Electronically Obsessed A tech addict's guide to using the Internet to streamline your life

Break free from (and cancel!) your cable or satellite subscriptions (Part III): Netflix on the Playstation 3

Internet Streaming vs. Blu-ray

The Playstation 3 is more than just a game console - it's actually a Trojan horse.  In 2006, Sony used the Playstation 3 as a weapon against Toshiba in the Blu-ray vs. HD-DVD high-definition video war.  By equipping each Playstation 3 with a Blu-ray drive (and selling them at a loss), millions of Blu-ray-capable players were installed in homes all over the world.  While Blu-ray offers some of the best video quality for the home market, Internet streaming services such as Netflix's Watch Instantly (which allows on-demand streaming of thousands of movie and television titles) are not far behind.

Netflix Watch Instantly on the Playstation 3

Last week, Netflix released the Playstation 3 Netflix Watch Instantly disc.  If you are a Netflix subscriber and own a PS3, this disc enables your PS3 to stream movies from Netflix and display them directly on your television.  I received my disc on Friday and have been really impressed by the streaming quality.  I didn't notice any dropped frames, stuttering, or synching problems between the video and audio (all of these were issues with Media Mall's PlayOn Digital Media Server).  However, the best part of the experience is that the Watch Instantly service offers some movie and television titles in HD!  Watch out Blu-ray!

Action items

1. Subscribe to Netflix.  Get at least the $8.99/month plan for unlimited disc rentals (one-movie-at-a-time) and unlimited Watch Instantly streaming.
2. If you don't already have a Playstation 3, this is the best time to buy one.  Click the following Amazon.com product link to buy one now --> PlayStation 3 120 GB.  The newly-redesigned PS3 is only $299.  This is a great deal because a standalone Blu-ray player can easily cost $200.
3. Order your Netflix Watch Instantly PS3 disc here.
4. Load up your disc in your PS3, select a movie or television show, and enjoy!

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