Interesting development with video players for TVs

[Conan The Librarian]

Our old video player broke so I replaced it with a new one. Went shopping to see what was available and found it interesting that the new standard is Blue Ray disk player with WiFi. If you have a home WiFi and internet access, you can play movies and videos from some free sites like Crackle and from some pay sites like Netflix. Pretty cool. We've had it a few weeks and I haven't actually watched anything yet, but I did check it out and try it to see how it works.
 
I can see using something like this occasionally when I want to "veg out". It's a nice feature. Cost is about $120 for a good brand name, like Sony.
 
My original idea was to get something I could play my old video tapes on, and those are still available. But I think the new offerings add more value.

[Brett]

Yep, love the streaming wifi.   I currently subscribe to Netflix and have been enjoying some of the old TV series they have available like the 'Rockford Files' and concert videos like Paul Simon. 

[bilmac]

My daughter's family has been doing this for some time now. When I ask what is necessary they show me this and that and rattle off names and it goes in one ear and out the other. And to think I used to think of myself as technically minded, I can wire my own house, install my own furnace, fix anything.

[Brett]

My daughter's family has been doing this for some time now. When I ask what is necessary they show me this and that and rattle off names and it goes in one ear and out the other. And to think I used to think of myself as technically minded, I can wire my own house, install my own furnace, fix anything.

Yet need a 6 year old to program your video recorder.   I know the feeling. 

[Conan The Librarian]

Bilmac:
 
That's an unfortunate thing with some people who like their technology. They get too detailed with their explanations and everybody gets confused. Heres's what's required:
 
1) Internet service to your house.
2) A modem to use the service.  You probably already have this since you're on the web already.
3) A wireless router, which you may or may not already have. This is a Walmart item, but I bought mine at Best Buy. It's a transmitter/receiver that lets your computer or video player connect to the internet. Linksys made mine and it's a popular brand. I think I paid about $60 for mine.
4) A cable to connect the modem  to the router.
5) The video player
 
The trickiest part is setting up the router, but the instructions will get you most of the way there, and the phone tech support is good. It may take an hour or so. You may need a second cable to connect your PC or laptop to the router during this procedure, but I'm not sure.
 
If you've already got a wireless router set up, all you really need to do is get the video player and plug it in, then have it use the network name associated with your router.
 
There's another option that some people use. It involves connecting a cable between your modem and your video player, but I am not familiar with the details of that process. Wifi is so easy an inexpensive I see no reason to run more wires in my house.
 
For setting mine up, I just read the directions on the player. I already had wifi. The only complication was unraveling the rats nest of cables my son had set up behind the TV so he could play video games. We bought our player at Costco, brand is Sony. Cost was about $120. Very nice.

[scotsman]

How fast must your internet speed be to  watch netflix or some of the others?

[Curtis]

The smallest "smart TV" (internet ready) I found I could buy was a 42" for $799.  Instead, I bought the "Logitech Revue" box for $99 and made my 32" TV a "smart TV" for my bedroom.  My main TV already has Netflix and internet through my Sony PlayStation.  It's great to have Netflix on everything, including my phone.  I have Verizon FIOS and streaming is no problem.
Curtis