Netflix on Xbox 360 defeats the purpose
I have been playing around with the new Netflix feature on the latest Xbox 360′s NXE update. After studying the features and capabilities, I have to say it is quite underwhelming. Many consumers may not realize what the new Netflix feature entails and should be cautious before investing in the service.
After installing the NXE update on my Xbox 360, like a giddy school boy I jumped on the Netflix feature and started playing around with the service. To be honest I am not a long time Netflix customer, but I am previewing the service currently. The Watch Instantly feature has always attracted me mainly due to the concept of streaming movies over IP, it is a convenient alternative to going out to Blockbuster.
However, as it turns out you cannot queue up movies straight from your Xbox 360. You have to walk over to your PC and place the movies into your queue to watch them. Once you have finished queuing up your list, only then are you able to view them on your Xbox 360. This left me scratching my head, as I tried to see what benefits the new Netflix feature provided over my media server setup on my Xbox 360.
Both setups require a PC, both also allows one to view queued up movies from Netflix. The real advantage to the media server is that it shows much more movie selection at once versus sliding through the new NXE menu. The media server also allows you to stream movies and TV shows through other hosts besides Netflix.
Selection is also a huge problem that Netflix needs to get worked out. Most of the movies are old. There are practically no new movies available on Netflix Watch Instantly. Currently, there are a few hundred movies less through the Xbox 360 because Sony recently yanked their movies from the console.
I really hope that Netflix can work something out so consumers can access the actual catalog to build the queue straight from the Xbox 360. I urge that users hold off on signing up for Netflix until then.
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23 Responses to “Netflix on Xbox 360 defeats the purpose”
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November 23rd, 2008
well guess that’s one more reason for my friend to hate the new NXE update
November 23rd, 2008
What a bunch of trash. Last time I remember this is not a US site and Netflix isn’t offered anywhere in the world outside the US. Netflix’s instant q has always been a 1 year old or more movies nothing new here. We also knew well before today that you would nees to q online. Not news again.
GameBlorge the gamertrash of the industry delivers once again.
November 23rd, 2008
bwahahaha!
Anti 360 BS. Oh no, I have to set up the queue by my computer . . . oh freaking wait . . how the hell do you set up your movie queue on any movie CD shipping site like this?
Retarded. This netflix streaming is the most unbelievable thing the 360 has done to date. I am cancelling my cable subscription tomorrow and only running the 360 netflix streaming / downloaded movie streaming.
I am amazed at how fast it works, and how fast I am able to stream HD content like “The office” and “Heroes” . . . all episodes.
This review above is from a disgruntled PS3 prostitute envious because all they can stream is youtube and BBC crap.
Really, this site is quite pathetic.
November 23rd, 2008
this site may be biased… but you actually went throught the trouble of registering an account in here to bitch about that…
Wow… thats so pathetic…
I rully hope Sony starts a Netflix like service.. that would be cool… and since Microsoft doesnt own any movie studios… they cant stop them from aquiring movie rights… win win… but now.. its waaay overpriced…
November 24th, 2008
DWH
Someone needs to stop the lies produced by this site. That’s why Im here. That is also the reason why it compels other people to chime in and tell truth rather then listen to Mike and Dave talk crap all day masterbating to their PS3. They attack the 360 because it took the crown from the PS3 and they are bitter about it.
November 24th, 2008
@dwh hes one of the more rabid xbots that doesn’t post here a whole lot (but has previously). Scarey thing is, I think he has children
He also obviously missed mikes point.
November 24th, 2008
You’re right CAD. Nearly every post from Ferro and Parrack is bashing the 360, and most of the time they miss out on important quotes etc, or they just make shit up.
November 24th, 2008
try to justify your sorry existence as much as you like CAD… I hardly come here for the news… I come here to find out what kind of shenanigans harry is up to…
also… BOURNE ACCEPT MY GODDAM FWEND REQUEST…
this is like a small informal forum…
good luck trying to rid the internet of lies… I suggest you start with Major Nelson…
ZING!!! FLAME WARS!!!
November 24th, 2008
Lol i never knew expressing opinion was so frowned upon on this site but here’s mine anyways: xbots, these guys are expressing opinion about the services. If you don’t like it then leave, your embarrassing yourself. What they say you may not agree with for sure, and i don’t agree sometimes but you guys take opinion as a fact! Learn to differentiate between fact and opinion.
November 24th, 2008
Also DWH, i haven’t recieved a freind request yet… i’ll just go on and have a look.
November 24th, 2008
Major Nelson is just an old loser with no life. Neflix with out Sony is well dead or just pure boring. I rather use my VAIO PC.
November 24th, 2008
People who get ‘your’ and ‘you’re’ mixed up piss me off.
Bourne, and when they just make shit up, does that fall under opinion too?
November 24th, 2008
Harry, you have to ask yourself, why on earth would a journalist “make shit up”, what possible reason does Mike have on “making shit up”? You think that every thing’s made up if it doesn’t agree with Microsoft.
November 24th, 2008
The funny thing is Mike is putting down Netflix, not MS, and yet you bots still jump all over him. If he has a media server system setup then I can see where he would have a hard time finding the perks in this service. You guys really need to grow up.
November 24th, 2008
Anyone taking Blorge articles as authoritative “news” is a fool.
Best part of this site is watching you guys flame eachother for being fanboys! Lol! Fanboys flaming fanboys for being fanboys. Fun to read.
And OMG, readers think they have to comment here in order to keep this site honest? Come on, is your life REALLY that sad and useless???
November 24th, 2008
Neflix you just got “powned†lmfao.
I like the community here. It is small and intimate. The fanboys on both sides seem to be pretty well informed and intelligent for the most part. It is fun to defend and debate your console of choice against rival fanboys.
November 24th, 2008
DWH
It’s not that small when it constitently shows up on Google. I have tried to not come to this site but then I go looking trough Google News and there is always something stupid from this site. If it was non-exsistant and hard to fnd I wouldn’t be here, Trust Me.
November 24th, 2008
ohh NO!!!
even the Almighty Google in anti-microsoft… HAHAHAHAHAH
I hoped a service like Netflix would be on the PS3… cus when you look at it this way… the 360 is a platform whose net is very restricted… no browser… but hey… they got the service… I would get it…
lets hope sony comes up with a similar service… cus their movie rental system is broken… Im not gonna pay $5 to rent ONE movie…
November 24th, 2008
Guys, where in the article does Mike trash the 360? All I got from this was that the Netflix streaming service has no advantage over using the 360′s previously available media server functionality. 360 owners who don’t want to bother setting up their console as a media server can still benefit from the service.
Why is everyone so touchy about electronics!?
@DavidB: Don’t kid yourself. YOU ARE ALSO POSTING ON THIS SITE! …and you are a fanboy, just like the rest of us.
-Arvis
November 24th, 2008
Righ Arvis . . . he never trashes the 360. He just states that one very new and very cool factor the 360 has over the PoS3, is . . well. . . crappy.
that’s not trashing the 360 . . . it’s trashing the 360′s functionality . . . completely different.
And if what he says were true . . . if he weren’t completely blown away by how awsome it is . . . then it would be less of a “hit peice” on the 360. But since everything he says is basically a lie, or making a big issue out of nothing (such as “you actually have to use a PC for almost 4 minutes and put movies in your queue . . the horrors!”), since those factors are true . . . this is a 360 bashing article.
and completely retarded.
November 24th, 2008
Arvis,
Not sure what we were thinking trying to put some rational into these peoples heads. When I read the article, I came to the same conclusion as you. We need to remember one thing, everything that is on the 360 is perfect no matter what, and don’t question it! Even if it is Netflix and not the 360 in question.
November 25th, 2008
uh, hey mike…this is the first generation of this service. over time, as xbox live has proven, the features will change and expand. it’s like holding psn accountable for the problems they first had when they first rolled out….
ah..but that would make too much sense for you to use common sense and objectivity….
gamerblorge…the laughing stock of the gaming community…
November 25th, 2008
Wylie,
Seriously. Still, can’t seem to stop myself from trying…
@Kev: Man, you were so close to a thoughtful, reasonable post there… and then you went and made it sophomoric, like you always do. Alas. Still, can’t really argue with the point you DID make. Hopefully it proves to be correct.
-Arvis