http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HackingNetflix/~3/oWAAoLrKEH0/roku-working-on-xboxstyle-netflix-user-interface.html

Seems Roku loves exactly what you hate.

Not sure about the quality issue and how it relates to the 360. In my experience the quality on the 360 is better than the Tivo Netflix stream for example. That said it really seems to be a Netflix issue. I’m guessing the “trash” you’re seeing are the old standard def streams which sadly is what most of the streaming library still is. But the other day my wife was watching a movie she added via an HD stream and it held up VERY nicely. It was comparable to most HD sources (ie. OTA HDTV and HD Downloads from the PS3 and 360) It might not be Blu-Ray quality, but for an instant on stream the quality was pretty astounding. On our 48” set, to be honest I didn’t know she wasn’t watching a Blu-ray when I came into the room. She had to actually show me it was a Netflix stream. We were both taken back by it. But again this was an HD source, so if you think the selections look like trash by all means fire off an e-mail to Netflix and let them know they need to upgrade more of their content to HD!!! I’m fully in favor of that. And for what it’s worth, I do not have a good connection at all. I’m at a 3M DSL line, not something recommended for HD streaming. The fact that they can get something so close to a Blu-Ray on an instant stream on that connection is nothing short of amazing.

I really think all the negativity around the idea is misplaced. I for one would LOVE to get Netflix on my PS3 and return it to the media hub of my living room. I would even gladly pay the rumored $10 for the Netflix disc to get started! And I’ve already got two Netflix enabled devices. It’s mostly because I love the bluetooth remote, but still. It would be a big plus for the PS3 in my book.

A breakdown as a non-biased gamer. No $99 adapter required for Netflix. If this were a debate about the cost of WiFi your point would stand, as it is not it’s nothing more than fluff. Interesting that the first point made has nothing to do with the actual issue at hand. To emulate the Sony press release I mentioned above… 360 Adapter $99. 360 $199. Total $298 and you’re wirelessly watching Netflix. PS3 $399. $101 later and you’re still not watching Netflix. Unfair, sure… but it’s as fair as the post above.

Some of the issues are valid. For example I’d like an option to be able to browse more of the store from the console. The current options are a HUGE improvement and really knock out a lot of my complaints, but still it would be nice to specifically look up certain titles. BUT I’m not sure if this is a 360 complaint or a Netflix complaint. I can’t search for new movies on my Series 3 Tivo either. Does anything actually let you do this?

Regardless, I think the biggest point is that this Netflix feature not being on the PS3 is a pretty big blow. Not that people are going to run out and buy a 360 to get Netflix streams. But rather those of us with 360s will simply be able to (at no extra cost) watch our Netflix on our already purchased 360s. I didn’t have to pay a dime for the feature and it certainly knocked the PS3 out of it’s notch as my entertainment hub. It used to be 360 for games, PS3 for everything else. Now it’s 360 for games, PS3 for Blu-Ray and the 360 for everything else.

Oh and Trieloth. I feel you. I am the former owner of a 360 that was quite loud. I’ve got a weird reversal on that story. My original launch console lasted about 2 1/2 years before it died. Not the RROD but MS still fixed it for free even though it was technically out of warranty. But when it came back I was sure they installed a helicopter somewhere inside of it. The noise drove me nuts and the comparitive silence of the PS3 was a big selling point for family and friends. The 360 just recently succumbed to the dreaded RROD, now very much out of warranty. So I bought a new arcade unit for $199. This one is WHISPER quiet. And with the game installs, I almost never even hear a peep out of the system. I’m not sure if it’s just a matter of my “fixed” system sounding so loud that anything in comparison sounding quiet, but now when I play the 360 and go to my PS3 I have a hard time focusing on movies over the noise from my PS3! Maybe it’s just the disc drive, but it’s far louder than anything from my newer 360. My wife actually pointed it out when we tried to make it through the last movie night, and now it’s hard not to notice it. It seems to kick on and off during playback of discs, and I’m inclined to believe it’s a fan firing up as needed. I hope it doesn’t mean my PS3 is about to die. Unlike MS who fixed my PS3 out of warranty, Sony was going to charge me well over $100 to fix the USB ports that broke on my launch PS3 a few years ago. With money being what it is I don’t think we can afford to replace our living room PS3 should anything happen to it.