If you can’t wait to get those envelopes in the mail from Netflix, or maybe you have a movie itch that needs immediate scratching and can’t be fulfilled by your cable provider’s on-demand, sit back and relax. Maybe it’s one of the 10,000 movies or TV shows you have access to with the new Netflix Player from Roku.
The player is being released today for $99 as a one-time purchase. If you have one of Netflix’s unlimited movie package subscriptions—those are the ones that start from $8.99 per month, if you can’t remember which plan you’re on—then you’re good to go.
The box itself has a pretty small footprint, at 5 x 5 x 2 inches dimensions, with connections that include HDMI and component video. Yes, that gives it HD-readiness, but Netflix isn’t quite there. However, the FAQ from Roku says that, “When Netflix releases HD content for Instant Watching, the Netflix Player by Roku will be ready.”
Of course, we’ve heard that you might have to pay extra for Blu-ray rentals, so we’re guessing that may cross over into the HD download realm.
With a catalog that’s starting at 10,000, though, and the simplicity of adding movies and TV episodes into your Queues, this seems to be a pretty convenient way to watch Netflix movies. And unlike some download rental services, you don’t have to watch the whole movie within a 24-hour time frame, as far as we know.
The Netflix Player also comes with a remote so you can easily scroll through the synopses to help make your selections.
I love this idea, and will vcertainly give it some consideration once it can deliver HD content. From the reviews I have read, it also has too much buffer lag when doing RW & FF; which they will need to do something about before I will pull the trigger. Whoever can do all that first, will have my loyalty; as I hate having to remember to mail back my Netflix!!!
The Xbox 360 already *can* do this… if you also have a Windows *Vista* Media Center machine to which your 360 can connect (as an extender).
Google for vmcNetflix. (Of course, if you don’t already have a Vista Media Center PC, then it’s going to set you back more than what the Roku Netflix Player would.)
Darn, was really hoping that the XBox 360 was going to fill this role… Maybe someday?
This was a necessary step for Netflix to stay in the video delivery game, however, it is yet another set-top box. With no real anwser as to its true HD capabilities, I can only assume that it will mean I have to purchase additional storage if I want to grow a great movie catalog.
I agree with Jude that a media server is a much better option. All your features and storage are in one place and they are designed for direct HD movie downloads from services like VideoGiants.
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Yeah Curtis, because posting comments about how stupid people are in a discussion… 
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I don’t understand the logic in building your own movie collection (as Katerine posted below). Why would you pay to own movies when you can just pay a monthly fee and stream movies and extras to your home theater? Especially if they are in HD (in the near future)?
I own a Blu-Ray and a HD DVD player and I only own about a dozen high-def movies. I just rent Blu-Ray movies from NetFlix. You can spend your money how you see fit, but it seems like personal movie collections will become unnecessary. Of course, if you don’t have broadband services available to you, its a different story. Now if only cable and satellite companies would go ala carte.