CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

garyfritz · Joined: 08 Apr 2006 Posts: 12026 Location: Fort Collins, CO

So I was going to go ahead and sign up for Netflix and ditch the Dish. We were going to get an Apple TV but our living-room TV (where the kids watch their TV) is too old and doesn't have HDMI. No worries, I figured, they have an Xbox.

Well PS3 and Wii can connect to Netflix just fine. But Xbox requires Xbox Live Gold, which costs more than Netflix !??

Can anyone explain why this is necessary, other than Microsoft gouging me?

I'll access Netflix with my PS3 in the HT for movies. But the intent was to replace the Dish for the kids' viewing. It galls me to have to pay Microsoft $60 a year, even if that's what I'm paying Dish every month. I was trying to avoid a Live subscription in the house -- I don't need my kids any more video-addicted than they already are...

greg_mitch · Joined: 03 May 2006 Posts: 5321

I wouldn't use an xbox exclusively for netflix...no one does.

Buy a cheapy Roku if that's what you want to do.

I think Netflix is a perk of Xbox Live Gold...not Xbox Live Gold being a perk to Netflix.

garyfritz · Joined: 08 Apr 2006 Posts: 12026 Location: Fort Collins, CO

Oh, so you're saying the Gold subscription *includes* Netflix? That's not quite as bad. But it doesn't help me for the PS3 in the HT...

I've looked a little for a Roku but haven't had much luck. I thought with the ATV coming out that lots of Rokus would hit the market, but there weren't any the last time I looked. Any recommendations for which models to look for?

ecrabb · Posted: Sun Nov 21, 2010 10:39 pm Post subject:

No, no - Netflix isn't included w/Live. But, you need Live Gold to use Netflix on the 360.

Gary, just get a Netflix sub... That will enable you to use any Netflix streaming device in the house, whether 360, PS3, Roku, AppleTV, iPod touch, computer or whatever. You just need Live Gold to enable it on the 360; which you can get from Amazon for $47.

SC

akajester · Joined: 09 Jul 2008 Posts: 934 Location: Wisconsin

I just ordered a bd player with the netflix app. as much as I love the 360, I don't want a gold subscription. Hopefully when they add the hulu app to xbox it doesn't require gold either, that would be a pisser.

Dale

ecrabb · Posted: Mon Nov 22, 2010 1:01 am Post subject:

For people who already have 360's and play games (and therefore have the Live Gold subscription), they're good to go. For a time, it was the only game system that would do it.

But now, for everybody else, Microsoft can suck it. Fortunately, there are a whole slew of BD players, media streamers, and other game systems that you can watch Netflix on without paying MS anything.

Unless you're a hardcore gamer (in which case you need both platforms for exclusives), there just isn't any reason to go 360 anymore. The PS3 offers so much better value - BD player, better hardware, Bluetooth, and FREE online gaming. The 360 controllers are a little better for us 'Mericans with our big hands, but it's worth that minor annoyance IMHO.

SC

greg_mitch · Joined: 03 May 2006 Posts: 5321

greg_mitch · Joined: 03 May 2006 Posts: 5321

ecrabb · Posted: Mon Nov 22, 2010 3:04 am Post subject:

I guess it's debatable, Greg... But, other than an exclusive title or two (which is true of the PS3, too) or perhaps the controllers, what other reason would anybody have to go 360, when practically everything else about the PS3 is superior?

SC

greg_mitch · Joined: 03 May 2006 Posts: 5321

ecrabb · Posted: Mon Nov 22, 2010 3:28 am Post subject:

Heh heh... I'm not looking for a debate, Greg - I'm just curious... I was in Best Buy a couple of weeks ago (one of the handful of times per year I step foot in), and there was a late-20's couple picking up a new Kinect 360. The BB dork was trying to explain how the 360 wouldn't do 3D, and the couple was dumb-founded... They just wouldn't believe him. It got me thinking... With Blu-ray support, 3D, Move (which I've tried and offers FAR superior control mechanics to what Kinect seems to offer), easy/cheap hard drive upgradability, and USB support, I'm wondering why anybody would opt for a 360 over a PS3. I mean... Seriously, other than a couple of exclusive titles, or if your friends all had 360 and you wanted to play online with, I really can't see how it makes sense to go with the 360.

SC

garyfritz · Joined: 08 Apr 2006 Posts: 12026 Location: Fort Collins, CO

Well, 360 vs. PS3 wars aside... looks like my choices for living-room Netflix are pay Microsoft $50/yr for Live Gold, or buy a Roku or similar. Roku HD's go for about $70 on ebay. Roku SD is only a little cheaper. We only need SD for the living room TV but I figure the HD makes more sense and would be more resellable. That's probably the way I'll go.

ecrabb · Posted: Mon Nov 22, 2010 7:02 am Post subject:

Good call, Gary. Basically, for $23 more than the Microsoft tax, you can get the Roku box.

SC

WanMan · Joined: 19 Mar 2006 Posts: 10273

My current XBL subscription will be the last year I have it. I have not played consistently in over a year and the price of Live is going up. I think M$ realized that much akin to the cowsumers and their wireless out there they will pay anything for their addiction.

akajester · Joined: 09 Jul 2008 Posts: 934 Location: Wisconsin

greg_mitch · Joined: 03 May 2006 Posts: 5321

garyfritz · Joined: 08 Apr 2006 Posts: 12026 Location: Fort Collins, CO

Not really. The living room TV is SD and is not likely to get upgraded anytime soon. Who needs a BD player for that? We watch movies in the HT.

Though I guess I can get a BD player for not much more than a Roku. E.g. right now there are Netflix-capable Samsung players (BDP1600, BDP3600) for $80-90, or a refurb BDP1590 for $95. Probably makes more sense than a Roku? Does a Roku have any advantages that a BD player doesn't?

akajester · Joined: 09 Jul 2008 Posts: 934 Location: Wisconsin

My only other thought was that the primary reason for the Roku is the streaming of course, whereas the bd players are bd playback. So, perhaps the Roku would get firmware and app support longer than say a bd player? One of my fears is that all the bd players and tv's with app support will just stop working one day, and they won't offer an upgrade.

dale

garyfritz · Joined: 08 Apr 2006 Posts: 12026 Location: Fort Collins, CO

Buy.com is out of refurbed Samsungs, but I'll look around.

Oooh wait. I just realized -- there is no hardwire LAN connection to the TV, and no easy way to install one. I'll have to find a player that supports wifi. Bleah. Guess that would have killed the Roku or Apple TV idea, unless I got something like a power-line LAN adapter.

Will these players accept USB wifi adaptors intended for Windows boxes, or do you have to use their own custom adapter? The Samsung adapter for the BDP1600 is over $60, but I have a spare wifi dongle lying around...

akajester · Joined: 09 Jul 2008 Posts: 934 Location: Wisconsin

the $99 roku has wireless. Also, many bd players have wifi as well.

I just got the Sony BDP-S570 for free (Sony credit card deal) and it has built in wifi and a free month of Hulu Plus. Cool.

dale