Lawrence "The Dreamer" Chen's Blog

Link: http://www.netflix.com/Movie/Dan_in_Real_Life/70076934?trkid=226871

I rated this 1 star.

Link: http://www.netflix.com/Movie/Superhero_Movie/70090328?trkid=226870

I rated this 2 stars.

Link: http://www.netflix.com/Movie/Zoom_Academy_for_Superheroes/70044596?trkid=226871

I rated this 4 stars.

Link: http://www.netflix.com/Movie/Mr._Magorium_s_Wonder_Emporium/70065123?trkid=226870

I rated this 3 stars.

Link: http://www.netflix.com/Movie/Stargate_Continuum/70099788?trkid=226870

I rated this 4 stars.

I was bored and playing around with my AppleTV, I'm way behind on my video podcast viewing...but there's only so much I can take in at once.

So, I was playing around with other parts of it, and looked at Trailers. Finally saw the Star Trek trailer. I tried it in HD format. And, it keep stopping to buffer. But, watching SD format trailers were okay. Maybe Cox can't deliver the consistent speed I need for HD streaming, wonder if this'll be a problem when NetFlix HD streaming comes to my TiVo HD....except that the TiVo's are on DSL. Though I had contemplated flipping them over.

Later I was looking at my MRTG graphs, and saw that once again the transfers were considered Bulk. Guess I should set QoS marking for the AppleTV to Express. We'll see if that makes a difference next time.

I was kind of hoping that NetFlix Instant viewing would be available on my TiVo's this long weekend, but I guess it'll be sometime next month. Wonder if I'll have time off to inflict damage of watching too much NetFlix during the Xmas break

I thought of asking to borrow a NetFlix instant viewing device again, but now see that there's a limit of device activations that I can have on my account. And, I've already burned one. And, I think the plan is to activate both my TiVo HD's, so that I don't have to think of which one I'm on when the urge strikes. Even though, of course, they are both right next to each other and connected to the same display

Link: http://www.netflix.com/WiMovie/Monty_Python_s_The_Meaning_of_Life_Special_Edition/60029676?trkid=226889

I rated this 3 stars.

This is the first show I've watched using NetFlix Instant, it was okay. The lack of subtitles was kind of annoying, and it was difficult to reverse. There was only one spot where the picture broke up.

Pretty good considering that QoS on my router flagged it as a bulk transfer and gave it the Bulk priority.

I'll make a note to increase QoS priority to Express for when I have my own Instant View devices. Namely, the anticipated ability to use my TiVo HD's for NetFlix Instant Viewing.

I had recently decided, after seeing a Inside Secret podcast on getting XBMC/Boxee onto an AppleTV, that I would settle on getting myself an AppleTV instead of a Mac Mini for my Home Theatre setup.

I pulled the trigger on my 40th birthday

But, I didn't get to finally setting it up until last night.

Somewhere in anticipation of getting it, it occurred to me that I might not have enough capacity on my current Zektor HDVI5 to switch between all the devices. At least if I wanted to keep all the 'HD' sources on DVI. Like I could move the Momitsu back to VGA or use the AppleTV on component, etc.

But, I'm using 4 of the 5 inputs....and somewhere down the road I plan to get something that'll do NetFlix streaming. If I had stayed with the plan for a Mac Mini...I wouldn't have the input concern. At least until I get BluRay, though the BluRay may replace my current DVD player rather than supplement it....

Anyways...connecting the AppleTV to my setup was pretty straight forward...the hardest part again, for some reason...was finding an extra ethernet cable. I don't know why I seem to always be out of them. Actually, the digital audio cable that I used is kind of short....so perhaps at some later point I'll replace with both with longer cables. But, I have a small supply of short digital audio cables. Maybe I'll stock up on ethernet cables again.

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Last time I pulled the trigger on upgrading my DSL, I was just hoping to get them to bring me up to the speed I had been paying for (originally they said I could only get 1.5m/384k, and they did deliver that for the first month....when after a storm they then locked me down at 768/384. And, no amount of calling or emails, would make them think to let me back up.)

When I had last looked, both tiers were offered...but I was pessimistic, so I only ordered the 3.0m/512k tier. But, since sync rate is almost always this rate now....and DSLreports tools suggests that 768k upstream is possible. And, should be able to get another 1-1.5m on the downstream. I had started wondering if I shouldn't have gone for the higher speed.

Then the Roku NetFlix player was announced, and that seemed like something I would want to have. Which would make the need for more speed that much more desirable.

So, I had drafted a plan to get the NetFlix player last month and upgrade my DSL last month. Only as time went on, and reviews of the NetFlix player came in....my interest faded. The lack of subtitles or CC capability in the player is a big negative.

Especially since I've been catching up on my TV recordings, and the big thing I miss is that they weren't recorded with CC enabled. Of course, I suppose it might have something to do with the fact that some of the people behind ReplayTV are now behind Roku. Though to be fair, part of the lack of CC on my ReplayTV recordings is the transition to digital....

Anyways...I was online today to check my account information....couldn't remember if I had seen the bill or not. Decided to go ahead and order the upgrade to see how close to 6.0m/768k they can actually deliver.

I'm more likely to be holding out for the LG/NetFlix combo device now....than the Roku. Even though the LG device is apparently no more capable than the Roku for NetFlix. But, I've been wanting Blu-Ray since the beginning, and now that its the winner...it might be time to finally pull the trigger on that. Guess it'll depend on whether NetFlix streaming improves....and whether I see enough Blu-Ray now to justify it.

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Link: http://www.netflix.com/Movie/Transformers/70058026?trkid=226870

I rated this 4 stars.