Netflix/Hulu ???

[jme829]

We currently stream Netflix through our Wii and LOVE it.

We also have DTV, but are thinking of getting rid of it to save some money.

I'm wondering if you can access your Netflix account through more than one TV, say if we were to buy Roku players or similar, for the other TV's (we have 3 other TV's and maybe a 4th). Or do we have to have a subscription for each TV (which would then defeat the purpose of cancelling the DTV). I guess what I'm asking is how do we use our Netflix subscription on multiple TV's...or can't we?

Also can you do Netflix and Hulu both on the same box, or does it have to be one or the other? (i.e, can we subscribe to both at the same time and switch between them?) What is the benefit of Hulu compared to Netflix? Is it better to do both?

And one more question...can you hook up a laptop to a TV to watch Netflix? Say we want to watch from our computer, can we attach the laptop to the TV to have a bigger screen?? (does that even make sense..lol).

I'm pretty good at hooking stuff up , once I know what I need to do to make it work.

 

[Tina]

I recently got my first Roku box and love it. So far I've only used it for Netflix streaming. By the way, I understand the picture quality is a million times better on the Roku than the Wii. I've been reading over on the Roku boards and from what I understand, you can have up to 4 boxes on one account. This applies to Netflix as well. However, I think they only allow you to stream to TWO at the same time. Although, one person over on the Roku boards said he has streamed to 3 without a problem.

I have not yet used Hulu Plus (Roku streams HuluPlus only). Regular Hulu is ONLY available on the PC. I'm sure that you could hook up your pc to your tv to watch that though. I just got a new netbook from Dell and it has an HDMI port on it. I could attach this to my tv to watch regular Hulu on the big screen.

You'll find that the Roku box offers Netflix, HuluPlus, Flixter and several others. You can see more on the Roku site. I haven't had the time to experiment with many channels yet (other than Netflix).

 

[usnuzuloose]

I have hulu plus on the roku and we love it. It gets alot of stuff that netflix does not have.

 

[crazelion]

We currently stream Netflix through our Wii and LOVE it.

We also have DTV, but are thinking of getting rid of it to save some money.

I'm wondering if you can access your Netflix account through more than one TV, say if we were to buy Roku players or similar, for the other TV's (we have 3 other TV's and maybe a 4th). Or do we have to have a subscription for each TV (which would then defeat the purpose of cancelling the DTV). I guess what I'm asking is how do we use our Netflix subscription on multiple TV's...or can't we?

Also can you do Netflix and Hulu both on the same box, or does it have to be one or the other? (i.e, can we subscribe to both at the same time and switch between them?) What is the benefit of Hulu compared to Netflix? Is it better to do both?

And one more question...can you hook up a laptop to a TV to watch Netflix? Say we want to watch from our computer, can we attach the laptop to the TV to have a bigger screen?? (does that even make sense..lol).

I'm pretty good at hooking stuff up , once I know what I need to do to make it work.

Great questions. I am interesting in finding out the answers.

 

[ThisIsJason]

We currently stream Netflix through our Wii and LOVE it.

We also have DTV, but are thinking of getting rid of it to save some money.

I'm wondering if you can access your Netflix account through more than one TV, say if we were to buy Roku players or similar, for the other TV's (we have 3 other TV's and maybe a 4th). Or do we have to have a subscription for each TV (which would then defeat the purpose of cancelling the DTV). I guess what I'm asking is how do we use our Netflix subscription on multiple TV's...or can't we?

Also can you do Netflix and Hulu both on the same box, or does it have to be one or the other? (i.e, can we subscribe to both at the same time and switch between them?) What is the benefit of Hulu compared to Netflix? Is it better to do both?

And one more question...can you hook up a laptop to a TV to watch Netflix? Say we want to watch from our computer, can we attach the laptop to the TV to have a bigger screen?? (does that even make sense..lol).

I'm pretty good at hooking stuff up , once I know what I need to do to make it work.

1. Yes, you can access your Netflix from more than one device. You'll just have to register it with Netflix like the Wii. Also, you have can more than one device going with Netflix on at one time (kids watching "A" in den, you watching "B" in bedroom).

2. Couldn't tell you about Hulu, don't use it.

3. Yes, you can hookup a laptop to a TV via HDMI or DVI (but with DVI you'll also have to run a separate cable for sound).

 

[Juliegirl1]

You can stream Hulu through your Wii by using Playon.tv and the internet channel on the Wii- I've started the download but was having an issue and didn't have the time to figure it out. I was going to mess around with it again tonight. There is a two week free trial period to check it out to see if it works for you before purchasing it. The website was www.playon.tv - I'll let you know if I can get it working.

 

[bicker]

I guess what I'm asking is how do we use our Netflix subscription on multiple TV's...or can't we?

From Netflix's website:

Q:
Can I watch movies instantly on more than one PC or Netflix-ready device?

A:
Some membership plans allow you to watch simultaneously on more than one personal computer or Netflix-ready device. If you are on the 1-disc-out-at-a-time plan, you may watch only one device at a time. If you are on the 2-discs-out-at-a-time plan, you may watch on up to two devices at a time. Members on the 3-disc plan can watch on up to three devices. The maximum is four devices -- available for members on the 4-or-greater-discs-out-at-a-time plan.

Your account can have up to six unique authorized devices activated (and associated with it) at any given time, including personal computers and Netflix-ready devices. For example, if you're on the 1-disc plan, you can have up to six devices associated with your account, but you can only watch one of them at a time. If you're on the 2-disc plan, you can have up to six devices activated but can only watch two of them at the same time.

Also can you do Netflix and Hulu both on the same box

Yes.

And one more question...can you hook up a laptop to a TV to watch Netflix?

Sure, as long as there is a match between outputs available on the laptop and inputs available on the television. Also, some laptops do this better than others.

 

[Tina]

I found this article today, which does a great job of describing what the different players can and can't do.:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40475898/ns/technology_and_science-tech_and_gadgets/

 

[Agri]

I'm thinking of ditching our cable tv completely - I use a program/service to watch regular hulu and files I have saved on my PC. It's web-based, so you can use the Wii and PS3 to access the program. The only catch is your PC has to be on to use it.

http://www.playon.tv/playon

 

[worm761]

I'm thinking of ditching our cable tv completely - I use a program/service to watch regular hulu and files I have saved on my PC. It's web-based, so you can use the Wii and PS3 to access the program. The only catch is your PC has to be on to use it.

http://www.playon.tv/playon

How long have you had Playon? Is it worth cost? And what problems have you had?

I read some reviews. The tech site reviews all seemed to be pretty good. The user reviews were rather mixed though.

 

[Agri]

How long have you had Playon? Is it worth cost? And what problems have you had?

I read some reviews. The tech site reviews all seemed to be pretty good. The user reviews were rather mixed though.

I've had it for a few months and haven't had any problems. I was looking for something so my mom could watch something off of hulu on the tv, so I did a free trial and I was so pleased that when it ran out, I paid for a year.

As long as the internet is working, we have no issues. It runs in the background on the pc and is practically unnoticeable.

 

[bicker]

From Netflix's website:

Netflix has updated their terms and conditions, reducing the number of simultaneous streams you're allowed from four down to two.

http://www.netflix.com/Help?action=...nkctr=yas_faq&p_search_text=streaming devices

 

[bicker]

And in what would be a major shift in direction, Hulu management has discussed recasting Hulu as an online cable operator that would use the Web to send live TV channels and video-on-demand content to subscribers, say people familiar with the talks. The new service, which is still under discussion, would mimic the bundles of channels now sold by cable and satellite operators, the people said. ...

Hulu's owners are now considering management's proposal to create a "virtual cable operator," according to people familiar with the talks. If they decide to move forward, some form of Hulu's free service would likely remain under such a plan. It is possible Hulu Plus could be folded into the new service, one of the people said.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703779704576074283037958472.html

 

[HM]

We stream our Netflix account on our Xbox 360 in one room, our BluRay player in another, on my Ipad, on my kid's computers, and on their Itouchs. They've also used our account to watch at a friends house on thier computer before (wasn't happy about that one). Obviously it's easy to use one account on many boxes/computers. We've only used Hulu on one home computer, so I don't know how that works for multiples.

 

[bicker]

Amazon.com appears to be readying a service that would make 5,000 movies and TV shows available to watch instantly -- for no extra charge -- to members of the online retailer's $79-per-year Prime free-shipping membership program.

The service would provide "unlimited, commercial-free, instant streaming of 5,000 movies and TV shows" with content similar to what is available through Netflix's streaming, according to a report by consumter technology blog site Engadget. Amazon's service, though, would be limited to standard-definition video.

Full story: http://www.multichannel.com/article/463154-Amazon_Prepping_Netflix_Like_Streaming_Service_Report.php