Instant Watching on Mac/Linux/X360/PS3 Status

The short answer is:
Intel Mac: probably around Nov/Dec 2008
PowerPC Mac: unknown (probably never)
Linux: probably mid-2009
Xbox360: Now
PS3: unknown (maybe never)
Stand alone set-top box players: On May 20th, the Netflix Player by Roku was released for $100, more expected in Fall 2008.

They are testing Intel Mac support via Silverlight 2 with a few people right now and it should be available to everyone by the end of the year. In the meantime, there is a workaround for Intel Macs by installing Boot Camp, Parallels, and Windows. There is a similar workaround for Linux.

As far as I know, Netflix has nothing planned that will allow them to support PowerPC Macs.

On April 21st, Reed Hastings (Netflix CEO) said that they have deals with 4 companies to produce hardware for Instant Watching. LG was previously announced to be one of the 4.

On May 20th, the Netflix Player by Roku was released for $100, more expected in Fall 2008.

On Oct 14th, Microsoft released Silverlight 2.

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by pterosaur on February 18, 2008 at 12:48pm: As far as I know, Netflix has nothing planned that will allow them to support PowerPC Macs.

Boooo. I plan to buy a shiny, new Intel MacBook Pro in the next few weeks. What is the best way to set up instant watch on that?; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by durandal on May 16, 2008 at 7:20pm: best way is to put windows on your mac one way or the other. I did it with Boot Camp and it worked really well.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by T-Rave on August 1, 2008 at 5:30pm: I use virtualbox with xp installed. Virtualbox is the free solution to vmware and parallels, that in my opinion is way better then both paid programs. I have used them both and vbox offers more features, minus image mounting if you have a bootcamp drive. Hopefully that will be fixed soon. That's the solution for my macbook pro.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by ColdOne on February 18, 2008 at 2:39pm: They reiterated this intention in the Q4 2007 earnings call:

We hope in 2008 to be able to support web-based viewing on the Macintosh also. The hold-back has been a lack of a DRM solution on the Mac.

Transcript of Q4 2007 Earnings Call; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by droidmaker on February 18, 2008 at 2:48pm: I have a shiny MacBook Pro (2.33GHz Intel Core 2 Duo...) and all i needed for instant watching was Parallels and Boot Camp.
The Windows window opens, i have IE in there, and i watch tons.

Remember: it's not the Mac. It's the OS. If you'd like more info on the particular set up, let me know.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Spindaddydad on February 18, 2008 at 2:51pm: Droidmaker, do you watch it on your Mac's monitor or do you run it out to your TV?; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by droidmaker on February 18, 2008 at 7:30pm: i just watch on the laptop... usually in bed...

our work to get instant watching to the TV will be more and more available in 2008 (aside from cabling up laptops to TVs... which of course can be done, but isn't for everyone); ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by pterosaur on February 18, 2008 at 2:53pm: So, do I have to have a copy of Windows then too?; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Spindaddydad on February 18, 2008 at 2:55pm: yep!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by pterosaur on February 18, 2008 at 2:56pm: Damn. I'll hit you guys up for specifics once I actually buy my new 'puter. Beginning of next month I figure.; ▶ Reply to This