather than the older models that don't

SoFlaBear;473873 said:

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Roku seems to be the consensus choice so far, with PS3 a surprising close second.

My dilemma is this. $100 for the all-bells-and-whistles Roku v. $120 for a Blue-Ray that streams. I don't necessarily want to be invested in Blue-Ray, but I'd like the capability to play discs (even DVDs).

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100% Get a blu ray. It plays DVDs and will format the output correctly for a widescreen (Don't get me started on how many people can't get a proper widescreen output from a DVD player.... and then they never notice it!) - you don't have to buy the discs, just rent them.

Streaming video is far from a mature technology - the chances a roku will be obsolete are just as good as a blu ray player. A lot of these exotic viedo file formats are great looking, but you aren't going to find them to stream that easily so you're gonna have to download them (aka steal) or make them yourself (time consuming) from a source you own.

As for bandwidth - it's not just an issue with any streaming video these days, it's the limiting issue. I pay for 15mps cable internet which is far faster the basic DSL speed that netflix has as a minumum. But movies can be choppy, or degrade in quality in the middle with dropped frames and pixelation. IMO a lowly DVD (blu ray is even better) will be a lot easier to watch than most streaming movies. I have MLBTV HD, and it's decent, has a great still image quality but can get choppy or boxy when things are moving.

Streaming video is nice and convenient, but a total waste if it's your only HD content (especially since streaming blu ray players are slighty more).

Also, do you get cable at all? You can get local HD stations (ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, CW, etc) by just plugging a cable into the TV and scanning for digital stations. No box or extra subscription needed.