chromecast for netflix???

[buzz2400]

Here is my dilemma. I am trying to find a device for our house so my father can watch netflix. He found the WII too confusing. I bought a wifi blueray dvd but can't figure out how to hook it up. I was thinking of the chromecast but it says that you watch through your devices. Does that mean that a ipad or laptop have to be always hooked up to the tv in order to watch netflix. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Please bear in mind that I am not that electronic savy and my father is even less.

 

[lauti]

No, chromcast is controlled by your devices, it doesn't have a remote.

I would look into a Roku.

 

[kerplop]

Seconding a Roku box. We got the $50 one and it was quite literally plug and play. I think the only hitch was having to sign up for an account on their website, but after that we were watching Netflix and other stuff in 10 minutes max.

 

[wiigirl]

Seconding a Roku box. We got the $50 one and it was quite literally plug and play. I think the only hitch was having to sign up for an account on their website, but after that we were watching Netflix and other stuff in 10 minutes max.

 

[hsmamato2]

I think Roku is the simplest...

 

[supersnoop]

In my opinion, it comes down to two things; what are you familiar with, and what can he figure out on his own?

I set my parents up with TiVo's. It's got a simple interface and does everything all in one place. I got tired of phone calls asking which TV input and receiver device needed to be selected. I also got them a Harmony remote that controls everything with buttons like "watch a movie" which turns on the right components and sets all the inputs. If you're going to be tech support when he can't figure it out, make it easy on yourself.

Further, the TiVo interface is pretty intuitive, and, since it's the same for television or netflix, it's one less thing to learn. I even have an older TiVo with a built-in DVD player/recorder which uses the same interface. Again, one less thing to plug in and one less interface to learn.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Roku.

 

[Ali]

I got a new router today and I just finished updating the network for my chromecast. I have the app on the iphones and ipad. Once you are logged in to netflix and can see the little envelope looking thing it is simple. But you will need to know how to change your video source on your tv. My cab;e remote has a small button on the bottom to push and it changes through all the HDMI things and goes to the chromecast.

It isn't hard, my son can do it. My husband can do it on his ipad or iphone but couldn't do the set up because he chose not to.

it is easy. Doing it a few times will make it stay in his memory.

Also, my new blue ray came with a remote that has a netflix button. It makes it simple to access once it is installed. Just push the button.

 

[curlyjbs]

Chromecast works on wifi. We absolutely love it and have one on every tv LOL. We use it with netflix - you can control it from a laptop, or cell phone.

You can cast anything on your computer screen/phone screen to your tv. It doesn't interfere with the cell phone either. You can send/rec calls & texts or surf the web etc once you are casting to the TV.

If you have wifi in the house the chromecast is so easy and for $35 its a steal!!!

 

[Colleen27]

We have a Sony Blu-ray player that has been the perfect solution for my tech-phobic DH... It is an HDMI connection, so when you power it up the TV senses it and asks if you want to switch to the new input, and the remote has a Netflix button to launch the app without navigating the player's menu. It couldn't be easier.

 

[kelowatt]

I have a chromecast. You just need to download an extension to chrome on your laptop, or download the app on a tablet or mac device. Then, when you're watching something you can click the chromecast icon (it's a rectangle with a series of arcs in the upper right corner) and select the chromecast device and it will connect and broadcast wirelessly.

If you're looking into a roku instead, you might want to check out woot.com or look into a refurbished one. You can usually get some decent deals.

Another option, is look and see if there is a "timebank" in your area. I have a good friend who is very computer savy who volunteers to set up peoples electronics. He then "banks" the time he took setting up the electronics, and can ask someone else in the "timebank" group to return the favor by doing something for him that takes approximately the same amount of time (cooking a meal, mending clothes, teach a guitar lesson, ect). It's a great way to share skills in a community.

 

[Bancroft]

sounds good

 

[holycow]

The WiFi Blue Ray should only connect with an HDMI cable.

Then you connect to your wireless. Which would mean you find your internet
connection and put in your password.

If he was confused with the Wii I think he would be even more confused if
he had to use his phone!

(we have Netflix on our Wii and on a Blue Ray)

 

[HM]

We got my parents a Roku. They needed some help setting it up, but works great for them.

We use both a BluRay and an Xbox 360 for connecting. We prefer the setup of the Xbox but the BluRay would probably be the easier one for a less tech savvy person. I

 

[FergieTCat]

Does Chromecast work with an Ipad?

I have the Netflix App on my Ipad. How can I watch it on my TV?

 

[JB2K]

Here is my dilemma. I am trying to find a device for our house so my father can watch netflix. He found the WII too confusing. I bought a wifi blueray dvd but can't figure out how to hook it up.

You can either go into the Blu-ray player's menu and "find" your wireless router and enter the router's password, or by using a simple CAT5 Network Cable, you can directly connect the Blu-ray player to the router.

IMO, a Wii is not a very good way to watch Netflix (especially, if you have a modern HD TV set) -- you could always buy a dedicated (Roku) box, but if you already have a Blu-ray player with Netflix installed, that would be a waste of $$

 

[lauti]

Does Chromecast work with an Ipad? I have the Netflix App on my Ipad. How can I watch it on my TV?

You need to buy Chromecast, plug it into your TV and then control it with your iPad.

 

[buzz2400]

thanks for the replies. I bought a cable to try and hook up the dvd player. If this doesn't work, I am going to buy a roku.