“Netflix today unveiled a new set-top box to be produced by privately held Roku Inc. that will allow subscribers to stream an unlimited number of movies and television shows directly to televisions. The device costs $99. The video content is free to anyone with a Netflix subscription of $8.99 a month or more. Most of the video content will consist of older material, rather than new releases,” Eric Savitz blogs for Barron’s.
“The obvious comparison here is with Apple’s Apple TV box, which costs more, requires paying for movies downloaded from iTunes, but also offers more functionality, like the ability to stream personal music and photo content to your television. Older movies for free? Newer movies for a fee? It’s an interesting choice,” Savitz blogs.
MacDailyNews Take: Yeah, Eric, it would be an interesting choice, if it made any fargin’ sense. We must have missed the memo where the definition of “free” was changed from “no cost” to “$99 upfront plus $8.99 per month (base starting price).” The Netflix box also requires users to queue up movies on a computer unlike the Apple TV, which lets users choose content from the comfort of their couches, no computer required.
Full article here.
It’s too bad that Netflix’s rather ugly black Roku box ignores new feature film releases, current TV shows, your photo libraries, your iTunes music libraries, music videos, podcasts, and YouTube content like Steve Ballmer ignores antiperspirant, hair gel, and cardio. They simply don’t exist, baby!
So, you “save” $129 if you buy the Netflix box instead of an Apple TV, at least until the first year or so of paying at least $8.99 a month goes by. Then, your “savings” go poof, you end up quickly paying much more for much less and, hey, you still can’t play your tunes, see your photos, check out YouTube and podcasts, see any new movies or TV shows, or have the option to purchase content. What a great product!
The fact that Netflix limits their selection of old movies to just weak 480i resolution only adds to the disappointment. Of course, Apple offers new releases, same day as DVD, in 720p HD with Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound for Apple TV (hardware is capable of up to 1080i).
Wired has an article on the Roku with a headline that reads “Roku Netflix Set Top Box Is Just Shy of Totally Amazing”. I was about to say “What dumba$$ wrote this” but stopped when I read that the writer’s last name as Dumas.
LOL
http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2008/05/review-roku-net.html
Typo. Replace AS with IS.
Apple TV vs. Roku Netflix
Apple TV = HD, 5.1 audio, hard drive, higher quality.
Roku = Cheep, Cheep and Cheep.
But hey, the masses like cheep, so I think this thing is going to do great.
@Mac-nugget
I can do that too:
Apple TV vs. Roku Netflix
Apple TV = $230, $2.99 Rentals
Roku = $99, Free unlimited rentals
But hey, the fanboy masses like to pay more, so I think this thing is going to do great.
As a Netflix subscriber and an TV wanter – I guess we’ll see. But please TV – No Subscription, none, nada. And if you do go subscription make sure you keep pay-as-you-go.
Hey, I like Apple TV, in fact, I own one. Mostly its turned off but when I want it, I enjoy it.
I also enjoy free movies on Hulu, now for the Mac.
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And my home has a netflix account since my kids watch lots of off the wall movies so this might make sense. But buy anything from these people……….. are you NUTS!!!
Everything in its place. I am not a fanboy. I really like Apple but I like it cause it does great for what I buy it for. Period.
Just a thought.
en
bye, bye AppleTV. Netflix has it right: subscription model for either physical media or downloadable media, cheap box, plans to upgrade to HD in time, and surely plans to increase the library available to download. This thing is going to kill AppleTV.
@hairbo
Cool, so with the Netflix, I can take my stuff with me on my iPod/iPhone/Touch, along with watching my videos, or listening to my music right on my AV 7.2 Home Theater right? I can also see all those HD PodCast and Audio PodCast right along with iTunes U and TV shows I purchased for the season.
“This thing is going to kill AppleTV.”
Or what doesn’t kill it could make it stronger.
The AppleTV can be wireless or ethernet. Is theirs? They have to get the movie from the PC somehow. (They could get a few hundred feet of Ethernet cable and run it to the PC when they need it.)
@hairbo
The thing streams movies at 1.0 Mpbs and is a pain at fast forwarding and rewinding. Sounds like a whinner..uh..winner.
I love the concept of Apple TV, but I don’t own one yet. I don’t have an HD television for one. But just looking at the movies on iTunes, I’m just not interested. I don’t want to own movies or tv shows and until iTunes has a bigger library of movies and a way to rent tv shows, I won’t get one.
I’d love to have one just for streaming home movies and photos from my Mac to my television but not for $230. NetFlix is selling theirs for the right price. $99.
netflix has done well for rentals, making it cheap and plentiful. They are going to do it with this box. They are probably testing the waters before they make it HD, to make sure they sell and build the catalog. Like apple did with the iphone, no 3g and single carrier. Besides, if they are old movies they were not filmed in HD anyway so they will just be upsampled. An overwhelming people don’t care about HD either or even have it hooked up correctly.
Look at the Wii…, no HD and they are still sold out everywhere.
Netflix online player still doesn’t even work on a Mac. Get that right before you start playing in set top boxes, Netflix.
This is actually quite good for Apple, another “box” on the market will raise public awareness for the reletively new service being offered. If the public is aware that downloadable video content is being embraced by more than just the forward thinking Apple, they may be more apt to invest in the technology. Those of you who read this page likely know that physical media is on the out, and that once the general public gets a clue, the pioneering Apple, with already over a year of experience with its Apple TV (not to mention its superior features), will be the benchmark and industry leader.
One last thought – Netflix is a very Mac unfriendly group, yes they are polite on the telephone, and their web site claims that their streaming service isn’t available for Mac “yet”, but… Give me a break, it ain’t never gonna happen. Their setup top box would have to be totally Mac compatible before I would seriously think of it.
Sorry, MacDailyNews, but you are DEAD WRONG on this one. You guys love being an Apple cheerleader, even when you’re totally wrong.
I just ordered my Netflix Player because it offers TREMENDOUSLY AMAZING VALUE for my money. I will never order an AppleTV, because it does NOT offer tremendous value for my money.
I know nobody who has ever ordered an AppleTV, and I have 3 friends who immediately ordered the Netflix Player this morning as soon as they found out about this device.
Case closed.
Netflix Player beats AppleTV hands down.
^ What MacBill said.
AppleTV = overpriced hardware and content
Netflix = good deal
Jeez.. haven’t any of you guys heard of EyeTV from ElGato?? their new s/w even has coverflow/iTunes interface and network sharing… full DVR capability so you are covered for network TV shows and sports … auto-exports to iTunes etc… also, it’s not very hard to rip your own DVD’s to whatever format/platform/resolution you want so movies are covered… indeed, i think most will be disappointed with the new box and it’s lack of functionality and connectivity and there will be much gnashing of teeth (and lashing out in forums such as this) when they see all of their friends and co-workers happily using Apple products… seemlessly… productively…
Buy The Ticket, Take The Ride!!!
@4th Amendment,
Yeah, I have EyeTV. What does that have to do with movies? Unless you’re talking about censored movies with commercials that have to be edited out or skipped?
EyeTV is a perfectly good device for what it is, but its purpose has little to do with this discussion.
“Cool, so with the Netflix, I can take my stuff with me on my iPod/iPhone/Touch…”
No you can just rent movies at a hardware and content price the public will like. If you wanted to rip a particular movie for your iPod, or play it at 1080p from a Blu-Ray through your 7.1 system, you’d need to wait for it to come in the mail.
“They are probably testing the waters before they make it HD,”
The box is already HD capable, it’s just the content that is not yet HD. In comparison thats an easy change.
“The AppleTV can be wireless or Ethernet. Is theirs?”
Yes, built into the $99 price. Good deal, right?
“Or what doesn’t kill it could make it stronger.”
Sure, if Apple comes up with an approx $9/mo unlimited subscription then the game will be on. If they stay with the pay as you go $3/movie model it’s all over.
LOL… the Netflix Red Alert Spin Ninjas button got pressed. Netflix box is a lousy deal. Ever heard of Handbrake?
@Jubel
Huh? Does Handbrake provide you with on-demand movies?