I keep posting about it, but nobody ever replies. Below is a copy of a re-post of my iniitial post on the subject from a few days back. Got that?
I never had any use for pay-per-view or downloading or anything like that. Then I got a Roku Netflix player about two months back. I posted a thread about it, but it didn't get one reply. Here's the post:
Streaming Netflix Library to TV via New Set-Top Box
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Anybody else have one of those new boxes from Roku that lets you wirelessly stream the titles you can "Watch Instantly" (approx. 12,000) to your TV? I got mine yesterday and I'm really digging it.
It costs $100 plus shipping and there's no extra charge from Netflix beyond the monthly subscription
It has digital audio and HDMI connections, but I'm out of inputs on my TV and receiver, so I'm using component for the picture and simple stereo for the sound. (Since then, I've purchased a new receiver and I'm sending everything through it via HDMI.) I'm not sure if anything is being streamed with 5.1 sound. They say it has the capability to stream HD, should streaming HD become available/possible.
Netflix says it's "near DVD quality," and I think it lives up to that promise. I don't plan on using it to watch many movies, unless they're old and monophonic. But I did watch the Yes 90212 concert this morning, and it looked and sounded very good.
Mostly, I see myself using it for older TV shows and the occasonal documentary. For instance, I've been on a "Dragnet" ('60s version) kick lately, and while only the first two seasons are available on DVD at present, you can watch all four seasons over the net.
It's great to have a huge library at my fingertips. And I can take the box anywhere in the US and Canada and use it wherever I can find a wired or wireless high speed connection. I imagine they'll be streaming HD signals to cell phones before 2010, but until then this is a great device to have.
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Since I made the above post, my whole family has made great use of the device. They recently cut a deal with Starz, which greatly increased the number of "Watch Instantly" titles -- especially in regards to newer films. Here's a
review of the Roku from the NY Times. Like my original post, it's a bit outdated because of the addition of newer titles.
LG is now offering a blu-ray player that includes a Netflix player, but it's not wireless.
P.S. -- Apparently, its HD capabilities will be enabled before the year is out.