Freebie

This one is easy. Streaming content from Netflix onto your PS3.

If you have a Netflix unlimited account, you can do stream for free.

There are a few quirks, though.

The oddest quirk is that you have to order a disc, and have that disc in the PS3, in order to stream content from the internet. According to Netflix, this disc "leverages Blu-ray's BD-Live technology to access the Internet and activate the Netflix user interface on the PS3 system."

That's 18 words to say "we don't have a downloadable program." Though rather cumbersome, it works and I suppose that's 90% of it.

The user interface is nearly identical to the other Netflix streaming devices we've reviewed like the LG BD370, BD300 and Samsung BD-P2500. You scroll across tiles of titles that you have added to your streaming queue via computer. This other "quirk" is even more cumbersome than the disc, as you have to log onto your Netflix account to search for a title you want to see, then add it to your "Add to Instant Queue" selections. This isn't specific to the PS3, the other streaming BD players have the same limitation. The title is available pretty much instantly after you add it.

One feature the PS3 has is the ability to browse through available titles from the Netflix/PS3 interface. You can't search, but you can scroll through pre-determined categories for anything that catches your eye. If I have a spare 2 hours to watch a movie, it's going to be spent on something I want to see. But I guess if you're just looking for something new/different, this would be an easy way to find something you may not have looked for or seen otherwise. Still not as good as a search feature, though.

Picture quality, as discussed in my Netflix Streaming review and in our Podcast Ep11 varies greatly with the quality of your connection. Netflix determines your data rate, and throttles back the quality if you have a slower connection. So you can always have something, but that something may make VHS look like HD. You need at least 1.5 and Netflix recommends 3.0 and above for the best quality.

I have a 10 mbps connection, and the picture quality on a whole is surprisingly good, and depends more on what I'm watching. Older SD movies/shows are soft, as I'm sure they would be on DVD. The HD titles, like 30 Rock are noisier and a touch softer than what I get on my U-Verse. If we say the U-Verse is 100% (it's not), then the streaming version is 85-89%. On a 42-inch flat panel, I doubt most people would notice the difference. On larger TV, it's noticeable, but perhaps not objectionable. I would still choose to watch the better quality broadcast or from DVD or Blu-ray, but of course that's not what this is all about. The streaming is meant to supplement other content you have, not replace it. And that leads to the final "quirk."

It seems like they never have the titles I want to watch. There is tons of content. There are close to 600 HD titles alone, and many more in SD. But if you're hoping for something to take over for renting discs or not paying for cable, this will fall short.

That said, because it's effectively free, it's truly awesome. You have instant (relatively) access to thousands of titles that you can watch on a whim. It invites experimenting. Not sure of that subtitled film with that guy from that other movie? No need to waste a rental, try it instantly and move on if you don't like it. Watch a documentary that you wouldn't otherwise rent (I recommend Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room which is available for streaming). When you look at it as just access to loads of free content, then it's the best bargain going.

To order the free disc, go to Netflix.com/PS3

PRICE:
Netflix on PS3: Free!

CONTACT: Netflix.com/Sonystyle.com