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Netflix streaming device performance? Looking for what is "typical", maybe a better streamer for...

post #1 of 12
12/31/12 at 1:14pm
Thread Starter 
I just picked up a Netgear NTV300 on sale for use playing Netflix (I wanted something that would do 1080p and DD+).

This device takes maybe 35 seconds to actually start up the Netflix app from the main menu. It takes a further 15-20 seconds or so to start streaming, and 7 seconds to actually stop once the "stop" button is hit.

This seems really slow to me...are the other media player boxes (Roku, WD TV Live, blu-ray players, etc.) like this?

Anyone have any recommendations for a media player box that operates smoothly and supports 1080p/DD+?
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post #2 of 12
12/31/12 at 2:10pm
With my Roku 2XS (which does support 1080p/DD+) i timed my entry into Netflix.It took a total of 21 sec.from the time i clicked on the channel to the time i began streaming a movie,stopping the stream was immediate. I guess the Netgear NTV300 is a bit slow.
Edited by greaser - 12/31/12 at 2:24pm
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post #3 of 12
1/1/13 at 1:11am
My Roku 2 XS takes 6 seconds to start the player from the home screen (sometimes a few more seconds to completely fill the UI with thumbs, sometimes not). It takes 5-7 seconds to start streaming a title. Of the devices I have which play Netflix with 1080p video and 5.1 sound (Roku, PS3, Sony BDP-S390 and Panasonic DMP-BDT220 BD players and TiVo Premiere) the Roku is fastest at app start-up and second fastest at stream start (the PS3 being the champ; after the first stream start, it takes 2-3 seconds to start subsequent titles).
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post #4 of 12
1/2/13 at 8:49pm
Thread Starter 
So I got a buddy to compare against the Sony 590 blu-ray player and it was somewhat faster than the Netgear box. I then picked up a Roku and the difference is huge. It's just way smoother and more responsive. The Netgear box is getting returned--the cost saving isn't worth the lost performance.
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post #5 of 12
1/3/13 at 8:13am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris Friesen View Post

So I got a buddy to compare against the Sony 590 blu-ray player and it was somewhat faster than the Netgear box. I then picked up a Roku and the difference is huge. It's just way smoother and more responsive. The Netgear box is getting returned--the cost saving isn't worth the lost performance.

Agree, I owned the Netgear too and returned it. I noticed in my local Costco store yesterday that the Roku 2 XS bundle is selling for $69.99 until 1/5/13.
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post #6 of 12
1/3/13 at 4:12pm
The PS3 has been giving me problems lately and I would get a Roku but I am waiting for the Roku 3 to come out. Don't want to buy a Roku then a month later it is discontinued and out of date.
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post #7 of 12
1/3/13 at 4:19pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by reddice View Post

The PS3 has been giving me problems lately and I would get a Roku but I am waiting for the Roku 3 to come out. Don't want to buy a Roku then a month later it is discontinued and out of date.

I don't know that I'd hold my breath waiting for a new Roku STB to hit the market.
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post #8 of 12
1/3/13 at 9:12pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by michaeltscott View Post

I don't know that I'd hold my breath waiting for a new Roku STB to hit the market.

I am waiting. I can also still watch Neflix on my laptop.
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post #9 of 12
1/4/13 at 7:56am
What exactly do you expect this Roku 3 to do that a 2 can't? If you take the position that you won't buy anything today because a new model may come out tomorrow, you'd never buy anything. But if you're looking to replace a PS3, why not look at disc players since you'll lose disc playback as well when your PS3 goes? Lack of disc playback is precisely why I never have and probably never will buy a Roku. So many devices already play Netflix, a Roku seems redundant.
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post #10 of 12
1/4/13 at 10:48am
That's why I said that I wouldn't hold my breath. If they can find a way to improve the Roku 2 such that it will generate new business (the only justification for launching a new product) I'll be surprised. That MHL stick they introduced in October has to be as small as it's going to get. The last two STBs, the LT and HD, were price and feature reduced products. They've also never released a product before April; all but two of their 13 products have hit the market in July or after (mostly after).
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post #11 of 12
1/4/13 at 10:49am
The browser based streaming has come a long way. Granted it is on YouTube but check this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STCKwxzL3VM
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post #12 of 12
1/4/13 at 10:58am
Quote:
Originally Posted by olyteddy View Post

The browser based streaming has come a long way. Granted it is on YouTube but check this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STCKwxzL3VM

This is true--I can play 9 Mbps 1080p VUDU in a PC web browser window and it looks great. The Windows 8 Netflix app will play 1080p video encodes of HD titles. What I don't get from either is digital 5.1 surround.
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