Blu-ray player with best Netflix experience?

[IndyColtsFan]

This topic comes up every few months it seems, but I wanted to see what everyone's thoughts are today. I currently have an Xbox as our Netflix player in our master bedroom and when the Live subscription expires on it, I have no intention of renewing. I was going to replace it with a Roku box but I got to thinking that it would be nice to put a BD player in there, so I might as well try to kill two birds with one stone. I have a Panasonic BD65K in our main entertainment center and the Netflix implementation on it really sucks.

So, which BD player has the best Netflix implementation? I'm looking for features beyond just showing you your instant queue -- ideally, I'd like to have "Recently Watched" and search capabilities as well.

 

[JackBurton]

PS3. Safest bet.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

PS3. Safest bet.

I have a PS3 in my man cave, but I was hoping to find something cheaper for our master bedroom. If it comes down to that, I could get a Roku AND a Panasonic BD65K for less than a PS3.

By the way, what is up with prices on BD players lately? They seem to be going up -- I paid $117 for my BD65K off of Amazon last fall and they're $167 now.

 

[Modelworks]

I wouldn't choose bluray for netflix. The reason is that you are dependent on the manufacturer for future updates and manufacturers are getting terrible about updating anything but the very latest players. I have bluray based netflix players and while they work I have one that is awful and will lock up sometimes on netflix. The manufacturer solution is buy a newer model.

For netflix stick with roku. Roku is their pet project and is guaranteed to have updates in the future. the cost is really low compared to the other options as well and it is totally silent when in use.

 

[nickbits]

I have a Sony BDP-N460. The UI is similar to the PS3. Works for me.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

For netflix stick with roku. Roku is their pet project and is guaranteed to have updates in the future. the cost is really low compared to the other options as well and it is totally silent when in use.

Yeah, I may just do that. I see the LG BD670 has an extensive Netflix app, but I just don't trust LG products.

 

[JackBurton]

AppleTV? It will give you Netflix, YouTube, access to iTunes and the ability to stream content from another iTunes source.

 

[gar655]

I just bought a $100 Sony from Costco. Netflix works fine and so does the player. And it even came with a HDMI cable!

 

[vi edit]

Yeah, I'm digging my Apple TV as well. It works great.

I contemplated the Blu Ray option for netflix and found too many complaining about the implementation and long term support. I actually like the interface better on the ATV over my PS3 just because it seems like there are less clicks to get to where I want to go. And the PS3 interface is changing every 2 weeks it seems like. Oh...and it's a pain in the ass to click through the PSN login every time the PSN get's hacked.

 

[gorcorps]

AppleTV? It will give you Netflix, YouTube, access to iTunes and the ability to stream content from another iTunes source.

Doesn't that completely ignore the first two words in his title? I'm guessing the OP wants blu-ray for a reason or he wouldn't have brought it up.

 

[JackBurton]

Doesn't that completely ignore the first two words in his title? I'm guessing the OP wants blu-ray for a reason or he wouldn't have brought it up.

Read further. He's also considering a Roku, which is a standalone Netflix device.

Most Netflix enabled BD players have Netflix just as a selling point. VERY few implement it correctly, and most are not nearly as responsive as the PS3. So the question you have to ask yourself is, do I want a BD player with a Netflix option as an after thought, or do I want to pay more for a BD player that implements is correctly? OR should I just get the standalone device that does it VERY well, hence my recommendation of a PS3 OR AppleTV.

 

[poofyhairguy]

I think the best Netflix implementation on a Blu Ray player is Samsung's. I prefer it to a PS3.

Here is one with wifi if you need that:

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Samsung-BD...i_sku=15935485

 

[IndyColtsFan]

Ok, so let's assume I ditch the BD requirement. Which is better -- Roku or Apple TV? I've used the Roku XD before and found it pretty impressive for what you pay.

 

[vi edit]

I haven't used Roku so I can't comment. I do own an Apple TV. If you are already in the Apple "ecosphere" then that's probably the way to go. You can integrate it in with iTunes, your iPhone, iPod, ect. If you aren't then some of the appeal is gone.

Even without other Apple products it's a cool little device. I've got it hacked and running XBMC so I can pull my ripped dvd library to it. The XBMC hack is a little buggy, but it offers a nice perk to turn the devices into a legit media streamer.

Netflix access from the ATV is very quick. It's a second or two to sign in and the layout is easy to navigate. Even my parents were able to pick it up and use it within minutes. You also have access to the iTunes video store to rent/buy movies and TV shows if that is useful to you. I think the idea of paying $4 or $5 for an on-demand movie rental and $1 for a TV show episode is absurd...but if that's your thing it's a nice feature.

Another thing cool with the AppleTV is that you can train any remote control to use it. You don't need a universal remote. I use the remote for my Samsung TV to control the ATV.

I think out of the box the Roku offers a bit more features if you aren't an Apple shop, but the ATV quickly takes the lead in value if you have other "i-devices" and/or jailbreak it and load XBMC.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

I haven't used Roku so I can't comment. I do own an Apple TV. If you are already in the Apple "ecosphere" then that's probably the way to go. You can integrate it in with iTunes, your iPhone, iPod, ect. If you aren't then some of the appeal is gone.

Even without other Apple products it's a cool little device. I've got it hacked and running XBMC so I can pull my ripped dvd library to it. The XBMC hack is a little buggy, but it offers a nice perk to turn the devices into a legit media streamer.

Netflix access from the ATV is very quick. It's a second or two to sign in and the layout is easy to navigate. Even my parents were able to pick it up and use it within minutes. You also have access to the iTunes video store to rent/buy movies and TV shows if that is useful to you. I think the idea of paying $4 or $5 for an on-demand movie rental and $1 for a TV show episode is absurd...but if that's your thing it's a nice feature.

Another thing cool with the AppleTV is that you can train any remote control to use it. You don't need a universal remote. I use the remote for my Samsung TV to control the ATV.

I think out of the box the Roku offers a bit more features if you aren't an Apple shop, but the ATV quickly takes the lead in value if you have other "i-devices" and/or jailbreak it and load XBMC.

Ok, now this is interesting. I see you're using it with XBMC, but (and I know this is a longshot), do you know if it can act as a media extender for Windows 7 MC?

As far as on-demand movie rentals, that isn't appealing to me. We can get them from Amazon for a cheaper price.

 

[vi edit]

It's not a true media extender in the Microsoft sense. Those are now dead outside of an Xbox. It can however scan directories on your PC with the TS_ folders from DVD rips and .mpg/.avi files and play them back. I've had bad luck with the .ms-dvr format that Media center plays back on. It will play them, but the playback is choppy with a ton of buffereing.

I've had success playing back Media Center files with the DLNA function of my Playstation and Sony DLNA enabled TV's though.

I've got an old Linksys media center extender that I use to playback recorded stuff from my Win7 MC box.