equipment needed to give up TV

[weluvdizne]

O.k., so the thread about giving up tv got my brain spinning. I have contemplated this move in the past, but don't know where to start, so I keep shelving the idea. Well, I finally decided to be brave and admit that I am technologically challenged and need help to figure out how to make this work.
Here's where I am starting:
We have three tv's in the house, two that we actually watch on a daily basis.
We currently get satelite and have a Dish Network provided DVR.
All of our tv's are the old fashioned tube tv's.
We have dvd players.
We also have a desk top computer that is connected to the internet via a DSL modem.

Here's what I want to do:
Trying to save money by eliminating some services - satelite.
We have a brand new still in the box laptop.
Want to use it 99% at home, but not plugged into the wall to get internet.
Want to get rid of satelite tv and try Netflix for delivered movies and also watching tv shows.
Want to use computer (laptop) while watching tv shows thru Netflix.
Willing to buy inexpensive Blu Ray to do this. (What are the other equipment options instead of buying Blu Ray? How much would the least expensive Blu Ray cost that can do Netflix tv shows?)
Can we get rid of our home phone service, too? Would like to knock out that bill as well. That thought is part of this whole thing, too.

Please understand that you need to break this down in easy and very basic terms for me. If I need to get specific services/equipment, please tell me so. I think that there is probably at least one more person out there with these questions that is perhaps too shy to ask.

I really appreciate your help and also you not picking on me for not knowing something others think is basic knowledge.

 

[bonoriffic]

If you want to watch streaming netflix, a basic DSL connection won't cut it. You will need at least one of the speed tiers above basic. 1 Mbps won't be the slowest to reasonably do it. If you don't know your speed, go to http://www.speedtest.net/ and find out.

You can use the laptop connected to the TV to watch, or the laptop itself. If you wish to use the laptop to a TV, your laptop needs a video out compatible with your TV. So if your TV support VGA or S-video for example, your laptop needs to output the same. Also your laptop needs internet through wireless or direct connection. (The same applies to the desktop, that can also stream netflix)

Cheap blu ray players that offer netflix streaming probably don't also have built in wireless. Just because it says netflix supported, assume unless indicated otherwise that it only supports a direct ethernet connection and not wireless.

PS3, Xbox 360, and Wii all support netflix streaming if you already have one of those.

 

[weluvdizne]

Thank you.
We do have a Wii. How can I use this, preferably without a land line phone line?

 

[vicki_c]

FYI - I was just looking into this a bit myself tonight and the Netflix site says they don't support the Wii yet - it says "coming soon - Spring". Since that's the only device we have that would work for the TV w/Netflix streaming, I quit investigating. There was a thing to have them send you an e-mail when the Wii avenue was available and I signed up for that.

 

[SandrA9810]

You can get DSL internet now without having a landline phone.

AT&T is still installing their newest connection (I forget the name at the moment)... but it's fiber optic cable, which is extremely fast internet.

I would suggest getting a wireless router for your home, rather than getting the ethernet box for the Wii. The wireless router will come in handy a lot longer. And this way you can use your laptop anywhere in the house without dragging a cord around. I've personally never heard you can use the Wii for streaming video from netflix. I know ps3 and xbox can do it right out of the box. If it does work on the Wii, i'd use the Wii for watching streaming videos, then use your laptop to select the movies you want mailed out to your home.

If you still want the blue ray player, a used PS3 from gamestop will probably be one of your cheaper options. Only 230$ vs 300$ new. And I know for sure a PS3 already has netflix set up for streaming.

 

[bonoriffic]

You can sign up for Wii netflix when available here: http://www.netflix.com/NRDInfo/Wii

You can also buy a Roku device, which is cheap around $79 for non-HD versions and very simple to use and connect. It needs an internet connection, either direct from the DSL modem or wireless. It also does amazon video and several other services.

Roku and Tivo are the best netflix experiences. Tivo would defeat the purpose as your want to eliminate TV. (Although the best overall device hands down)

 

[vicki_c]

To watch streaming video on the TV (not your laptop or PC) -- you need a "Netflix enabled device" is what I think they call it.

It listed XBox, PSP, and the Wii (coming), a number of Blu-Ray players, some high end TVs with internet capabilities, a few other items as well.

So it's different than just having a wireless router -- which we already have (and if someone knows that that's not the case - definitely let me know)!

As I said, I really didn't read too far into it - the other thread where someone said they got their box (starts with an "R") and a commercial I saw on TV recently intrigued me.

edited: oops bonnariffic posted while I was typing - yeah, that "R" thing!

 

[KAYLI'S DAD]

I have netflix connected to our ps3 and I am not too impressed with the selection of movies on it. There are alot of old and not heard of movies on there to stream. Every movie I searched for on the netflix website that I was interested in watching was not available to be streamed, you can only get it by mail. That is just my 2 cents. Someone else might enjoy it more than I do. My father has the roku box and he complains that it was a waste of money for the same reasons. He gets the movies in the mail, about 3 or 4 a week.

 

[Muushka]

I have netflix connected to our ps3 and I am not too impressed with the selection of movies on it. There are alot of old and not heard of movies on there to stream. Every movie I searched for on the netflix website that I was interested in watching was not available to be streamed, you can only get it by mail. That is just my 2 cents. Someone else might enjoy it more than I do. My father has the roku box and he complains that it was a waste of money for the same reasons. He gets the movies in the mail, about 3 or 4 a week.

Me! I enjoy it more than you do!

Oh my goodness! OK. I have found so many movies on streaming, old and fairly recent releases. In addition, by looking at the genre portion of the drop down box, I have been able to narrow down to exactly my type of movie. Once I get into a genre, I look at the star rating and what the movie is about. If it has less than 3 stars I usually pass. If 3 or more and looks interesting, I give it a try.

I have found some wonderful movies that I never would have been able to see had I not done this. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas comes to mind. Best in Show is another. But I am a movie fanatic and rarely go to see movies that the mainstream seems to love.

There are a ton of old movies out there that are so much better than the movies today. I have Absence of Malice on streaming now, and Iron Giant and Shawshank Redemption. 3 that I love.

 

[Ericandjenng]

I recently was looking into dropping my landline but not give up DSL also. Yes, you can do that but it comes at a price. Even at the slowest speed, DSL would be more than double by itself from what I am paying now. And since I would have to up my cell phone service, it doesn't save me any money.

 

[bonoriffic]

Streaming movies are only available if they are available from the streaming partners netflix uses. Movies will generally be about 3 - 6 months behind their DVD release. It could get better, but most likely will get worse. Many deals now specifically prevent a movie's release to streaming and even prevent DVD rental for a period of up to a month after it was available for sale. As with any new way to make money, someone is afraid their share will dry up and will take extreme measures to protect it.

Netflix streaming is best suited if you want to watch the box set of a TV series from last year or later, or watch a movie you missed 2 years ago. With a PS3, Xbox, or Tivo you can atleast also pull other movies down that you have obtained elsewhere, legal or not.

 

[geek]

With Windows Vista Premium or Windows 7, you can record TV shows right on your PC by running Windows Media Center (included with Windows.) My family did this for about 3 years and we enjoyed HDTV for free.

To use Windows Media Center, you need to purchase a HDTV tuner for about $50 which you can find on newegg.com. The tuner connects to your PC via a standard USB cable and your laptop must be on to record TV shows from the tuner. Not everyone can receive HDTV via an antenna. Check out antennaweb.org to see what you can get in your area.

If you don't want to connect your laptop to your TV, you can purchase an Xbox 360 for about $180 at dell.com. With Xbox 360, you can view Live and Recorded TV streamed from your laptop running Windows Media Center. We bought two Xbox 360's. One in the living room and another in the bedroom.

With Xbox 360, you get a DVD player, Netflix player, a VOD marketplace and the ability to view facebook, twitter, movies, music, photos on your TV.

Within a few months, it totally pays for the tuner and the Xbox 360.

 

[DVCBELLE]

I was just telling my DH tonight that getting rid of satellite was the best thing we ever did!!!

The kids don't miss it - I find them watching PBS or moving on to other things a lot more now. The Disney channel shows - Hannah Montana, Suite Life, Wizards, etc hit streaming almost instantly so they are getting all their favorite shows and have access to all of the seasons whenever they want! DD used to watch for her favorite episode but now she can just find it on there. The kids selection is great and they have over 100 movies and tv shows on there.

For DH and I - if we really want a new release - we have Netflix send the DVD or we got to Redbox or Blockbuster. Works out great!! Plus we have watched some really old, cheesy, fun movies that we would not have watched without our Netflix.

My tip is to invest in a Tivo HD box - it is about $200 BUT you then have a DVR - which was really important to me and it streams Netflix and Youtube - the service for tivo is $10 a month. But again way less than if we had our satellite at $50 a month!

My kids SOBBED the day I turned off our satellite - which told me it was a good idea. Now they don't miss it! OH - and I would have a one-month weaning plan and in that month - recored a ton of shows that you all love. Even though the DVR service will be gone - you should be able to watch your recorded shows. We hooked this up to the other tvs without the netflix and they have some shows in there they can watch!