Comments on: Apple vs. Netflix: How do they stack up?

By: Kellon, Chico ca

Kellon, Chico ca — Thu, 28 May 2009 23:24:46 +0000

So I must be the smartest guy on here. You are all arguing which is best. The real answer is compromise. I have both. I use my xbox360 just like a roku for my Netflix streaming. And all the stuff I really want right now I buy through apple tv. But if I can wait 2 days to get a DVD from Netflix then I burn it into iTunes so I can watch it on apple tv and my iphone. Then if Netflix ever loses their DVDs. I have one backed up for them.

By: Greg, Atlanta GA

Greg, Atlanta GA — Tue, 12 May 2009 19:28:05 +0000

This ridiculous reading all these posts from people dissing the AppleTV, when they've never owned one. I won't diss the netflix box, but as an AppleTV owner it is AWESOME! I stream movies/TV from my server, I can watch YouTube, I can buy or rent movies/TV Shows (good/current selection) from itunes. Plus my whole family LOVES to watch our pictures stream by, while listening to our itunes music library. What else does all that?

By: John, New York NY

John, New York NY — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 18:49:41 +0000

heres my solution… i bought an apple TV 40gb and I'm enjoying the comfort of having all my movies backed up in a server to watch on my 52" TV in H.264 (GREAT quality by the way) and I'm a subscriber to netflix where i can pop in a dvd in my iMac and view it on my apple TV without a dvd player or the extra unnecessary box by netflix… so if i do get tired of nexflix i can just cancel and still luv the Apple TV and not have an unnecessary box in the corner of my closet… its only $100.00 more and you can do SO MUCH MORE…

By: Dennis, Laguna Niguel, CA

Dennis, Laguna Niguel, CA — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 04:44:53 +0000

don't forget you don't need the roku box for netflix because next month Netflix will be streaming their content free for netflix members on Marketplace Live for the XBOX 360

By: Zues2244 Lakeville, MN

Zues2244 Lakeville, MN — Wed, 21 May 2008 11:22:19 +0000

NetFlix does not support the Mac OS for

downloading their video. Strange.

ex ped: Strange but true. As Netflix explains on its site, it's because Apple won't license its digital rights management technology (DRM) to them.

By: Rob, Lake Tahoe, NV

Rob, Lake Tahoe, NV — Wed, 21 May 2008 06:21:05 +0000

Good to see some competition, but the NetFlix box is pretty lackluster. As a NetFlix subscriber, I'd never buy this thing. Apple TV gives me access to content on my home server, in addition to movie rentals. The NetFlix box is a one trick pony and why bother if A/V quality is weak at best? Apple's product is vastly superior and puts the user in control. Sure, I can buy or rent movies through iTunes if I want to pay. But I can also load up my home server with movies in H.264 format and watch them with Apple TV. I can also watch TV shows I've bought on iTunes, check out YouTube, play all of my music on my home theater system, check out my photo albums, etc. And none of this costs a penny extra. Also, to Steve in San Antonio, Apple TV is not a DVR. DVR = Digital Video Recorder. The Apple TV does not record anything. Instead, it provides access to content streamed from Apple via rentals, streamed from your home computer(s), YouTube, etc. And how exactly is the NetFlix box a "better value"? It costs $100 to buy and only works if I'm paying NetFlix a monthly fee. What happens if I cancel my service? I end up with a useless box! Apple TV, on the other hand, provides a wealth of features that don't require a monthly fee. I can rent movies from Apple if I want to, but Apple TV can do plenty more without any extra expense (ie: mandatory subscription). In my mind, Apple TV is a better deal.

By: Maurice, Jersey City NJ

Maurice, Jersey City NJ — Wed, 21 May 2008 05:15:15 +0000

Hi Philip, exactly what does "ex ped" mean? I can't find a definition anywhere on the net.

ex ped: Sorry, that's a bit of Time Inc. telegraphese that dates back to the day when overseas communications was billed by the character and you needed a short way to say "here's my two-cents." It means, literally, "from Philip Elmer-DeWitt." Thanks for asking. Albest.

By: Michael Fallai, Phoenix AZ

Michael Fallai, Phoenix AZ — Tue, 20 May 2008 23:41:43 +0000

I always laugh when people hate on Jobs.

I laugh, all the way to the bank. $1000 invested in AAPL in April 2004, is worth over $25,000 now while MSFT has been essentially flat in that time.

Yeah, Jobs sure is fooling people. What idiots us fanbois are to sniff his arse. Smells like… money.

By: mike - Seattle, WA

mike - Seattle, WA — Tue, 20 May 2008 22:25:43 +0000

Netflix has a large library of Bluray discs that are full 1080p HD with no compression artifacts or problems. The 720p from Apple is highly compressed (as will Netflix when they go HD). It's going to be a compromise for some time because of bandwidth issues.

Most people are better off with Netflix streaming for near-DVD quality movies on-demand and Bluray in the mail. Hook up a PC to your HDTV, pop in a $140 Bluray drive, and you have a great solution.

By: milo - chicago, IL

milo - chicago, IL — Tue, 20 May 2008 21:11:36 +0000

The ten thousand versus one thousand comparison seems to be bogus – in the case of Netflix, it looks like they are including TV episodes in the count, while the iTunes number is only movies.

For a fair comparison, it should be the number of MOVIES Netflix has (which I suspect is much closer to 1000 if not much lower), or add TV episodes to the iTunes number (which may be well more than 10 thousand).

The article should correct that, currently it's pretty misleading.

ex ped: Updated to add your caveat. Thanks.