Netflix Player by Roku

I bought my Roku Netflix Player on Aug 10, 2008. I've been a Netflix subscriber since 2004, and I've been using Netflix Instant Play sporadically for a year or so, but I don't have a computer plugged up permanently to my TV, so it really wasn't that convenient. So when the Roku came out at $99, I immediately wanted one. The selection of movies available on Netflix Instant Play was still somewhat limited, but there were enough Family movies to make it worthwhile if only for my 4 year old daughter.

The Roku arrived with cables and batteries. I plugged it up to my TV, and to the power. The setup was astonishingly simple. Only slightly tedious thing was typing in my WIFI WEP key on the cursor remote, but after that and a simple activation sequence from my computer, it was on, and in a few moments it was showing all the movies I had added to my Netflix Instant Queue. Far simpler than I had anticipated to setup.

The remote control is great. Pause, fast forward and rewind are all more usable than the IE browser interface to Netflix instant play. I've read complaints in some reviews that you can't add movies to the Instant Queue from the remote control, but that really doesn't bother me. I like to be able to control what shows up on the queue from my computer, so that my daughter doesn't accidentally add something I don't want her watching.

I find the image and sound quality entirely acceptable. I really can't tell the difference between it and a DVD. I've watched a lot of movies and programs and not once has the program got stuck while watching. Which surprised me considering that my Living Room does not get great wifi reception when I use my laptop.

This has been an excellent gadget purchase, and I've recommended it to a lot of people.