Netflix has announced the launch of a new streaming video player that will allow subscribers to view more than 10,000 movies and TV shows on demand Internet. The set top box is powered by Roku and will cost about $ 99 when it's released later this year.
Since we have yet to test the new streaming movie service Netflix we ourselves have put in place a feedback sampling from reliable sources on the Web as a service to our readers.
Mark McClusky From Wired:
WIRED Textbook definition of a simple configuration. Good quality video stream. Box automatically updates the new features of the software are available. No cost above normal Netflix subscription.
TIRED Another nondescript black box to clutter your living room. Just not as much content as we want was available. Box and remotely, while functional, just not very nice.
by Saul Hansell of The New York Times:
You can show your non-techie friends Roku Netflix Player, and they will get it right away. Unlike most versions 1.0 products, you will not keep making excuses for delays, clumsiness and various bugs. The box does what it says it does well and does not promise to do anything else. In my tests, it was easy to use, responsive, with good video quality. (Disclosure: I can not stress I have a fast Internet connection and an old small TV that is gentle on blurred pictures ..)
The product is currently not for everyone. If you are not old movies or will not want a subscription $ 9 a month, he is clearly not for you. But if you like this deal, you will love the box.
John P. Falcone From CNET:
Those looking HD video quality and a polished interface of Apple TV and Vudu will be disappointed. The Netflix Player is strictly barebones you're not planning to do something more than just dive in and watch movies and TV shows that you have already queued via your Netflix account online. The biggest drawback, at least for now, is the lack of quality content. Thank you to byzantine licensing of Hollywood, less than 10 percent of more than 100,000 titles Netflix library is available for streaming on the player. This means that, for now, only two of the Netflix DVD top 100 are available for streaming :. March of the Penguins and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
That said, the Netflix player has a major advantage in terms of price: it retails for $ 100, and provides unlimited streaming to any Netflix subscriber on the Plan $ 8.95 or more. This is a major change in Apple TV, Vudu, Xbox Live Marketplace, and Amazon Unbox, all of which offer only pay-per-view options, including download-to-own and rent movies with tight viewing windows (by example rental titles must be fully seen within 24 hours).
From the Associated Press' Peter Svensson:
For me, the low price was an effective dose of Gold Bond powder on this irritation. Starting a movie takes up to a minute? Yes, but hey, it's cheap! The picture quality varies greatly, and there is no HD? Yes, but you can not expect the world for $ 8.99 per month.
boxRoku is just the first of what Netflix hopes is a whole family of products that get movies from its Web site. LG Electronics plans to include diffusion capacity in DVD player Blu-ray later this year, and two other unnamed manufacturers provide set-top boxes.
But I do not see much reason to wait for them. Even if the Roku player sacrifices a few things to limbo under the price level of $ 100, it is obvious to 8 million customers, Netflix over there. If you are not, this is another reason to become one.
From the Washington Post / John Biggs of TechCrunch:
The Netflix Player by Roku is the first in what portends a long line of devices designed to download and stream Netflix movies. While in its current incarnation of the device is quite limited, I can strongly recommend the hope that the selection of films will be improved.
You can learn more about the DVD rental services online by visiting our opinion rental of DVD and comparison.
Update :. Thank you to Laurie Boeder at Cinema Blog About.com classic that highlights the new set-top box Netflix will probably be a practical option for lovers of classic films and