The Netflix Media Player by Roku

[arad]

So you want to watch movies with Netflix "Watch Instantly", but you aren't thrilled about sitting in front of your computer to do it? Netflix and Roku have partnered to bring the Watch Instantly functionality to your TV. We have one of these players and have spent a week putting it through its paces.

The player can be purchased for $99.99 from the Roku website and requires...

[url=http://www.hdtvmagazine.com/reviews/2008/06/the_netflix_media_player_by_roku.php]Read Review[/url]

[miller]

I bought one of these as well. I'm planning on sticking it up in my boys' room and loading the queue with movies for them to watch. There's a ton of Family/Children genre movies available to Watch Instantly on Netflix.

Personally, I'd rather watch Apple TV or VUDU because the selection is better and the quality much better. But I'm sure the kids would enjoy it just the same.

Just my experience.

- Miller

[emondragon]

I received and installed the Roku Netflix Player a few days ago. My setup is a 50" Panasonic plasma, Roku player connected via HDMI, Belkin Pre-N wireless router, and Comcast broadband connection. I'll try to present here the pros and cons that I have experienced with this unit.

Pros:
1. Relatively easy to install (make sure you have necessary info like SSID, your WEP and WAP security passcode for your wireless router) for wireless setup.
2. Picture quality is quite good (nearly SD-DVD 480p if not better). Remember the veiwing quality is dependent on the original source. Some movies are very clear and some not as good. Again, it's the original copy not the Netflix transmission.
3. Large selection of movies and programs. I am a fan of the classics, where the plot and story line were more important than special effects. I found Netflix provides a large selection of those classics like Alfred Hitchcock movies and even his TV series and others.
4. After the initial setup there is no logging on or waiting for Netflix to do their thing to start. It's on twenty four/seven whenever you are in the mood to watch a movie in your instant queue.
5. No extra cost to your original Netflix plan as long as you are enrolled to one of their unlimited instant view plans.
6. Unit low power consumption in standby uses 4 watts and 5 watts during actual veiwing a movie.
7. Remote is small with large enough selection buttons and feels solid and well built in your hand.
8. It remembers where you left off for every uncompleted movie and allows for resume play.
Cons:
1. Screen display setup is somewhat confusing. The player recognized my TV and connections and suggested viewing Full 4:3 version, and I wondered why. I discovered the reason during playback of the download movies: most of Netflix's selection, for now, are 4:3 origination source and are spread more evenly across a widescreen TV using FULL. Anyway, my equipment allows for a very good widescreen FULL spread where you can barely notice objects are slightly wider.
2. Rewind and forward option allows for frame by frame (in most cases) viewing, but when backing up or forwarding to where would like to be it needs to reload the movie to that spot. Not what we're use to with the traditional rewind and forward progression.
3. There are a few movies not suited for children (topless women, adult situations and language) and there doesn't seem a way to password blocked those.

Conclusion:
Netflix has hit a homerun with this new feature. I told my wife, "This is the future of how movie selection and viewing will likely work (easy and fast)." If they keep their word to add the HD option, in the future, and provide software to allow PS3s and others to access your own Netflix account will broaden their user base. It may be the end of how satilite and cable do business; they are going to have to change by lowering their prices to compete with this new service.
BTW I do not work for Netflix, Roku, or any other of the companies mentioned above. I am only an impressed subscriber.

[Richard]

I discovered the reason during playback of the download movies: most of Netflix's selection, for now, are 4:3 origination source

From the article:

We watched old episodes of Magnum PI, Rockford Files, Adam-12, and Charles in Charge. These old programs were 4:3 and looked less than DVD quality.

We also watched some newer content like 30-Rock and Heroes which were 16:9 and looked much closer to DVD quality. Movies were good as far as quality goes but we were disappointed that the movie "Point of No Return", which was an Anamorphic wide screen movie, didn't look right on the screen.

So which kind of mostly is it... 4:3 or 16:9? If 4:3 you would be better served waiting on the 16:9 DVD disc to arrive in your mail box...

[mikedburke]

I ordered it the first day...I was very surprised with the quality and benefits. It is a must have. As an early subscriber I have 4 DVD's out at a time with my subscritption. I use those to burn to my IPOD for use on long international flights with a My-vu...I now use the ROKU to replace all the winter shows I DVR'd so I always have a wealth of great content and at reasonable quality...I hope the movie production folks will start allowing them to stream more content...this is the most convienient way to watch...thank you Netfilx/ROKU.

[jdevine760]

Just received the ROKU box yesterday and I am beyond impressed, I love it. I've put about 28 flics in the queue and only two of them (an IMAX transfer and some other documentary) where poor quality and I deleted them from the list. The TV episodes originally broadcast in High Def (Law and Order SVU) are actually quite stunning on my SONY rearprojection SXRD 50 inch set - definitely "DVD quality" and bordering on original signal quality. One British film SURVEILLANCE was outstanding quality! I found that leaving the "screen" setting on the ROKU at 4x3 produced better results than changing it to 16x9...seems strange but what the hey. Only complaint at this point: you can't shut it off without unplugging it. An 'on/off' switch would have been nice on either the box or the remote. Today I'll try moving the box to another TV in the house and see how it looks on the 100 inch screen in the media room. BTW, setup was a breeze.

John