# 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:** 12\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![lindsaybluth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/90db22/32.png) [@lindsaybluth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lindsaybluth)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-device-should-i-get-for-netflix-instant-play/551957/41 "2010-09-01T03:07:27Z")
> [@TheFifthYear](#): > > Rumor has it the new Apple TV device is being announced tomorrow for $99 and will include Netflix streaming, among other things. Presumably, that’s why Roku dropped their prices today. It’ll be worth waiting another, say, 15 hours to see what Apple does. > > As mentioned above, the biggest difference between the various devices is that the interface is not standardized. My Xbox 360’s interface is much better than my Samsung Blu-Ray player’s (in fact, that one is pretty horrible). > > Given that Apple does interfaces better than just about anyone, I’m hoping that it moves the Netflix interface forward, because even the pretty good ones (like my 360) could still use some work, in my opinion. Well this certainly changes things. Today I was going to buy the Roku but got so crazy wrapped up with things that I forgot to, and now I just was checking my 'dope email address to see this post. I had assumed the next iteration of Apple TV would be insanely overpriced as the last one was but…$99? I’m extremely interested, and will look it over before choosing it or the Roku. I adore Apple interfaces; it makes everything that much more enjoyable. ---
**Author:** ![EvilTOJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee59a6/32.png) [@EvilTOJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvilTOJ)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-device-should-i-get-for-netflix-instant-play/551957/42 "2010-09-01T04:23:12Z")
I stream it in a browser window on my home theater PC. ---
**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:** [September 1, 2010, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-device-should-i-get-for-netflix-instant-play/551957/43 "2010-09-01T12:35:24Z")
And the $59 Roku is sold out, just like that. ---
**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:** [September 1, 2010, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-device-should-i-get-for-netflix-instant-play/551957/44 "2010-09-01T12:41:37Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > And the $59 Roku is sold out, just like that. [Not on Amazon](http://www.amazon.com/Roku-N1050-SD-Player/dp/B002U6EWPG/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1283344873&sr=8-3). ---
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-device-should-i-get-for-netflix-instant-play/551957/45 "2010-09-01T17:52:55Z")
We’re quite happy with the Xbox360. We tried it with the Wii, but our Wii is finicky with the wireless router and throws error codes randomly (25% of the time we attempt) for no reason that we can figure out. When we run a network cable to it, though, it works fine. ---
**Author:** ![pricciar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@pricciar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pricciar)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-device-should-i-get-for-netflix-instant-play/551957/46 "2010-09-01T18:09:37Z")
Apple TV is out in a month for 99 bucks and it does have Netflix streaming. We’ll see what GoogleTV has to offer next! ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-device-should-i-get-for-netflix-instant-play/551957/47 "2010-09-01T18:14:32Z")
> [@pricciar](#): > > 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. One caveat with the WiFi connection- they’re a lot easier to disrupt. When I’m at my parents’ house, everyone in the house gets cut off the internet when they use their wireless phone\* because it operates on a similar wavelength as the WiFi. However, their wired connection to the Blu-Ray player is unaffected. If you can reasonably do the wired connection, either by physically running the wires or by moving your wireless router, it might be the better choice. ---
**Author:** ![lindsaybluth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/90db22/32.png) [@lindsaybluth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lindsaybluth)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-device-should-i-get-for-netflix-instant-play/551957/48 "2010-09-01T18:16:16Z")
Yup, it’s real folks, Apple TV for $99 with wifi, hdmi, netflix streaming, and all the goodies. Plus it’s super tiny. But do I really want to wait 4 weeks for it to ship?? ETA: Ahhh, late to the party! ---
**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:** [September 1, 2010, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-device-should-i-get-for-netflix-instant-play/551957/49 "2010-09-01T18:17:18Z")
> [@GargoyleWB](#): > > We tried it with the Wii, but our Wii is finicky with the wireless router and throws error codes randomly (25% of the time we attempt) for no reason that we can figure out. When we run a network cable to it, though, it works fine. Do you just wrap the Wii in the network cable to improve the wifi signal or something? Because it doesn’t have a LAN port. ---
**Author:** ![pricciar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@pricciar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pricciar)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-device-should-i-get-for-netflix-instant-play/551957/50 "2010-09-01T18:20:25Z")
Yeah. I used to have that problem with the 2.4ghz phones interrupting the WiFi connection. But, I haven’t had that problem recently with the 5.8ghz phones. I don’t know if the frequency change is what fixed it. Or, if in updating wireless routers the new one is more robust. Another vote for wired is that it is faster than wifi. I still prefer wireless. WiFi is fast enough for a perfect picture. And, there are enough wires behind a tv already. I prefer having WiFi back there to keep things bit more tidy. ---
**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:** [September 1, 2010, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-device-should-i-get-for-netflix-instant-play/551957/51 "2010-09-01T19:16:00Z")
I am extremely tempted by the Apple TV. I currently use my PS3 to stream content from my network as well as Netflix (and use it as a bluray). That’s a bit of wear and tear I’d rather not put on a $300 machine. For $100, it seems the Apple TV does everything but play bluray, but also does some very fun things with iTunes, rents movies/TV shows, etc. I’m sure someone will be along to hack it to run Hulu as well - making it EXTREMELY interesting. And…all in HD. That was really the only downside to it before (other than the $229 price). ---
**Author:** ![lindsaybluth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/90db22/32.png) [@lindsaybluth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lindsaybluth)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-device-should-i-get-for-netflix-instant-play/551957/52 "2010-09-01T20:11:30Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > I’m sure someone will be along to hack it to run Hulu as well - making it EXTREMELY interesting. Bam. This is my justification for the $40 difference between the Roku and it. I don’t much care for HD unless it’s a football game. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-device-should-i-get-for-netflix-instant-play/551957.md?page=2)