[bmw335xi]

Originally Posted by sdreloc

Ruku is the cheapest and easiest way for Netflix on a TV at $59 including remote.
Unless you were going to buy a game console and Blu-Ray player anyway, the PS3 is pricey at $299. Don't forget you also need to add the cost of buying a special remote control or a special adapter to make a PS3 work with a universal remote or it will be that much more clunky and complicated to use as a media player.

If you want a dead simple and cheap Netflix player, Roku is best.

PS3 is actually really easy to use (the controller), you can even turn the system off with the actual controller, so there is no need to buy a universal. It also acts as a blue ray player and doesn't charge to go online (xbox 360 does).

The main difference between Roku and PS3 is the ability to search movies on Netflix through the PS3. You can search by title, genre, recommended etc. The Roku only has your instant queue list, so if you think of a movie you want to watch, you have to go online and find the movie, add it to your instant queue, then finally refresh your Roku. Roku is the cheapest method, but like I said the PS3 does a lot, even if you don't play any games.

I want to try Apple TV. I haven't met anyone with it yet.

[aggrofish]

Originally Posted by bmw335xi

PS3 is actually really easy to use (the controller), you can even turn the system off with the actual controller, so there is no need to buy a universal. It also acts as a blue ray player and doesn't charge to go online (xbox 360 does).

If you're going to spend the money on a PS3 an extra $25 for the BlueRay remote is worth it. If not, as quoted, the controller is easy enough to use for basic functions.

Dont forget the PS3 is a pretty good media center, not as good as a dedicated HTPC, but being able to stream all your media, browse the web, and kill 13 yr olds on COD makes it a worthwhile system.

Im a fan, I have 4 of em.

[sdreloc]

Originally Posted by bmw335xi

PS3 is actually really easy to use (the controller), you can even turn the system off with the actual controller, so there is no need to buy a universal. It also acts as a blue ray player and doesn't charge to go online (xbox 360 does).

The main difference between Roku and PS3 is the ability to search movies on Netflix through the PS3. You can search by title, genre, recommended etc. The Roku only has your instant queue list, so if you think of a movie you want to watch, you have to go online and find the movie, add it to your instant queue, then finally refresh your Roku. Roku is the cheapest method, but like I said the PS3 does a lot, even if you don't play any games.

I want to try Apple TV. I haven't met anyone with it yet.

Netflix search has been available on Roku for several months. You do not have to go to a PC and add movies to the instant queue anymore.
If you are not watching Blu-Rays and gaming, the Roku will just be more simple to deal with.

[justthe2ofus]

we had netflix on snail mail, 1 at a time. it was cool, but after awhile, we just couldn't watch more than 9 films a month thru the mail. we don't have a box to stream, and we weren't interested in laying out cash for it.
our biggest problem with netflix is that we don't have an option to rent widescreen films, which, in our humble opinion, is the only way to watch a film. the next gripe about netflix is that their website is severely lacking info. we couldn't find ANY price for the blueray membership as we were considering whether to buy a blueray DVD player. our regular DVD player is about to die. lastly, when we cancelled our account, we got an exit survey that only offered preset options to answer their, "why are you leaving?" questions. and of course, none said, "Lack of Widescreen".

We will not buy a game system. We don't game. Besides, we have had an atari system, nintendo, sega genisis in our lifetimes, and when we think of how much money we have spent on game systems, it wasn't worth it. been there, done that, not going to do it again.

[sdreloc]

Originally Posted by justthe2ofus

we had netflix on snail mail, 1 at a time. it was cool, but after awhile, we just couldn't watch more than 9 films a month thru the mail. we don't have a box to stream, and we weren't interested in laying out cash for it.
our biggest problem with netflix is that we don't have an option to rent widescreen films, which, in our humble opinion, is the only way to watch a film. the next gripe about netflix is that their website is severely lacking info. we couldn't find ANY price for the blueray membership as we were considering whether to buy a blueray DVD player. our regular DVD player is about to die. lastly, when we cancelled our account, we got an exit survey that only offered preset options to answer their, "why are you leaving?" questions. and of course, none said, "Lack of Widescreen".

We will not buy a game system. We don't game. Besides, we have had an atari system, nintendo, sega genisis in our lifetimes, and when we think of how much money we have spent on game systems, it wasn't worth it. been there, done that, not going to do it again.

Blu-Ray is $2 to $8 extra per month depending on how many discs you have out at a time and then you automatically have widescreen. Netflix: Rent as many movies as you want for only $8.99 a month! Free Trial
Many Blu-Ray players have built-in Netflix streaming and then you have both the Blu-Ray and streaming all in one box.

[justthe2ofus]

Originally Posted by sdreloc

Blu-Ray is $2 to $8 extra per month depending on how many discs you have out at a time and then you automatically have widescreen. Netflix: Rent as many movies as you want for only $8.99 a month! Free Trial
Many Blu-Ray players have built-in Netflix streaming and then you have both the Blu-Ray and streaming all in one box.

thanks for the link. at the time we had it, which was in May 2010, that page did not exist.

[Buzz123]

Couple of questions: What is the disk for? and, can you watch Hulu, Amazon, and other such services that are on the computer with the PS3?

[sdreloc]

You can watch Hulu "Plus" with a PS3 starting next week. Hulu Plus has part of the content on the free Hulu.com web site plus some different older content. It is $10 per month. You cannot watch free Hulu.com with the PS3.
You get discs so you can watch DVDs sent through the mail for all the movies not available for streaming.
There is no supported way to watch Amazon video streaming on a PS3.

[Buzz123]

Originally Posted by sdreloc

You can watch Hulu "Plus" with a PS3 starting next week. Hulu Plus has part of the content on the free Hulu.com web site plus some different older content. It is $10 per month. You cannot watch free Hulu.com with the PS3.
You get disks so you can watch DVDs sent through the mail for all the movies not available for streaming.
There is no supported way to watch Amazon video streaming on a PS3.

Oh, you're talking about a DVD movie. Somebody said you get a free disk from Netflix and I thought it was program you need to install in order to use it for movies via WiFi.

Do you know if Apple TV or any of the other systems get other streaming video via WiFi from your computer? For instance, can I watch anything on my TV that I can watch on my computer with a WiFi receiver connected to the TV, and if so, which system do I need? Or do I need more than one system?

[Nolan05]

We got the Roku box when it 1st came out for $99, and have gotton our money back and more. At think at present, we have about 200 movies/shows on it. You have to watch the suggestions they give you though, we found a couple of movies like a documentary about "Deep Throat" and another movie called This girls life which is about a internet sex woman which is full of sex and nudity. We have 3 kids that use it all day and that was a little worrisome. I like it because I was able to get the MLB package.