Comments on: Netflix announces $100 set top box http://billso.com/2008/05/20/netflix-announces-1set-top-box/ Bill Sodeman writes about management, mobile computing and information systems Wed, 01 Jun 2011 08:46:00 +0000 hourly 1 By: billso http://billso.com/2008/05/20/netflix-announces-1set-top-box/comment-page-1/#comment-1313 billso Fri, 27 Jun 2008 04:34:13 +0000 http://billso.com/?p=1685#comment-1313 Kevin Kelly sent out a review of the Roku netflix box for his newsletter subscribers. There's a long excerpt in this article called <a href="http://www.boingboing.net/2008/06/25/roku-100-gadget-for.html" rel="nofollow">Roku: $100 gadget for watching Netflix movies on your TV</a>. Kevin Kelly sent out a review of the Roku netflix box for his newsletter subscribers. There’s a long excerpt in this article called Roku: $100 gadget for watching Netflix movies on your TV.

]]> By: billso http://billso.com/2008/05/20/netflix-announces-1set-top-box/comment-page-1/#comment-1276 billso Fri, 23 May 2008 02:57:58 +0000 http://billso.com/?p=1685#comment-1276 A media-centric Netflix box makes lots of sense. Adding 'features' like web browing and email would only cause support problems. The Roku box sounds like a lean, mean media server that is bonded to Netflix services. A media-centric Netflix box makes lots of sense. Adding ‘features’ like web browing and email would only cause support problems. The Roku box sounds like a lean, mean media server that is bonded to Netflix services.

]]> By: Daniel Peters http://billso.com/2008/05/20/netflix-announces-1set-top-box/comment-page-1/#comment-1275 Daniel Peters Wed, 21 May 2008 12:34:04 +0000 http://billso.com/?p=1685#comment-1275 Netflix seems to have a huge user base, so I wouldn't be surprised if this thing actually takes off. I was immediately put off by the fact that this wont do hi-def but then I realized I'm probably not in the target demographic for this sort of thing. Netflix already has some direct streaming available online, this simply removes the need for a computer in the equation and will do well with people that don't have a computer already hooked up to their tv. Again, I'm not part of that demographic. I wonder if they'll really have the bandwidth to pump this stuff out. My friend uses the online streaming the offer and performance is far from steller, albeit somewhat adequate overall. An interesting aspect of this streaming video service is the Netflix Media Center extender mentioned in a link on the engadget article. This could remove the need for Xbox360 (and media center computer users) to purchase the box altogether. Bad news for Roku, but good news for Netflix if a country full of xbox users suddenly want easily streamed full length movies for a low monthly price. I'm almost tempted to think that piracy is still easy enough to contend with this, but streaming video is such a swift delivery method and perfect in a society that craves instant gratification. If Netflix finds a way to get Youtube and maybe some internet radio on this set top box but doesn't fall into the trap of trying to make a "TV Computer," this streaming content delivery service thing could really catch on. Netflix seems to have a huge user base, so I wouldn’t be surprised if this thing actually takes off. I was immediately put off by the fact that this wont do hi-def but then I realized I’m probably not in the target demographic for this sort of thing.

Netflix already has some direct streaming available online, this simply removes the need for a computer in the equation and will do well with people that don’t have a computer already hooked up to their tv. Again, I’m not part of that demographic.

I wonder if they’ll really have the bandwidth to pump this stuff out. My friend uses the online streaming the offer and performance is far from steller, albeit somewhat adequate overall.

An interesting aspect of this streaming video service is the Netflix Media Center extender mentioned in a link on the engadget article. This could remove the need for Xbox360 (and media center computer users) to purchase the box altogether. Bad news for Roku, but good news for Netflix if a country full of xbox users suddenly want easily streamed full length movies for a low monthly price.

I’m almost tempted to think that piracy is still easy enough to contend with this, but streaming video is such a swift delivery method and perfect in a society that craves instant gratification. If Netflix finds a way to get Youtube and maybe some internet radio on this set top box but doesn’t fall into the trap of trying to make a “TV Computer,” this streaming content delivery service thing could really catch on.

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