Newsletters
Facebook
RSS Feed
EH Store
The Roku Player, to date, is the only box purposed specifically for Netflix Watch Instantly. It has added Amazon Unbox support (also included on the TivoHD), but Netflix streaming is its primary function.
I’ll go ahead and say up front: if you’re only looking to add Netflix Watch Now support, this is the device to get. It’s cheap ($99), it’s wired or wireless, and it’s dead easy to set up and use.
The Roku interface is extremely simple to use. Titles from your queue are presented in a side-scrolling panel of cover art icons. Title, run time, rating, and an HD indicator are shown for the title highlighted, while description and playback/rating/deletion options are shown once the title is selected.
You get a twofer with the $99 Roku Player: Netflix and Amazon.
It’s hard to expound on details of the interface because it’s so intuitive. I’m not sure if I’m breaking any literary rules here, but it has a very basic elegance, where most CE GUIs almost seem like an afterthought.
Playback performance mimics that of the TivoHD. I used the film Serenity for my playback tests, partly because it’s one of my favorites, but mainly because I could easily compare the Netflix HD image quality to DVD and Blu-ray (played back through the Samsung P2550), and HDTV (recorded on the TivoHD from UniversalHD).
HD images look great, if not quite as sharp or rich as HDTV, but are a very noticeable step down from Blu-ray. It’s a tougher comparison to DVD. The picture definitely has more resolution in static images, but motion seemed to blur a bit more on Netflix playback. I’d still say the Netflix 720p HD image quality still falls somewhere above DVD but below 1080i HDTV over cable.
To reiterate my opening statements on this device, if you’re ONLY looking for Netflix playback on a TV or theater display, this is the device to get.
The Roku player is my second choice of the devices I have in my theater.
I would also be interested in adding a Windows PC and Xbox360 to the comparison.
I have watched a few shows using Windows, and over the summer we have used my son’s Xbox360. An issue with the Xbox is that it requires the Live subscription, so an additional cost (maybe $45 per year) for that.
One complaint I heard about the Roku box is that the buffer is small, so your Internet connection needs to be consistent for a high quality picture. I’m not sure why they couldn’t add a few GByte memory (or a usb slot) for a small price increase. That would allow someone with a <1Mbs connection to still watch HD.
The author mentions having a 5Mbs cable connection. I thought Netflix might use up to 6Mbs for their highest quality streams?
I’m tempted by the Roku box, but also considering building an Ion set top box. Not sure what it would run, Windows7 or Boxee or Myth frontend?? If Roku would add Hulu (and maybe Youtube) support, that would push me in their direction.
PS - the “capcha” seems to be broken. Asking for the fourth letter of the word “theater”, but won’t accept a.
I’m hoping to possibly add an update to include XBox 360 comparison. I’ll be getting an XBox 360 in soon and need to make sure the new Dashboard update is downloaded and installed. I’ll try my best to comment on the GUI, PQ, and Stream Quality as in the other comparisons, but also the unique features like Movie Party.
I haven’t got to look at any of the other Wireless options (newer Samsung BD players, LG BD players) but in terms of GUI performance and IQ they really should be right on-par with the Roku box.
Thanks!
I agree, I was really hoping for a review of the XBOX 360 as well as it is definitely an affordable option, but there is no mention of it in this article.
Why no mention of the XBOX 360 when it was one of the first devices to use Netflix streaming?
+ View all comments on for this article
- News
- Cool Homes
- Blogs
- Photo Galleries
New Wi-Fi Thermostat Hits the Market
Android-controllable stat can be managed at home or away, and it looks great too.
24 Audio Zones, Mirror TV & Loads of Lighting Control
Centralized home control and automation plus boatload of A/V options including dropdown theater screen revitalize 12K-square-foot home.
The Case for Dumb TVs
Should TV manufacturers offer dumbed-down TVs that focus on image quality rather than apps?
Automated Avatar Is Home’s Personal Electronic Greeter
Say hello to home control in this high-tech palace, circa 2006.
The PS3’s browser wont play the netflix media by default. also both the 360 and the ps3 can play netflix, hulu, etc.. by using a product called play-on.
it uses your computer as a bridge to the websites and uses the computer to convert it to whatever format will play on your console. (with the 360 it’ll play netflix without having the subscription to live)
themediamall.com. it comes with a 14 day trial to work out the kinks.