Netflix Streaming?
 

Has anyone used Netflix video streaming? I was thinking Netflix streaming to a Mac mini and from there to my A/V receiver (when I get that sorted out) and thence to the TV. Does this work, and any comments on the resolution, streaming speed, bandwidth requirement, and title selection?

Huh. Last I checked you could only stream to your desktop, and that was a somewhat limited catalog. Resolution was no where near what you would need to watch on TV.

But that was last year, perhaps it has changed.....

To broaden out a bit, any comments on the other options - Amazon move downloads, AppleTV, etc?

I find we don't make good use of our Netflix account (traditional DVD-in-mail approach), and am looking for alternatives.

I use it almost every night through my xbox 360 and love it! The quality is great and I have had 0 hiccups. The only thing I wish now is that they had new release movies available for streaming.

Kerry, how do you direct the movie to your xbox? Is is digital data, or video? If data, how do you set it up to go to the xbox? Thanks. :)

It's built into the xbox interface with the latest update. You link your xbox to your account by running the netflix app on the 360 and then logging in to you account on a pc and entering the activation code. Once it is sync'd you start adding "watch instantly" shows/movies to your queue on a pc and they pop up on the xbox and you can watch when you want from there.

Shouldn't be a problem, I used my Macbook connected to my home theater for a few months and it worked great. I used the DVI connection (HDMI sucks!) to my TV and a TOS-Link optical audio cable into my receiver. Full digital and HD video looked great, I even tuned my Harmony universal remote to control the Macbook like the included Apple remote.

There are several boxes that make streaming a little simpler:

http://www.netflix.com/NetflixReadyDevicesList?lnkce=nrd-l&trkid=425738&lnkctr=nrd-l-m

Chris, quit drinking and typing, will yah? :p

sshhhh

While I didn't get the higher model, the Samsung blu-ray player (2500 model, IIRC) supports NetFlix movie streaming. (I bought the non-streaming player since I don't do NetFlix.)

-Z

I signed up for the 3 DVD service with free downloads a week ago. I've been using my son's XBox 360 with a gold account and it works great. It takes about a minute from when I select a movie for instant viewing on my laptop til it's pops up on the the XBox ready to view.

I use playon to stream netflix to my HP TV. It works with the PS/3 and XBox360 too.b

use it every day. can send to TV via hardware availabe on their site i believe. i watch on laptop. only problem is that the play-now selection is pitiful compared to their dvd selection which is excellent

picture quality and sound is excellent

Yes, I have the model 2500 (although I don't plan to use it for the streaming). I've seen posts by folks on the avsforums that have used it without problems.

I LOVE the Nexflix streaming service. I have a plug-in for my Windows Media Server that plays it to my home theater. Great stuff! I just wish the catalog of titles was bigger. I firmly believe this model is the future of content distribution, not Blu-Ray. The only thing that might stifle it is the impending metered internet services or packet shaping ISP/cable companies who would rather you spend money subscribing to HBO.

Michael

i am watching a netflix video right now (well, not this second). i have my computer connected to my television and to the stereo. it works great, the video is good, and the streaming works fairly good (it drops sometimes and has to re-synch). the selection is pretty good.

Another streaming fan
 

Using Netflix and the xbox 360 to stream to my HD/TV. The picture and sound quality is very good. Just watched Vanishing Point.

I've been thinking about snagging an AppleTV, but with the Blockbuster 3 at a time, unlimited free in store exchange, I rarely am without a movie and when I am I just hook up the displayport on my macbook and rent one through itunes.