Video Over Internet Equipment Options

[gabkwong]

What would you buy to watch video over the internet in the living room? I like to watch Netflex and other video on my big TV at home. I do not have Ethernet connection in the living and WiFi is a must. Should I go with PS3, Xbox, internet ready Blu Ray player, a purpose built PC (the PCs I have are too old and do not have the video card that can handle HD), or some other ‘boxes’?

[sammm]

I have a home-made DVR running Beyond TV on WIN/XP, with a wireless ethernet card on it.

[goofygrin]

Roku makes some good internet devices with the wifis for under $100.

HD video over the wifis is a no go though (just keep that in mind).

[OZMDD]

I've been very pleased with the netflix streaming on my ps3.

[HudsonHawk]

I have a Samsung BlueRay/DVD player that has built in WiFi. It connects directly to Netflix, I can pull media files off of my server upstairs, play off of thumb drives and most importantly plays DVIX, MPEG, AVI and a host of other file formats. It also plays almost all of the video disc formats on the market. It even does HD.

It was worth the extra $$ for everything it does.

[black roadster]

There is a new Apple TV for $100 that would do all that.

[tailchaser]

I think the AppleTV is probably the best option right now. If I had a working TV, I'd probably pick one up.

[Mingle]

i think it is worth buying a new pc and using that.
here is a cheap one
http://www.microcenter.com/single_pr...uct_id=0335965
buy a tv tuner card and you can record video, and watch it from anywhere even on your phone. i am using the elgato card to do that with mine.
I have my computer attached to a projector
with a pc you arent limited as to what you can watch. you can watch stuff on blinkx.com hulu.com seetvprograms.com or a plethora of other places. you did say your pc's are old anyway...

[HudsonHawk]

I refuse to buy any apple product under general priciple.

[tailchaser]

I refuse to buy any apple product under general priciple.

Come to the dark side...

[brandonmpace]

I just built a home theater PC like I have for other people and because I don't have Netflix, I don't need Windows. People that have to have netflix I usually just put xp on it.
I use Element OS.

After that I run ethernet to the wall the tv is on (I'm certified to do so) and just enjoy the internet on my big tv

PS3 seems like a good idea as well.

[goofygrin]

I use Networked Media Tanks (I'm partial to the eGreat models) around my house (over wired ethernet), but I kind of want to do the Netflix thing... and I built a cheap HTPC and now I remember why I moved away from HTPCs. I just want a device that works... and HTPCs require too much tinkering... software, crashes, etc. My NMTs just work (even with 1080p blu ray rips)... they just have an ugly UI and don't do netflix/hulu.

[brandonmpace]

HTPCs require too much tinkering... software, crashes, etc. My NMTs just work (even with 1080p blu ray rips)...

Windows much?
"Just work" is how it is set up. That's why many people have other people do it for them, like the NMTs, etc. Ease of use is a huge factor these days.

they just have an ugly UI and don't do netflix/hulu.

I watch hulu all the time on my HTPC using Element OS. I even have Hulu Desktop for Linux installed :)
I never watch the channels we get over cable anymore lol.

[goofygrin]

Netflix only works in Windows... so ya, I'm using Windows for HTPC use. Why would I build a PC when a $120 NMT does everything else? I'm not askeered of Linux, it just doesn't do what I want it to do in this case. And if you think that Linux HTPCs are somehow easier than Windows...

To not threadjack too much, here's the issues with getting an HTPC back into my family room or media room:
- size
- quietness
- not crashy
- remote integration (harmony)
- plays every file I have (avi, mkv, mt2s, dvd iso)
- Netflix

I'm not a fan of Hulu since the commercials are pervasive. I wish you could pay like $5/month to each network you watch and then they have private streaming without commercials to those subscribers. I'd have the 4 networks + Scifi + PBS + whatever Diego is on + ESPN + FSSW and I'd be set. I'll get Mark Cuban right on it! ;D

[patf]

i am using both a panasonic dvd player and a wii wirelessly. the dvd player limits my netflix selection to what is in my instant queue. the wii lets me browse through all the categories which is pretty nice. you have to request the disk for the wii from netflix.

[brandonmpace]

if you think that Linux HTPCs are somehow easier than Windows...

Only if you have someone who knows what they're doing set it up beforehand,

To not threadjack too much, here's the issues with getting an HTPC back into my family room or media room:
- size
- quietness
- not crashy
- remote integration (harmony)
- plays every file I have (avi, mkv, mt2s, dvd iso)
- Netflix

You can use any infrared remote and I have been able to play all of those file types and more. I was just putting it out there as an option for the OP, and wasn't saying you should change, which is why I said that NMTs are an easy option. It just depends on whether OP has something else to play netflix on or is looking for something smaller.

[Version3]

Netflix works on OSX as well, just so you guys know. Plex may be a good option if you have a little machine you want to run it on (not the OP, of course since that's been covered), Boxee (software), plugins to do it with xbmc (if that's what you like). For the OP, you could pick up a little Acer Revo or another nettop from MSI or similar just above the $200 mark, and most of these will be great for video on your TV. The Boxee hardware is at pre-order status, it's going to be a strong contender for the living room, though the odd shape would leave it off of my list unfortunately. AppleTV will be a good choice for simplicity, especially if you've got a library of movies that are iTunes-friendly that you can just share.

HD IS not only possible over WiFi, but I do it currently. If your WiFi network is already congested, is competing in a noisy space, running mixed or slower standards, or just has a lot of devices on it, you may have performance issues. Every device in our house is running Apple flavor of draft N, so we get good results with WiFi, and have 2 access points handling things for a split load (we do not run them as the same wireless network). I've got a Linksys 54G with the firmware/software changes to make it a much better choice for guests, odd devices, and things I want to keep off of my faster higher frequency channels.

[Version3]

I should have added, that HD content isn't all 1080i/p anyway... much of what you will find from your media providers is going to be 720p, so the load on your network is not going to be as heavy as if you run only 1080p files. That said, goofygrin's and brandonmpace's approach of ethernet at the wall is going to give you far better results, always.

[patf]

thanks for the tips version 3, i have been thinking of adding a second access point to the house .. teenagers are such a bandwidth suck we can have two netflix movies going and a couple of laptops youtubing at any given time and we start to get some issues with that load..

[Version3]

There are things to be aware of doing it (dhcp on more than one box, NAT, radio noise), but if you look at the options out there, this solution may work well. Optimizing what you already have can help, but sounds like there is already a lot happening on your network.

Mine:
1) Apple Airport Extreme N @5.8GHz in bridge mode (laptops and Mac mini for TV)
1) Apple Airport Express N @2.4GHz in bridge mode (iPad and iPhones)
1) Linksys WRT-54G G running DD-WRT firmware (guest WiFi, DHCP, Firewall, routing) - 9db gain antennas
1) Verizon/Westel Ultraline 9100EM (required for FIOS) w/ Linksys in DMZ (forward all traffic) mode - wireless radio off.

The Airports are connected to the Linksys via Ethernet.

I'd like to find a DD-WRT supported machine with gigabit Ethernet and N, but no luck with a decent unit.