maybe i should just get a vcr

August 24, 2011 2:17 PM

i recently sold my wii and need to replace it with something i can watch netflix (and stuff) with. recommendations? technology overload.

problem: there are just too many options for my next media console. which way to go? i haven't watched netflix in ages (and am not watching it on my laptop when i have a 40" tv) - and will likely want access to hulu, etc, in the future.

here are my options:

1. roku
2. apple tv
3. playstation
4. xbox
5. blu-ray player with network capabilities

things to keep in mind

a) all cost about the same amount
b) i have a $70 (or so) credit to gamestop (drastically reducing cost of the unit)
c) i really like video games
d) but i really don't need to be playing any more than i already do
e) i have a perfectly fine dvd player
f) if gamestop sold roku or appletv, i'd get one of them hands down
g) i can use the credit for games i shouldn't be playing
h) got rid of the wii because of the really crappy joystick - made netflix even a nightmare
i) i don't really think i care about blu-ray, but it's still an option

recs? i'm leaning toward roku/apple tv, but that credit sort of nags at me ... and don't know which i would get. probably apple tv because i've become apple's bitch (begrudgingly).

posted by crankyrogalsky to Technology (32 answers total)

I went with a PS3 and haven't looked back. The fact that I can set up a media server on my PC and throw AVIs at it makes it better than anything else I've seen.
posted by griphus at 2:20 PM on August 24, 2011

I use my PS3 95% of the time for netflix watching, 3% for video game playing, and 2% for blu ray playing. I also stream to it from my macbook.
posted by Zophi at 2:23 PM on August 24, 2011

I like both Hulu and Netflix's interface on the PS3. Netflix forces xbox users to get a gold account in order to use it. Which is lame.

"To watch instantly on your Xbox, you need the following:
A high speed Internet connection
An Xbox Gold LIVE membership
A Netflix unlimited plan"

I also like Sony's exclusive titles YMMV.
posted by edbles at 2:23 PM on August 24, 2011

A few things:

The Apple TV doesn't support Hulu (yet?).

The PS3, AFAIK, is the only Netflix viewer that supports 5.1 audio. It also supports Hulu Plus and is an excellent blu-ray/dvd player. You can stream to it from your Mac or load media onto its hard drive. Upgrading the HD was a snap.

My inlaws have a Roku, seems like a decent little device.

Neither the Apple TV nor the Roku have onboard storage, if that matter.
posted by entropicamericana at 2:26 PM on August 24, 2011

Best answer: the xbox interface sucks so hard.

we have an actual PC hooked up to the tv for all media'ing.
posted by nadawi at 2:26 PM on August 24, 2011 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: that's xbox highway robbery. thanks for the heads up - does psp have the same requirement?
posted by crankyrogalsky at 2:27 PM on August 24, 2011

Best answer: I don't think the Apple TV supports Hulu Plus at the moment. I'd personally go with Roku - the interface is nice and smooth (unlike, say, the built in clients in Blu Ray players) and there's a wide variety of streaming options.
posted by The Lamplighter at 2:28 PM on August 24, 2011

Response by poster: sorry, ps3.
posted by crankyrogalsky at 2:29 PM on August 24, 2011

The PS3 has no premium requirement to use Netflix.
posted by Zophi at 2:32 PM on August 24, 2011

No, on the PS3 you just install the Netflix app (or whatever they call it), log in and you're good to go.
posted by griphus at 2:32 PM on August 24, 2011

The new Roku's do support SD as well as USB storage on their new models.
posted by iamabot at 2:35 PM on August 24, 2011

Access to Hulu content via streaming devices requires a Hulu Plus subscription.

Some shows on Hulu are not available to stream to streaming devices even if you are paying for Hulu Plus. Each show page will say"We currently don't have the rights to make this show available on TV or mobile devices — request to be notified if it becomes available in Hulu Plus. " if that is the case.
posted by fief at 2:43 PM on August 24, 2011

We just moved from a Roku to the PS3 just because we were looking for a BluRay player. Things I miss about the Roku:

• Netflix channel on the Roku shows what video quality it is loading with little circles on the screen and an HD logo if it is HD. PS3 does not and seems to load lower quality more often than Roku did.
• Roku also had the Amazon Video channel if I really wanted to rent a newer movie without leaving the house. PS3 looks like you can order new movies through their network (?) which I haven't tried yet, but I don't think its the same as Amazon.
• I liked the HUNDREDS of different channels (ok, maybe not hundreds but at least a hundred) Roku made available to me that I don't see available on PS3 system.

So, the only reason we really went from Roku to PS3 was to play BluRays and have gamer abilities (not that we play games often). Roku offers HD video and sound and I think the newer models also have external storage capabilities and it has a very easy to use remote. And I miss it sometimes.
posted by jillithd at 2:45 PM on August 24, 2011

To further recommend the PS3, virtually any video file you may download from the internet can be slapped onto a USB stick in a \Video folder and it'll play.
posted by Oktober at 2:46 PM on August 24, 2011

The PS3 is an impressive device. I have many many ways to watch NetFlix in my house, yet the PS3 wins every time. It's also nice for Hulu. And Blu-Rays. Oh yeah and games too.
posted by 2bucksplus at 2:53 PM on August 24, 2011

Best answer: I've got all of these (I work in the biz)

I'd lean towards the PS3 except for its recent PSN issues have got me a bit hassled. For just Netflix it's probably the best device going. Xbox is solid as well. Both of these pretty much blow the doors off of any Blu-Ray so if you want the dvd option I'd go with either of these.

For sheer simplicity and content choices you can't beat a Roku. Its a very solid device with a ton of content options (some of which are admittedly not great). There's no reason to pay the premium for the Apple TV (lets take that off the table for now) over Roku

At home however the box I tend to use most is my Boxee which wasn't one of your choices. Not as much content as Roku, but what it does very well is work as a front end to my media server for everything I (ahem) download. Plust its got Netflix and if not yet, Hulu was coming on there.
posted by bitdamaged at 3:05 PM on August 24, 2011

I love our Roku, bought one was soon as it went on the market and never regretted it. Recently bought one for my parents after they upgraded their Internet connection and they love it too.

So, Roku. And the next generation model just came out.

But if you want to play games and need a Blue-Ray, then look at a PS3.
posted by beowulf573 at 3:10 PM on August 24, 2011

Does your laptop do hdmi out? We connect the laptop to the TV via hdmi, set up the laptop to extend the display to the TV, and watch hulu and netflix like that. We can still use the laptop display for web-surfing or whatever while watching something streaming on the TV.
posted by amarynth at 3:12 PM on August 24, 2011

I know you didnt mention this but you should look into the boxee box.....It is an spectacular system that plays everything you throw at it.....However if you MUST play games get a PS3.
posted by The1andonly at 3:26 PM on August 24, 2011

I've been using my xbox primarily for streaming Netflix and, along with everyone else, do not recommend it. I've also connected a mac mini to my TV and run plex media server. You can download plugins for streaming content and it's ok for Netflix streaming (it's great for other online content and for managing any locally stored media).

I'm currently shopping for a new device to watch Amazon Prime's 'free' streaming service and am considering either the Logitech Revue or Roku 2. For me, the blu-ray resolution of the playstation is not a priority and if I want to play games, I still have the xbox.
posted by bCat at 3:29 PM on August 24, 2011

Roku has, right now, Netflix, Hulu Plus and Amazon VOD. the high-end one (for $100) also sports a USB port (for your own media) and games support (in that it comes with Angry Birds). there are also other channels you can add - for instance, I've got a weather channel on my first-gen and a news channel, and there are a bunch of other streaming services and whatnot you can add too. AppleTV has streaming from your local iTunes library, rentals from the iTunes store, and Netflix, and likely not a whole lot else unless Apple starts caring about the AppleTV more. I keep both a Roku and an AppleTV and I never really use the AppleTV (though I have first-gen versions of both devices).
posted by mrg at 3:38 PM on August 24, 2011

Have you considered a TiVo? We've got a Series 3 HD, and it's a great Netflix client. I also run Streambaby on my home server (or pyTiVoX on my laptop) for streaming stored video of all types.
posted by TheNewWazoo at 3:44 PM on August 24, 2011

Here's the only thing really neat about the Xbox Netflix option- you can sync up the shows you're watching with friends while on chat together, so if you have a lot of friends who live far away and you want to watch movies/tv shows together, it has some value.
posted by yeloson at 5:29 PM on August 24, 2011

am considering either the Logitech Revue or Roku 2.

Please don't get one of the current gen GoogleTV boxes, Logitech is getting more returned then they are selling right now. They are very disappointing and a second version of the GoogleTV devices should be out shortly. They might improve now that they're allowing Android apps, but I'd wait to let that developer eco-system grow for a awhile before going that way. Meanwhile the Roku is less then $100 bucks. GO that way.
posted by bitdamaged at 5:31 PM on August 24, 2011

PS3. Go for it. I bought one after holding out for a few years and it's amazing.
posted by Fister Roboto at 5:38 PM on August 24, 2011

I stream Netflix on my Sony Blu-ray player and it works like a charm. You can also stream Hulu Plus.
posted by gnutron at 6:31 PM on August 24, 2011

I really need a table for this data.

My Apple TV is cute, cheap and tiny. It's the only one that does iTunes rental but it doesn't do Amazon or Hulu currently.

My PS3 has Hulu Plus & Netflix but not Amazon. No idea why, when Sony Blu-Ray players do have Amazon. It has added advantages of all the formats it can play on disk or USB stick, and that it's a terrific game console.
Unique downside of PS3 is dependence on their insecure and unreliable PSN online service.

My Xbox 360 has fans that so loud, I avoid switching it on whenever possible (i.e. when not playing Halo). And the hardware is so unreliable I'm always expecting it to get the red ring of death and become scrap metal. I disqualify it on those grounds.

TiVo's Netflix support is crap. No browsing support (you can only play things already in your streaming queue), the playback UI is weird, and quite often I get no video. It does Amazon streaming but not of free Prime content. Hulu Plus is available on recent hardware (Premiere and up). Note that I'm a huge TiVo fan, despite the bad Netflix experience.

So I'd recommend none of the hardware I own, unless you want to play PS3 games. A Blu-Ray player or a Roku would probably do it all.

Another alternative you have not considered is a new TV. Modern HDTVs have internet streaming support built in, no other boxes required.
posted by w0mbat at 7:06 PM on August 24, 2011 [1 favorite]

After losing my TiVo, I got an AppleTV box and hacked it to run XBMC so I can watch the movies stored on my server. That doesn't give me Hulu, but it gives me everything else I need, and it is tidy and quiet. Meanwhile, my XBox is so large and noisy and awful that I don't even plug it in more than once a month to play a game or two, and my Wii is too annoying for Netflix (as you've discovered.)

Having said that: if I had been in the mood to drop $1000 for new AV gear instead of $100, I would have bought a PS3 as part of my $1000 AV purchase instead of the AppleTV. As a video game system, it isn't perfect, but as a home entertainment center, it's pretty damn fine.
posted by davejay at 7:32 PM on August 24, 2011 [1 favorite]

Another vote for Roku. Stupid simple to use, tons of content, small, energy efficient box, and a nice, intuitive remote. The extra channels beyond Amazon, Netflix, and Hulu are interesting gravy. Much cheaper than a PS3 too.
posted by cosmicbandito at 9:40 PM on August 24, 2011

We have a laptop hooked up to our TV via HDMI, with a wireless mouse and wireless mini keyboard. It works quite well, especially with Boxee.

HDMI + mouse + keyboard = $50.
posted by KokuRyu at 10:24 PM on August 24, 2011

I'm a dork and have 3 of these - AppleTV, Roku and PS3. None of them are an all-in-one solution as others have pointed out. I don't use the PS3 much for streaming, since you have to wait for it to power up, then log-in then navigate to Hulu or Netflix. Roku and ATV are basically instant-on.

The one thing I love about the ATV that isn't mentioned here is that my friends who come over can take over the ATV and stream their photos, music, movies, and pick out YouTube videos from their various iDevices and display them on my TV. So that's fun.

No Hulu though, but I'm hoping with the Screen Sharing coming with iOS5 that may be a way to do it.
posted by FreezBoy at 5:33 AM on August 25, 2011

Roku. I've tried all of the above except Apple TV and the Roku wins hands-down, in addition to being the cheapest.

I'd really like to be able to recommend the PS3, but it's a huge pain in the ass. The PSN, which the PS3 "sort of" requires (it insists on trying to sign you in, but if it fails you can still usually get on Netflix), is flaky. And my PS3 wants to update itself seemingly once a week. That means you turn the thing on, expecting to watch a movie, and you've got a fifteen minute wait before you can do anything. By the time the Playstation is updated, I've usually moved on to something else.

In addition, get PlayOn. You'll thank me later.
posted by Nahum Tate at 7:30 AM on August 25, 2011