Netflix is a DVD by mail service that provides DVD rentals direct to your mailbox through a monthly subscription fee. Most individuals that subscribe to the service though do not take full advantage of the extra features of this subscription, namely the ability to stream high quality movies instantly (and without limitations) to your home computer or to a properly equipped television. Any subscription above the $8.99 a month level has this feature, meaning that in addition to the movies shipped on disc to your door you can also watch additional movies online for free.
What Do You Need To Watch Netflix Movies On Your Computer?
The truth is, almost any computer with a broadband Internet connection can watch streamed Netflix movies already. The only additional software that is required is a download of a special free browser plug-in called SilverLight which is made and distributed by Microsoft. Once that plug-in has been installed simply visit your Netflix queue and click the Instant tab. If there are no movies in your Instant Queue then go back and browse the catalog for movies that interest you that also have a blue PLAY or Add To Instant Queue button attached to them. Movies added to the Instant queue are separate from your mail order queue and will not be shipped by mail. Instead, return to the Instant Queue list and click PLAY on the title you wish to watch. A Netflix logo will be shown and a status bar as the movie loads into a buffer on your computer. Once it is ready it will begin playing right in the browser window or you can click the Full Screen button in the lower right corner to see the movie without the browser box around it. Press the Esc key on your keyboard to return to windowed mode.
What Do You Need To Watch Netflix Movies On Your Television?
Watching streamed Netflix movies on a standard or HDTV is a little more complicated as it requires either a video connection from your computer or a dedicated box to receive the streamed video. If your computer has an HDMI output simply connect a wire from your computer to the back of your HDTV. If you do not have this option or if the computer is too far away from the TV you can also use any of several different media boxes to accomplish the same thing. The most popular is a dedicated box called the Roku which sells for around $99. If you already own a TiVo, PS3 or XBox you can use the software in the device to connect to Netflix. If you own a Wii video game system that same ability will be offered beginning in spring 2010. A third option is to purchase one of many new hybrid DVD/Blu-Ray players that now provide Netflix and other streaming options as an additional feature.
The addition of the streaming capabilities of Netflix make the tiny $9 a month subscription fee even more attractive, bringing almost unlimited entertainment options into your home instantly without even having to walk out to the mailbox.
