by Dale Chappell

Created on: May 21, 2008   Last Updated: May 22, 2008

Netflix users can now purchase the $100 Ruko box to deliver instant DVD quality movies to their TVs. Bad news; you'll still have to wait 30 minutes for that Dominoes pizza.

Similar to On-Demand services offered by satellite and cable companies, as well as Apple TV, the new Roku Box will instantly deliver streaming video content to your living room. Unfortunately, new release DVD movies and the latest episode of your favorite television show are not immediately available. According to a Netflix representative, these feature films will only be released after the studio has milked the sales of the DVD, resulting in a minimum 8-week lag.

Apple's iTunes TV is sure to take drastic steps to combat the new Netflix pricing and convenience feature. Currently, Apple TV works more like your neighborhood video store, where your choices are to either purchase the DVD or rent it. Yet, the few pennies you would save on gas from driving around the block are lost when you compare the price. At $3.99 per new release, your neighborhood video kiosk would allow you to view three new films for the price of one Apple TV download and that includes the price of gas.

Apple TV also makes available "library releases", or films and television programs that are typically older titles having already made their television debut. The market Netflix has targeted, library releases rent for $2.99 via download to the Apple TV. In combination with a home computer, broadband connection, Roku box, and Netflix subscription, over 10,000 of these library releases will be freely available for instant download 24 hours a day.

Opposed to the Roku box's $100 price tag, the Apple TV starts at $229.00 for the 50 hour 40 GB2 harddrive and $329.00 for the 200 hour 160 GB2 harddrive. Unlike the Apple TV, the Roku box has no need for any sized harddrive, as the video is 100% streamed and can be stopped and started over at will.

Price wise, the set box and Netflix subscription is a steal for those tired of flipping channels. At $70 to $100 per month for digital cable plus $4.99 for each on-demand new release, the new Netflix feature makes up for the purchase price of the Roku box in a surprisingly short time.

The Roku box is about the size of 6 DVD covers stacked up, but packs over 10,000 movies and television shows. If you are not already a Netflix subscriber, your first step is to become one. By far, the best value associated with the new streaming video feature is the $8.99 per month plan, allowing you 1 by-mail DVD

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