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Apple TV for Netflix

X5-452

X5-452

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Feb 16, 2006
483
48
Calgary, Canada
I'm debating subscribing to Netflix, and I was wondering how well the Apple TV worked with it.

I'm basically only interested in it's Netflix streaming capabilities. All the extra stuff it can do is just an added bonus... A bonus I don't think I'd ever use. I have no reason to stream movies from my Mac as I don't have any on it. I don't have any external television speakers to play my music back on. And the pictures I've taken and uploaded are nothing I'd ever want to display on my plasma.

Now as far as Netflix devices go, I'm sure they're all pretty much the same. They browse. They stream. The end. But for those of you with an Apple TV would you recommend it? Since I'm looking to only use the 1 feature of it, is there a cheaper alternative to get Netflix on my TV or is an Apple TV the best bet? I have no desire to buy a Wii or a PS3 or XBOX either as I don't game.
 
Last edited:
X5-452 said:
I'm debating subscribing to Netflix, and I was wondering how well the Apple TV worked with it.

I'm basically only interested in it's Netflix streaming capabilities. All the extra stuff it can do is just an added bonus... A bonus I don't think I'd ever use. I have no reason to stream movies from my Mac as I don't have any on it. I don't have any external television speakers to play my music back on. And the pictures I've taken and uploaded are nothing I'd ever want to display on my plasma.

Now as far as Netflix devices go, I'm sure they're all pretty much the same. They browse. They stream. The end. But for those of you with an Apple TV would you recommend it? Since I'm looking to only use the 1 feature of it, is there a cheaper alternative to get Netflix on my TV or is an Apple TV the best bet? I have no desire to buy a Wii or a PS3 or XBOX either as I don't game.
Click to expand...

You can get a Roku box for about $60 that does Netflix streaming in HD, but I've never used one so I can't vouch for its streaming quality or usability. I think the Apple TV does a great job with Netflix.
 
While you may only need one feature of the ATV at the moment, considering the difference in price I'd recommend you get one because down the road you may find more of a use for it.
 
Agreed, I use it about 80% for Netflix streaming, and I have no issues. In fact, I find it's interface is easier to navigate than he Wii, and the picture quality is astounding. As the prvious poster said, with an investment of 40 bucks more now, you'll be setting yourself in a position to find more uses that the Roku will not be capable of.
 
I have been VERY happy with my ATV2. Bear in mind also that you can get the FREE app to use your iphone and/or ipad as a "remote" to control the ATV2. Do it.
 
Pretty Good

There are currently some issues that are being worked through. In some other threads you can get some pretty good details on the issues. Basically the problem is sometimes you can't get some things to play. The interface is great. The convienence of such a small device for netflix access is great. The picture quality is great (Better than the WII). Just that one issue.
 
I have many devices capable of streaming Netflix (i.e. Xbox 360, PS3, blu-ray player, etc.). However, I always find myself using the AppleTV to stream. I like the UI and how quiet it is (as in silent).
 
I'm with everyone else here. Though Netflix isn't the reason I purchased the Apple TV (It's the other way around actually), it's definitely my most used feature. I think it's worth the $99 investment. It's got a great UI and is super simple to use. And down the road if they add more apps you'll already be set up. I bought it before they added MLB.TV and that was a huge addition for me as well.
 
AppleTV 2 is, IMHO, the hidden gem in Apple's product lineup. And the way in which it enables Netflix-streaming material on your TV is a big part of that.

Overall the experience with Netflix has been outstanding. Movies and TV shows play in excellent, if not exactly HiDef, video quality. Most of the time the buffering process takes less than a minute, meaning you can start watching very quickly. Unlike most cable on-demand systems, Netflix seems to handle pauses very well, although I have noticed very heavy fast-forward and reversing can cause problems.

Its worth noting that your selection is going to be a little limited. $8 a month simply isn't going to buy you access to the latest releases, nor a universal back-catalog. On the other hand, I've had some of my most enjoyable movie-watching experiences by exploring obscure titles I discovered using the many search tools available. A two-part french movie about master criminal Jacques Mesrine, for instance, I discovered by browsing films that actress Ludivine Sagnier (who I'd seen in Swimming Pool) had appeared in.

I very soon got tired of watching Netflix-streaming on my computer monitor. IMHO Apple TV 2 is the best way to get that streaming entertainment goodness onto the biggest, and most comfortable-to-view, screen in your house.
 
All Netflix devices are not the same

Not all Netfilx devices allow you to search or manage your instant Queue. Some require you to use the Netflix web site to add items to your instant Queue (I know Viewsonic does this). Some are just ugly.

I've never used Roku, but it does have some features that ATV doesn't (yet). Big example is Amazon Instant Video, which is an alternate/supplement to Netflix. Another is DLNA, but it doesn't sound like you would be interested in that. I think the Roku box that is most equivalent to ATV is the $99 version (wireless N networking) rather than the $60 version.

There's a lot of personal preference involved in the UI, but I find the ATV Netflix client to be really outstanding. That's probably because I was already used to the interface from the original ATV.
 
I bought the first Roku pretty soon after introduction; paid $99 but it is now $60. I got an ATV2 this year, also for $99. ATV2 is much more polished and easier to use; menus are better with coverflow-like interface. It also works better-- fewer stalls and failures to load. ATV2 also seems to be able to more consistently get a high res picture, at least for me. You can't rent or buy from Amazon on the ATV2, but you can rent from itunes, which is generally identically priced.
 
Nobody mentioned that the ATV2 only does 720p, not 1080p as you would get with other players (would have to step up to the Roku XD for $80). This is only an issue if you have at least 10 Mbps+, otherwise you won't get better than 720p anyway.
 
Ya, the picture quality vs. bandwidth tradeoff from 720p is perfectly fine with me. Most ISP don't like you using too much bandwidth.
 
I use the newest Apple TV with netflix at home. It works fine, I have no issues. Renting movies from iTunes clogs alot of bandwidth though on the device. If you only need Netflix just get a roku.
 
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