Best overall netflix/content streaming device?

[slayer202]

I'm looking into buying some kind of device for my parents to use. That being said, the easier to use the better, and they don't need a ton of options.

Is there a consensus decision? Most important factors are ease and price. I doubt they would use anything other than the most basic features, netflix, and nothing else for the most part.

the netflix website lists roku as an option, I don't know anything about it. Seems like the best bet would either be that or apple tv?

any suggestions/comments would be great. I probably left out some info that might be helpful, so feel free to ask

 

[MrX8503]

Check out WD TV Live plus. Its $99, does netflix, plus many other things.

 

[Deeko]

Sony blu ray player that supports streaming?

 

[s44]

If they don't already have Blu then a Samsung C5500 ($100 refurb, $130 new) would be a good pick. Latest firmware has the improved Netflix interface with searching, suggestions, etc.

 

[slayer202]

Check out WD TV Live plus. Its $99, does netflix, plus many other things.

wd website lists it at $130. seems like a roku with a usb port? doubt I really need that.

blu ray player with streaming is an interesting option, I didn't know they were priced so reasonably. Seems like a good option, I'll check that out. Any cons vs. a standalone box?

 

[Stang289]

I bought my parents a roku player. They love it.

 

[Deeko]

I got my (not very technology inclined) girlfriend this last year: http://www.amazon.com/Sony-BDP-N460-...8210525&sr=8-1

Works really well, easy to use, can stream Netflix, Amazon On Demand, Pandora, Slacker, and it says Hulu Plus is coming sometime this fall too. On top of the fact that its a pretty solid Blu Ray player, too.

I looked into the Samsung mentioned above, it has good features, but generally worse reviews than the Sony.

 

[slayer202]

what quality video do the blu ray players stream? can they do 1080p? can't really find the streaming specs listed, not sure if there is a difference from the blu ray 1080p output vs. streaming.

and is there any difference between normal netflix streaming vs. instant queue? I just saw an article listing devices that supported both vs. only instant queue without much of an explantation

 

[s44]

Netflix "HD" has been all 720p. Usually better than upscaled DVD, but not the same as an actual 1080p far-less-compressed Blu-Ray. This is a source limitation no matter what you're streaming to. Netflix rolled out 1080p for a few things on *Monday*, for PS3 only. Not clear what other devices will get this and when, but bandwidth limitations may keep this from being the norm for a while even if hardware gets it. (And it still won't match Blu-Ray.)

Instant queue only means you have to pick the movies you want to stream on your PC (or smartphone!) and can't do it straight from the device. LG players have let you search through movies from the player menu itself, and the Samsung firmware update just added that for current players. Not sure about non-PS3 Sony.

 

[slayer202]

ahh I see. so something with full streaming is definitely needed, it would be a pain to have to use a computer or phone to select things. (edit: i've been doing some reading and it looks like there are options that support more than instant queue, but perhaps not the full streaming library? is this true?)

http://www.pcworld.com/article/1896...ensive_list_of_netflix_streaming_devices.html

thats where I noticed the difference. It lists roku as instant only, I find that hard to believe, same with LG and samsung. I'm guessing its out of date.

 

[Pliablemoose]

Buy the Roku thru Netflix, it's the best/cheapest deal right now

 

[slayer202]

Buy the Roku thru Netflix, it's the best/cheapest deal right now

$60 price on the roku site? I'm not seeing anything through netflix

ahh I found it. $20 off. just ordered the basic model, $50 shipped. nice

 

[Pliablemoose]

http://www.roku.com/netflix-deal

 

[zerocool84]

http://www.roku.com/netflix-deal

Oh damn wow that's a great deal.

 

[Pliablemoose]

 

[MrX8503]

wd website lists it at $130. seems like a roku with a usb port? doubt I really need that.

blu ray player with streaming is an interesting option, I didn't know they were priced so reasonably. Seems like a good option, I'll check that out. Any cons vs. a standalone box?

Its $99 from retailers. You can add hard drives or stream movies through your network. It does a lot more than a Roku, but then again it costs more.