Netflix streaming on Xbox...no more cable?

[inteller]

Holy crap!  I think I just found a reason to get rid of cable!  Netflix has all of the series I watch and I can watch them instantly, no need for DVDs in the mail!  It you know anyone with an Xbox you seriously need to go check this out!

[tulsacyclist]

I noticed that last night when I flipped the Xbox on. Have you actually tried it yet? Know any of the details (I didn't have time to check)? I assume you need a normal Netflix subscription and you it'll link up to your XBL account for some sweet streaming video madness?

This will make my job of firing cox communications even easier. It beats s-video/audio cables from the laptop to the receiver. =]

[inteller]

quote:Originally posted by tulsacyclist

I noticed that last night when I flipped the Xbox on. Have you actually tried it yet? Know any of the details (I didn't have time to check)? I assume you need a normal Netflix subscription and you it'll link up to your XBL account for some sweet streaming video madness?

This will make my job of firing cox communications even easier. It beats s-video/audio cables from the laptop to the receiver. =]

it is amazing.  To test something I knew the quality of I put Heroes Season 3 in the queue and let it rip.  Yes you have to wait for a little buffering but then here it comes, commercial free.  Glorious.

At this point I just need to get Channel 2 to create a video podcast of their Segment 2s so I can sync them to the Zune and then I'm pretty sure I can eshew Cox altogether.

One side note, the aholes at Sony decided to pull all of the licenses to stream their netflix movies from Xbox because their POS PS3 can't do it.  Talk about sore losers.  But I guess that's what the snail mail DVD option with netflix is for.  Sony doesn't realize their childish moves just resulted in increased piracy of their movies.

with the new interface upgrade it is like everyone just got a new Xbox for free.

[brianh]

The netflix instant movie selection isn't a whole lot better than hulu as far as I can tell.  That said, I did subscribe to the free trial the other week and found a few things.  I will probably just wind up using hulu again though.

[sgrizzle]

Doesn't one or more of the consoles get Hulu as well?

I know someone who is a media junky like myself working on severing cable/satellite completely and replacing them with internet services.

[inteller]

I -THINK- that someone made a plugin for MCE that can play Hulu, if so I can play that through the Xbox MCE extender.  If so then I am pretty much done with Cox cable. I love their HD service but I am not pleased paying for non HD channels I never watch.  I expect they will beg me and offer me a sweet deal when I go to cancel.  If it is reasonable enough I may stay.  But $9 a month for all you can eat netflix is a strong offering compared to the recycled junk on Cox.

[tulsacyclist]

Inteller, are the items available on the Netflix/XBL setup the same as what you will find on the 'Watch Instantly' tab at netflix.com (minus the Sony stuff, I guess)?

My wife likes to watch House, I didn't see that in the Watch Instantly tab, so that's kinda why I'm wondering.

I just signed up for the free trial, so I'll be able to check it out when I get home, but I'm just curious and anxious to kick Cox out.

[inteller]

quote:Originally posted by tulsacyclist

Inteller, are the items available on the Netflix/XBL setup the same as what you will find on the 'Watch Instantly' tab at netflix.com (minus the Sony stuff, I guess)?

My wife likes to watch House, I didn't see that in the Watch Instantly tab, so that's kinda why I'm wondering.

I just signed up for the free trial, so I'll be able to check it out when I get home, but I'm just curious and anxious to kick Cox out.

yes, actually you still go through Netflix to set up your queue, so no learning curve there.  And yes if it isn't in watch instantly you can't stream it so maybe no house for you.

You will need to download the Netflix dashboard, then it will give you an activation code to enter on your computer.  Then you are done.

There is a UPnP server called PlayOn that does Hulu to Xbox.  $30...that is like half of a monthly charge to Cox.

[tulsacyclist]

Sweet. The firing of Cox is getting easier and easier.

[sgrizzle]

I'm intersted in this but don't currently own a game console but this could be a selling point.

(XBOX360 w/ guitar Hero 3 for $199 on Black Friday at walmart is one option)

[inteller]

I don't think that has a hard drive.  Hard drive is required for NXE.

[inteller]

quote:Originally posted by tulsacyclist

Sweet. The firing of Cox is getting easier and easier.

My Cox bill for just cable is $81.

$972 a year

So if I were to buy a brand new Xbox, plus $40 for Live Gold you are looking at:

$269 one time charge

$148 yearly reoccuring charges

That setup would pay itself back in less than half a year.

I have great incentive to make this work.

[inteller]

can anyone confirm if you HAVE to get basic cable to keep cable internet?  I thought the requirement had changed.

[brunoflipper]

i thought if you had JUST cable internet, basic cable came with it...

[inteller]

quote:Originally posted by brunoflipper

i thought if you had JUST cable internet, basic cable came with it...

well, but "came with it" and "getting charged for it" are two different things.  If they are throwing it in with the internet charge that's fine, but if it is a separate line item I want it gone when I cancel the rest of the cable.

I have this bad feeling they are going to say "sure, we'll cancel your cable, but your internet charge will incrase to $60" or some ****.