Best Netflix Streaming Devices – Review

It is impressive that Netflix so easily managed to make itself an integral member of the family living room. More and more people are joining Netflix and growing hooked on the service. What makes this ‘DVD by mail’ service so popular? Three main factors have contributed to the popularity of Netflix. Convenience and price are at the forefront. Netflix is extremely easy to utilize and navigate- as well as affordable thanks to several potential packages. The third factor that has been pulling in consumers? The ability to stream movies directly to your home. However, every device has a very different experience ahead- some flourish where others disappoint. All of these are reviewed with my personal game consoles, a Broadband Comcast Internet Connection, and a Belkin Wireless G Router.

Nintendo Wii – The Netflix Channel
Available as: Downloadable Channel
Console Price: $199
Service Fee: No
Interface: Excellent
Streaming Speed: Very Fast
Visual Quality: Satisfactory

Put simply, the Netflix Channel on the Nintendo Wii was a stroke of genius. With almost 100 million Wiis sold, the install base was just asking for Netflix support. There’s a reason why every week another million hours of Netflix Channel usage gets racked up on the Nintendo Channel. The interface is superb. Owners need only point their Wii remotes at the screen and watch the magic happen. The Wiimote’s IR pointer makes a fantastic peripheral for scanning through the instant movies and controlling them from the comfort of your sofa. Whether you’re watching an animated movie like “Fullmetal Alchemist: Conqueror or Shamballa” or something like live-action like “Godzilla Final Wars”, you’ll be in good hands.

While the movies are streamed in standard definition, the speed and efficiency is top-notch. Upon selecting a movie, you need only to wait around fifteen seconds before it plays seamlessly. Even with a slower internet connection you’ll need only to give it a minute or so to adjust before seamless streaming. The Netflix Channel can be downloaded for free from the Wii Shop Channel- it takes up little space and requires only a one-time activation code from your Netflix account to activate. My recommendation couldn’t be higher for those interested in using the Wii’s Netflix Channel.

Playstation 3 – Netflix Plug-In
Available as: Firmware Addition
Console Price: $350
Service Fee: No
Interface: Tolerable
Streaming Speed: Slow
Visual Quality: High

The PS3’s Netflix plug-in is a suitable alternative to the Wii’s Netflix Channel, but it does come with some drawbacks. Visually, the PS3 version is very impressive- assuming you’re watching on an HDTV. If not, it’s simply a hassle. Why? The streaming speed is atrocious on the PS3 due to the HD format. While the Wii’s Netflix Channel can perform perfectly with either a wired or wireless connection, I find that I have to utilize a wired connection with my PS3. I would be not exaggerating if I said that I could only watch ten minutes of a movie before it had to pause and stream independently. “Cool World” was playing fine within half a minute on the Wii, it paused frequently on the PS3.

While the streaming speed is a serious headache, for those looking for HD content- the PS3 won’t disappoint. The interface is passable- the PS3 controller does its job. It’s responsive enough, though not quite as streamlined and straightforward as the Wii version. The PS3’s Netflix plug-in is part of a required firmware update and can be found on your menu. Recommended for HDTV owners, but not so much otherwise due to the higher price and slow streaming.

Xbox 360 – Xbox Live Netflix
Available as: XBL Service
Console Price: $300
Service Fee: Yes
Interface: Clunky
Streaming Speed: Adequate
Visual Quality: Moderately High

If you just absolutely can’t get your hands on a Wii or PS3, this going to be your distant third choice. There are some problems that make Xbox Live Netflix unappealing. The biggest offender is the service fee. Yes, even if you already have a Netflix account, you’ll need to line Microsoft’s pockets with $60 a year by paying for Xbox Live in order to watch movies. While the Xbox 360 had the luxury of attaining Netflix support first, it is this very crippling flaw that sent consumers running to Nintendo and Sony.

Beyond the obnoxious fee, there are a few other issues. Because it also streams in HD, it isn’t particularly fast. Why is it rated higher than the PS3? Because, out of the box, the Xbox 360 lacks wireless support and requires a wired internet connection. This alone improves streaming speed but cannibalizes the convenience. Not only are you paying extra, but you also have to get an Xbox 360 Wifi adapter to watch wirelessly? On the positive side, the movie quality is pretty high- second only to the PS3’s. Then again, operating the channel is clunky. Watching “Hook” was a headache with the unintuitive Xbox 360 menus and controller. This passable experience has more ups than downs, but can be a serviceable option.