Are you looking for an easy way to bring Netflix Watch Instantly movies to your TV? Look no further than the Roku HD-XR, a tiny set-top box that streams Internet content from Netflix and a variety of other sources.
This top-end model normally costs $129.99, but today only, Amazon has the Roku HD-XR for $99.99 with free shipping. Plus, Amazon is throwing in a $10 credit for its Video on Demand service.
Roku's other channels include MLB.com, which, like Netflix, requires a subscription, Blip.tv, Flickr, NASA, and Pandora.
The Roku player connects to the Internet via your home Wi-Fi network to stream content from all these sources. I use mine primarily to watch Netflix, as it lets me browse, queue, and watch on-demand any movie or TV show in the service's Watch Instantly library. It's awesome.
You connect the Roku box via HDMI to your HDTV--though other connection types are available. Alas, Roku doesn't supply an HDMI cable; however, here's a lovely 5-foot cable for $3.59 and with free shipping.
You'll also need a broadband Internet connection with a speed of at least 1.2 megabits per second.
All Roku boxes can connect to the network via Wi-Fi or Ethernet; however, only the HD-XR model supports 802.11n. Hopefully your router does as well, as you'll need that faster speed to enjoy the various providers' growing collection of HD content if you use Wi-Fi.
With those items in place, the HD-XR is a snap to install and set up. I still think it's on the pricey side at $100, but at least that's a better deal than $130.