Netflix streaming question

[Inspector Fowler]

I was streaming Netflix through my PC while I work out and my 360 to my TV. However, I recently sold my 360. I've noticed that although they're on the same internet connection, my 360 seemed to have a noticeably clearer picture for the Netflix movies.

Does anybody here use a Netflix device besides a 360 or PC, and if so, how is the picture quality?

[KingGorilla]

Some movies are of considerably less quality, and not everything is in HD. Kelly's Heroes is not going to look as good as Ratatouille.

Also, how is your PC connected to your television?

[Urizen]

I use the standalone Roku Player from Netflix - the one they advertise on their site. It's got a lot more content than what's available on the 360 but it doesn't have any HD content - yet. The device is capable to putting out HD (and has Component and HDMI) ports.

There is no timeline announced as to when HD content will come to Roku, but there's plenty to stream instantly. Movies are added weekly, I think. Oddly some are taken off from time to time. I've got a couple in my streaming queue that have a notice that says "Will not be available after 31 December 2008" or something like that.

[Stmfuller]

I watch movies on my pc through my TV at 1080p
some movies look better than others, but quality is completely acceptable.

[Inspector Fowler]

My PC isn't connected to the television. It's downstairs near the workout gear. So I can watch Netflix movies on it while I work out.

So for example, I might start Mad Max while I am downstairs lifting. Later, I decide I want to finish it while I am upstairs, so I would stream it through the 360. It would seem to look better on the 360 in terms of compression and general quality.

[KingGorilla]

Oh, those are the natural artifacts from the video. I take it you are on something like a 1680X1050, 1920 X 1200 display? Yeah a lot of the Netflix library looks like dog shit at high res, like most SD or 720p video with that level of upscaling. Because of bandwidth constraints the level of decoding your computer can do on streaming media is limited, unlike limitless bandwidth on say a DVD or a download like a podcast. As such artifacts are more glaring at higher res. Your 360 is putting out 720p onto a 720p set, every pixel is where it should be. So I am afraid there is not much you can do about the problem.

The aforementioned Kelly's Heroes looked bad on my monitor.

[Inspector Fowler]

Oh, those are the natural artifacts from the video. I take it you are on something like a 1680X1050, 1920 X 1200 display? Yeah a lot of the Netflix library looks like dog shit at high res, like most SD or 720p video with that level of upscaling. Because of bandwidth constraints the level of decoding your computer can do on streaming media is limited, unlike limitless bandwidth on say a DVD or a download like a podcast. As such artifacts are more glaring at higher res. Your 360 is putting out 720p onto a 720p set, every pixel is where it should be. So I am afraid there is not much you can do about the problem.

The aforementioned Kelly's Heroes looked bad on my monitor.

This seems to make sense to me. Your ideas intrigue me, and I wish to subscribe to your newsletter! :)

Well, I got the Samsung that can stream Netflix. So far it seems to be about the same quality as the 360, so here's hoping.

[Lutheran]

The real question is why did you sell your 360?

[Inspector Fowler]

The real question is why did you sell your 360?

That is a good question, isn't it?

Long story very short, I need to break from video gaming for quite a while, several years at least. It's all I do, my only hobby. I'm 250 lbs. My friends and I do nothing but game even though they all have other interests. I have other interests that gaming leaves me no time and no money for.

Quitting gaming felt like quitting coke or meth or something. I feel like my free time and my time with my friends is open up to a huge world of possibilities. I had no self control before, and I used gaming as an excuse to fill my free time up, time I need to spend working out, working around the house, and doing fun activities that don't involve sitting my fat ass in front of the TV.

[KingGorilla]

So just to Re-Cap, hooking your PC up to your television has alleviated the problems with artifacts on the video?

[Inspector Fowler]

My PC isn't connected to the television. It's downstairs near the workout gear. So I can watch Netflix movies on it while I work out.

The whole point is that without a PC anywhere near the TV, I was looking for a Netflix streaming solution to replace the 360.

[divinechaos]

Wait, now I'm intrigued. Just HOW do you hook up your PC to TV and stream videos?

[KingGorilla]

I am currently using the analog video out on my video card to use component video. I also am running an audio splitter from the sound card into some RCA jacks. Most modern video cards support HDMI, and most HD televisions will support DVI-D or VGA.