# What device should I get for Netflix Instant Play? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 30, 2010, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-device-should-i-get-for-netflix-instant-play/551957 "2010-08-30T02:33:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-device-should-i-get-for-netflix-instant-play/551957/1 "2010-08-30T02:33:44Z")
I have been a Netflix subscriber for eight years – the mail service. I know that I’m eligible for their Instant Download service as well, but I’m not sure how to get that to work. Apparently, your TV has to be connected to a “Netflix Ready” device to make it work. [Here](http://www.netflix.com/NetflixReadyDevices?lnkceData=0&lnkce=gssiclk&trkid=1445376) is a page listing those devices. Even though it is a fairly long list, as it happens, we have exactly none of those devices. We definitely won’t be getting a Tivo, because our cable company provides a DVR for free. Beyond that minor restriction, what’s the easiest/best way to get Instant Netflix to work? ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-device-should-i-get-for-netflix-instant-play/551957/2 "2010-08-30T02:34:59Z")
PS3 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-device-should-i-get-for-netflix-instant-play/551957/3 "2010-08-30T02:38:06Z")
I’ve been thinking about getting a Roku. It’s the most common non-gaming device, as far as I’ve seen. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Ed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Just\_Ed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Ed)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-device-should-i-get-for-netflix-instant-play/551957/4 "2010-08-30T02:40:58Z")
Don’t have one myself, but I’ve heard the Roku box is dead-simple, both to hook up and use. Probably also the least expensive option on that page. ---
**Author:** ![mack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mack)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-device-should-i-get-for-netflix-instant-play/551957/5 "2010-08-30T02:45:36Z")
It’s practically standard on blu-ray players these days. ---
**Author:** ![pricciar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@pricciar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pricciar)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-device-should-i-get-for-netflix-instant-play/551957/6 "2010-08-30T03:02:53Z")
I have a PS3 and gave my Mom a Roku box for Mother’s Day. It works flawlessly on both devices. It’s easy to search and the picture that they put out is great. They both need only a WiFi connection and setup is as simple as visiting a webpage and entering a code. I looked at some of the Blu Ray players and my complaint with the ones I saw was they needed a wired connection. The simplicity of the wifi connection makes the need to be physically plugged in a negative to me. The Western Digital and Seagate options look good, too. You can copy media to the hard drive and watch it in addition to your streaming options. I haven’t tried them so I don’t know if they offer WiFi, or are simple to set up. ---
**Author:** ![GameHat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ed655f/32.png) [@GameHat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GameHat)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-device-should-i-get-for-netflix-instant-play/551957/7 "2010-08-30T04:10:47Z")
I use my blu-ray player, wireless ---
**Author:** ![dogbutler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dogbutler/32/428_2.png) [@dogbutler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dogbutler)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-device-should-i-get-for-netflix-instant-play/551957/8 "2010-08-30T04:32:36Z")
I use my Blu-Ray player, with a wired connection. ---
**Author:** ![Runs\_With\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/278dde/32.png) [@Runs\_With\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Runs_With_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-device-should-i-get-for-netflix-instant-play/551957/9 "2010-08-30T04:49:21Z")
Another vote for Blu-Ray. Easy peasey. ---
**Author:** ![RhapsodyInBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RhapsodyInBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RhapsodyInBlue)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-device-should-i-get-for-netflix-instant-play/551957/10 "2010-08-30T05:19:35Z")
I have a Roku on one TV and a Sony Blu-ray setup on the second TV. The boxes can work with either a LAN cable or wireless. I’m using wireless. The Sony often stops and readjusts itself for signal strength, which can be very aggravating while you’re in the middle of a movie. (Sometimes it readjusts multiple times during the same movie!) The Roku has never done that; once it starts a movie it plays through to the end. Both boxes have Netflix, Pandora, and Amazon On Demand. There are other channels available, but they vary on each box. The only thing I don’t like about the Roku is that there is no “off” switch and the box does seem to get pretty warm after it has been plugged in for some time. I always unplug it if I’m not going to be using it for a while. ---
**Author:** ![Rodgers01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b19c9b/32.png) [@Rodgers01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rodgers01)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-device-should-i-get-for-netflix-instant-play/551957/11 "2010-08-30T05:47:43Z")
I got a Roku a couple weeks ago, and have been very happy. The picture quality is great (no skipping or pauses so far), setup is simple, and it’s pretty cheap. Plus, Pandora, Amazon On Demand and other options…for what I wanted, it’s been great. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-device-should-i-get-for-netflix-instant-play/551957/12 "2010-08-30T07:30:03Z")
I bought a Roku HD a few months ago and I love it. Extremely easy to set up, even wirelessly. However, I already had a blu-ray player (with no Netflix capability). If you don’t have one, I’d look for a blu-ray player with wireless ability and Netflix-ready. For a dollor or two more per month, you can also have Netflix send you blu-ray discs instead of DVD’s in the mail. If you have an HDTV, it’s worth it. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-device-should-i-get-for-netflix-instant-play/551957/13 "2010-08-30T11:52:14Z")
We use our PS3. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-device-should-i-get-for-netflix-instant-play/551957/14 "2010-08-30T12:33:50Z")
If I didn’t already have my PS3 (and if I didn’t have any desire to have a PS3), I’d look for a Netflix-ready bluray player. But I’d also step it up and get one that also has Pandora on it. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-device-should-i-get-for-netflix-instant-play/551957/15 "2010-08-30T12:41:17Z")
> [@suranyi](#): > > I have been a Netflix subscriber for eight years – the mail service. I know that I’m eligible for their Instant Download service as well, but **I’m not sure how to get that to work.** A computer? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-device-should-i-get-for-netflix-instant-play/551957/16 "2010-08-30T13:13:10Z")
If I could get a Roku for $40-$50, I’d have one in a heartbeat. With our first adoption finalized and number 2 about to begin, money is so tight, we have just held off. I wish the Wii or a Roku would drop down, even used ones. We’re waiting. Is there a blu-ray player for that price(used even) that streams Netflix. We have a non-HD TV, so blu-ray is not even something we have looked at. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-device-should-i-get-for-netflix-instant-play/551957/17 "2010-08-30T13:20:41Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Is there a blu-ray player for that price(used even) that streams Netflix. We have a non-HD TV, so blu-ray is not even something we have looked at. $40-50? Unlikely, though you never know if you keep your eyes on craigslist. Also (and this may have been too obvious), you can just hook up your laptop to your TV. Or just watch on your computer. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-device-should-i-get-for-netflix-instant-play/551957/18 "2010-08-30T15:14:26Z")
Thanks folks, just wanted to drop in and say I’ve been reading your responses with interest. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-device-should-i-get-for-netflix-instant-play/551957/19 "2010-08-30T15:49:40Z")
I haven’t done it for a year or more, but unless things have changed, I just connected my laptop to the TV (older non-digital model) and set the TV to be the monitor in the display control panel. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-device-should-i-get-for-netflix-instant-play/551957/20 "2010-08-30T16:58:48Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > Also (and this may have been too obvious), you can just hook up your laptop to your TV. Or just watch on your computer. We do stream to the laptop, but it does not have a TV out card to go to the TV. Remember, no HD TV(perhaps those have monitor ports?). [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-device-should-i-get-for-netflix-instant-play/551957.md?page=2)