Netflix/Hulu pros/cons opinions?
 

I had to cancel my Dish TV account.

Reason: The Receiver broke, HD running constantly.
I called into there technicians and went through test after test, witch all came down to "Pressing the Menu button twice". This was supposed to produce a mode that would let them dechiper the problem.

After doing this multiple times for absolutely no effect in bringing up the screen they wanted to diagnose the problem, the technician said the receiver was definitely broken.
I would be sent a new one! A couple days later I thought I had better email them again!
No answer, then on the 15th day give or take a couple I contacted them again. There reply, "We are NOT sending you a new receiver because you (Me) failed to prove I was who I said I was because I basically failed to press the "Menu" button correctly! Witch had been done multiple times!

You know the rest, what I said!


Anyway, that sets the stage for what I need to know.

My system consists of a Dish Receiver and a Samsung 55" TV.
There is a telephone line connected to the dish receiver.

Netflix says I need a BlueRay recorder unit and I can get there services. I don't know if they mean to go through the computer or not!

Just let me hear your ideas on the subject and what to do? I'm not very sharp on these things.

If I just need a Blue Ray device please give me some examples of good ones to buy

You certainly don't need a Bluray player, though that is an option.

A better option in my mind would be to get a Roku, which is a small Linux-based device that lets you stream content from hundreds of sources such as Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, etc, etc.

You will however need broadband Internet access, I assume that isn't a problem, but you mention a phone line so...

I'd wait or month or so, then buy a second-hand Playstation 3 from someone upgrading to a Playstation 4. They're great streaming devices, among the few that play Netflix at full resolution, and they're great Blu-Ray players too. And as a bonus, they also play Playstation 3 games. :)

Is your TV a so called smart tv?

There are many smart devices that could be used but not all of them can. If you just want Netflix then go with almost any of the cheap gizmo's that connect to a TV. The most simple may be the Chromecast.



Many blu-ray players are also smart to some degree. Some allow Amazon and Netflix. Almost all the Hulu stuff needs you to pay for Hulu plus.

You could also use a Nintendo WII. Brand new they are cheap and if you are only going to use it for Netflix you may be able to get a really basic set up for cheaper. I am not sure it would be worth it to buy a used WII though. As said in other replies. There are many options and I do remember hearing that Playstation works better than WII. But I do not have any first hand experience with Playstations and Netflix.

Great suggestion, the PS3 is a fantastic DVD/bluray and netflix player and they will certainly be dropping in price soon. Only issue is it can get loud at times, especially when it's been on for a while, but it's really not that loud, not disturbing or anything, just not silent.

I currently have a real bluray player, xbox 360, ps3, wii, wii u, htpc (home theater pc) and smart tv. All of which are capable of playing netflix with ease, yet the ps3 is always my go-to. It's faster than the others, has the most intuitive interface, and is controllable from my remote (Logitech Harmony One with PS3 adapter).

i would go with netflix
BUT and this is a VERY BIG ONE

you have to use it on Windows7
no linux
no apple ( it needs MS's current ".net framework" )

MS WINDOWS ONLY

the same goes for hulu also

You can use Netflix on Linux with wine. Though I think it does work better on Windows systems.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tfte5su5DIA

http://forums.fedoraforum.org/showthread.php?t=286230

http://sourceforge.net/projects/postinstaller/

i thought that the current update to netflix requires a newer dot net framwork than mono has
and that the all in one firefox/wine/netflix bundle was busted again

You might be right. I am stuck with a very, very old computer for about a week more. I can get Netflix to partially work on Debian-LXDE but it is very choppy and the audio is a couple of seconds ahead of the video. I can't really tell if it is this hardware or maybe it is the issue you mentioned. I can better test it when my new computer gets here next week. But before my other computer went I was able to use Netflix on it with Fedora 19 KDE Spin through Wine. That was a little over a week ago. It worked better on Windows 7 but worked pretty good on Fedora.

Moved: This thread is more suitable in Big General and has been moved accordingly to help your thread/question get the exposure it deserves.

I have a Roku box for netflix/Hulu on the TV.
I use Virtualbox+XP for viewing netflix online.

Never a problem with either.

No..it need Silverlight

With a Mac it's not big deal, on Linux you need either pipelight or the netflix desktop but you need to go into netflix with an MS based browser UA that is not IE..

Hulu works fine on my Boxes.

Not sure why

that was said. Also Miro and XMBC
are available and installable for you also. I also have installed and ran them also.
I use the free Hulu account. Not the paid version. I won't touch NetFlix. Not till they
support Linux natively. Maybe even then I won't touch Netflix. Just a personal thing with me.

Well I'm at a real loss, because some say YES and some say NO. If I need Microsoft windows I will never have it because I do NOT use them for anything!!

Habitual can you answer these questions for me:

You say you have a Roku box, I don't even know what that is. Is it a stand alone box/product that is not connected to a computer or what?

What other equipment other than this box is needed? Is a computer needed?

Maybe if you explain your set up (simple terms) it will make sense to me.

Check this article out. It will clarify things a bit more. Quick answer is that you don't need a PC, but can use one if you choose to. Also you can play Netflix on your tv with any of the devices listed at the link below.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o..._Watch_Devices

There is some confusing to your question. This has nothing to do with linux, correct?
As I understand it, you don't want to add in a computer to your TV. Is that correct? You simply want to add in some device to access netflix, is that correct?

Many, many, many devices offer this ability.
You don't need a smart blu-ray unless you want it. Some usable blu ray's for netflix are as low as $68 or less on sale. I think a simple web enabled or smart Sony is about that price.

Netflix support web page offers many devices that could be used. They range from Google's chrome to mini usb pc's to Roku boxes to other multimedia boxes and media streamers.

Some hard drives like NAS and media streamers offer support for netflix.

Some TV's offer support for netflix, yours may already.

Almost all of these devices won't display hulu free.
See hulu's support web pages for devices that can be used on your TV. Most require hulu plus.

There are so many devices that even netflix can't keep their list current it seems.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.htm...cId=1001199181

Helo Jefro. Nice to have someone ask. I run LINUX only! I want nothing to do with MS, VERY bad vibes there!

I want to use the computer (mine) to download movies to my Hard drive (2 TB), store them with an index program of some sort so I know what I have at a glance.

Then I want to be able to sellect and load what "I want" to a Flash Drive, witch I can plug into "some device type box at TV" and play/watch at my own convience. I don't want to stream the material directly to the TV!


SO, My dont's include the following:

No streaming.
No MS involvement.
Absolutely no giving anyone/company my credit card Number, Netflix wanted this! If there is a bill to pay, then bill me!

What I need:
A set TV type box that has a USB port for incoming movie material/data. With a connection from that box to the TV via HDMI cable.
Is this asking to much?

Get a game console. Playstation 3 or Xbox 360.

They both have have USB ports. You can put the movie on the flash drive, stick the flash drive into the game console, and then have the game console play it on the TV. You can use an HDMI cable to connect the game console to the TV.

There is some information at the Samsung site below on playing video directly on your TV. Depends on the model of your TV. The best source of information would be the user manual for the Samsung. Almost all newer TVs will allow showing pictures, slide shows and music but not movies directly. If you don't have the manual you can easily view it online or download it. Get the model number from the back of the TV and go online and search 'Samusung Model ****** Manual. You should be able to determine whether the specific model you have is capable of playing movies directly. Otherwise, the various methods described above should work.

http://www.samsung.com/us/support/fa...PN64F5300AFXZA

In that case, the fundamental topic of the whole thread has changed.

I would agree with dugan that your best bet is to just get a used game system (preferably a PS3, as it has better codec support for local playback) and put videos on removable media.

Would a "game console" have more features than a dedicated Blue Ray type receiver? What are the cons?

In short does the game player accept CD's and DVD's like a Blue Ray player?
Are you telling me there is no difference between a dedicated Blue Ray player and a "Game Console"?

Well, your requirements in this thread keep changing, but no, of course I'm not telling you that at all.

YES both of the the game consoles mentioned (and there's no reason to put game consoles in quotes) can play CDs and DVDs. They can also play movies from USB sticks.

A dedicated Blu-Ray player will almost certainly not have USB slots or be able to play movies from a USB stick. A dedicated Blu-Ray player should therefore be taken off the consideration list, according to your latest set of requirements.

Cons for game consoles as compared to dedicated Blu-Ray players (not "receivers")? None for a PS3. An Xbox 360 doesn't fullfill your "no MS involvement" requirement, obviously, and it also doesn't play Blu-Rays.

I said up front that I did not know anything about the subject, so that is why my wants changed as I gained a little knowledge.

Dugan. Is this a good deal on the playstation 3? I decided to do what you told me to do in the first place. Playstation seems the best way to go.

People there are talking/asking about if this is a "Slimline" PS3 but no one answered. I know nothing about these units. Does this a slimline (if there even is one) make a difference?

http://www.walmart.com/ip/PS3-500GB-...g+%26+Delivery

I looked for the PS4 but it wasn't out yet.

Unfortunately, I can't tell you if that's a good deal on a PS3.

It shouldn't matter, as far as I know, whether that's a slimline PS3 or not. All PS3s have USB ports and the same support for playing movies from USB sticks.

Thank you Dugan, I believe I understand. See my new post.