I am a netflix subscriber (>4yrs). I think the comments about the limited selection are overblown. I ordered this box earlier today as I have been happy with the selection and the online streaming service. The selection also appears to be growing every week. Now I can do away needing a Windows PC to access the streaming service. The price is right too!
"Part of the problem is that few recent movies are available on Netflix's streaming service. That's a major shortcoming because nearly one-third of the rental requests on Netflix's DVD service are for new movie releases, Friedland said." -- AP
If I'm reading all of the press releases properly, at least today only 10% of the titles are available for streaming, and hardly any new releases. It's a HUGE step in the right direction, but there is a marathon ahead to catch up.
Have you folks looked at what's actually available with the AppleTV for rent? Not a strong selection either - and they're hitting you every time you want to rent a movie or buy a TV show. For a series, that really adds up. I think the all you can eat, one time fee for this additional point of consumption is great for prior members. I for one am happy to add it alongside our Tivo and AppleTV.
Doesn't seem like much of a threat. It's just a set-top version of their already existing mediocre streaming service, which itself is just a sweetener for their core business. (Nobody would pay $9-$18 a month for the streaming alone.) There's nothing to recommend it unless you're already a Netflix subscriber, making it entirely harmless to Apple, et al.
Netflix Roku box is a step in the WRONG direction in my opinion. Integration in existing tech (360, ps3, wii) would be much better/cheaper for both consumers and Netflix. As a consumer I don't want to spend 100 bucks on a box just to rent movie. Netflix needs to target consumer hardware vendors and partner and integrate their software/service with them.
I subscribed to Netflix a couple months ago when they added the all-you-can-eat streaming package. The streaming selection was atrocious. I don't watch that many movies per month and the ones I do watch are either on HBO On-Demand or a couple bucks from the iTunes store.
