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CNET editors' rating:
3.5 stars
Very good
Detailed editors' rating - Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 73 reviews
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Product summary
The good: Streams Netflix Watch Now titles to your TV; affordable $100 price tag; unlimited viewing with no additional charge beyond standard ($8.95 or higher) monthly Netflix fee; PC-free movie watching; simple setup; includes built-in wired and 802.11g Wi-Fi networking; works with all TVs; upgradeable firmware allows for new features, interface improvements, and bug fixes.
The bad: Though growing, the number of Watch Now titles currently available for streaming is still fairly paltry, especially when it comes to popular recent releases; video quality doesn't come close to DVD or HD; far too many titles don't appear in their original wide-screen version; no surround sound; can't manipulate queue via TV screen; yet another box under the TV.
The bottom line: While it's still a work in progress--and currently lean on quality content--the Netflix Player's simple operation, overall convenience, and cheap price makes it a compelling option for Netflix subscribers looking for instant gratification.
CNET editors' review
- Reviewed on: 05/19/2008
- Updated on: 07/14/2008
- Released on: 05/19/2008
Editors' Note: On July 14, 2008, Microsoft announced that Netflix video streaming will be added to the Xbox Live Marketplace in the fall of 2008, effectively duplicating the features currently available on the Roku box reviewed here. We'll update this review when the Xbox version becomes available.
If you're a Netflix subscriber you may have noticed that in the last year or so the company has rolled out a Watch Now option that lets you instantly watch some of the movies and TV shows in the Netflix library on your Windows PC with a broadband connection. More recently, in upgrading its digital offerings, Netflix has taken things a step further by separating out the Instant Queue from your DVD Queue. While the all-you-can-eat streaming video option is a nice perk for users (it's available to any subscriber on the $8.95 per month plan or better), the real dream for many people is that instead of watching movies on your PC's monitor, you cut out the computer completely and go right to your TV. Well, with the Netflix Player by Roku ($100) that has become a reality.
Before we get into just what the box does, it's probably worth mentioning a little bit about Roku for those who may not have heard of the company. After releasing a handful of well-regarded streaming audio products earlier in the decade, the SoundBridge M1001 and the SoundBridge Radio, Roku had gone quiet in the consumer space for the past couple of years. However, Roku's founder, Anthony Wood, was the founder of ReplayTV, an early competitor of TiVo, so he knows something about streaming video. He had been working internally at Netflix for several months to develop the little black box reviewed here. Netflix opted against producing its hardware in-house, giving Roku the opportunity to bring it to market instead. (Competing Netflix-compatible products from LG and two yet-to-be-named partners are scheduled to hit later this year.)
From a design standpoint, there isn't much to critique. Measuring 1.75 inches tall by 5.25 inches wide by 5.25 inches deep, the box is slightly smaller than your typical cable modem, but instead having just an Ethernet port on the back, it's equipped with all manner of audio and video outputs: HDMI, component video, S-Video, and composite video ports, as well as digital optical or the standard red/white analog stereo outputs. Currently only stereo sound is available, but 5.1 surround sound could be added via a future firmware upgrade.
For optimal video quality, you'll want to stick with HDMI or component video. However, you will have to supply those cables since the Netflix Player includes only a standard composite AV cable in the box. We were happy to see the presence of composite and S-Video jacks, as well an aspect ratio (standard or wide screen) toggle--which lets the Netflix Player connect to any old TV, not just HD sets. (Apple TV can only connect to HDTVs.)
The remote is about as simple as it gets: in addition to a five-way directional pad, play/pause, fast-forward, and rewind keys, there's a "home" button that takes you to your list of queued movies. The remote works well enough, and since it's a standard infrared model you can easily program its functions into any worthwhile universal remote.
Once you have all your cables connected, you plug the AC adapter into the box, wait a few seconds for the box to start up, and make your way through the simple setup wizard using the included remote. You're given the choice to connect to your home network via a wired or wireless connection and can fairly easily switch from one connection to another if your wireless connection is spotty. If you have a secure wireless network (WEP or WPA), you simply key in your security key via an onscreen virtual keyboard.
The first time you set up the box you're given a special code. Entering it on the Netflix site will link the box to your account. Once the code is entered, your box is activated in less than a minute, and whatever is in your Instant Queue online will immediately populate the Instant Queue on your box. (The Instant Queue is available to all Netflix users as a separate and distinct list from the main DVD-by-mail queue, so you can manage both lists independently.) Add a movie to your Instant Queue online and that movie will appear within seconds on your box. However, you can't add titles or navigate Netflix's vast library from the box itself; you can only search for and add titles via your computer. (But because the videos are streaming from Netflix's central servers, not your computer, you don't need to have your computer powered on while you're watching the Netflix Player.) Because you're just using the standard Web site interface, queue updates can be added on any Windows, Mac, or Linux PC, using any browser. We appreciated that Netflix and Roku kept things simple.
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- Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 73 reviews
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