Dedicated video streaming computer?

There is a lot of content on the internet for video these days.
StarzPlay, Netflix, Hulu, to name just a few. I currently use
StarzPlay and Netflix Instant. I recently bought a Roku Netflix player
and am inpressed except I think I get better quality using my laptop
plugged into my wide-screen TV, however I do like the ease of use of
the Roku player as it is a tiny box, connects to my LAN via wifi G,
connects to my TV using HDMI and has a remote control. The main issue
I have with it is that it only works with Netflix at this time.

What I would really like is a dedicated video box like the Roku but
that would work on any internet source. So it would have to be a real
computer and allow navigation with a remote along with being fairly
inexpensive and small (for example, the Roku was 100 bucks new and is
about 6" x 6" x 1.5"). Is there a solution out there like that that I
just don't know about? Idealy, I'd like a small box, no bigger than a
VCR, that would be dedicated to internet video feeds, connect to my TV
via HDMI or compenent video, ability to navigate with a remote
control, wifi connection to the net, fairly inexpensive and easy to
set up. This would be a dedicated video solution, not intended as a
computer so it would not require a lot of hard drive space or even
require Windows for that matter.

Anyone know of a product like this?

Tom

The Roku box seeems to be the first (after that Apple thing). It may take
time before things are standardized to allow one settop box for several
services.

I have been expecting Netflix to offer Pay-Per-Minute a la carte access to
various video sources. Their distribution network would need very little
tweaking to become VOD. Why pay for cable or satellite, if you could just
request the most recent Myth Busters or 60 Minutes episodes (without
commercials) on the Netflix Roku box?

I was having trouble with my Roku box at the end of programs, so I did a
factory reset. I had to re-enable the box at the website. The Roku tech
support had told me there were no software issues and that Netflix had
server problems. What actually happenned after the reset was my Roku bug
went away, and my peak picture qualtiy went up. Picture quality is now
better than SD (on 480P). However, the Roku box is a big step down from
1080i HD, so far.

I wonder if they are planning an IR keyboard for the Roku box for the
future?

Cubit wrote:
The Roku box seeems to be the first (after that Apple thing). It may take
time before things are standardized to allow one settop box for several
services.

I have been expecting Netflix to offer Pay-Per-Minute a la carte access to
various video sources. Their distribution network would need very little
tweaking to become VOD. Why pay for cable or satellite, if you could just
request the most recent Myth Busters or 60 Minutes episodes (without
commercials) on the Netflix Roku box?

I was having trouble with my Roku box at the end of programs, so I did a
factory reset. I had to re-enable the box at the website. The Roku tech
support had told me there were no software issues and that Netflix had
server problems. What actually happenned after the reset was my Roku bug
went away, and my peak picture qualtiy went up. Picture quality is now
better than SD (on 480P). However, the Roku box is a big step down from
1080i HD, so far.

I wonder if they are planning an IR keyboard for the Roku box for the
future?



I don't see a Roku box in my future. There is not likely to be
desirable current content available to the Roku box.

The following lines from the Netflix site are discouraging...

.....
Why aren't all the movies and TV episodes I can get on DVD available to
stream to my TV?

While movie studios and television networks have great flexibility in
what they offer on DVD, there are many limits to what they can provide
for instant watching due to long standing contractual obligations.

Our library of instant watching choices is growing every month, but
there will be much greater selection available on DVD for a long time to
come.
....

On Aug 17, 4:18*pm, jack ak wrote:
Cubit wrote:
The Roku box seeems to be the first (after that Apple thing). *It may take
time before things are standardized to allow one settop box for several
services.

I have been expecting Netflix to offer Pay-Per-Minute a la carte access to
various video sources. *Their distribution network would need very little
tweaking to become VOD. *Why pay for cable or satellite, if you could just
request the most recent Myth Busters or 60 Minutes episodes (without
commercials) on the Netflix Roku box?

I was having trouble with my Roku box at the end of programs, so I did a
factory reset. *I had to re-enable the box at the website. *The Roku tech
support had told me there were no software issues and that Netflix had
server problems. *What actually happenned after the reset was my Roku bug
went away, and my peak picture qualtiy went up. *Picture quality is now
better than SD (on 480P). *However, the Roku box is a big step down from
1080i HD, so far.

I wonder if they are planning an IR keyboard for the Roku box for the
future?

I don't see a Roku box in my future. There is not likely to be
desirable current content available to the Roku box.

The following lines from the Netflix site are discouraging...

....
Why aren't all the movies and TV episodes I can get on DVD available to
stream to my TV?

While movie studios and television networks have great flexibility in
what they offer on DVD, there are many limits to what they can provide
for instant watching due to long standing contractual obligations.

Our library of instant watching choices is growing every month, but
there will be much greater selection available on DVD for a long time to
come.

Exactly, that's why I ask about another box that will do the other
types of streaming video. Insadentally, StarzPlay has a much better
selection than Netflix. MovieLink has been going down hill ever since
BlockBuster bought them.

BTW, 99 bucks for the Roku doesn't break the bank account. If it were
20 bucks more, it wouldn't have been worth trying it. However, I agree
that the selection is very limited. I bought more for freeing up my
laptop than anything else. I think the picture quality is better using
my laptop with the extended desktop connected to my wide-screen TV but
the Roku isn't bad. No studder like with the laptop if I'm using it
for other things on it's main desktop screen.

Tom