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Bill Brown

A complicated man.

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I'm a big fan of Netflix. One of the few reasons why I even bothered with dual booting via Boot Camp was so that I could "Watch Now." So purchasing their new Netflix Player would seem like an easy decision. But it's not.

This player is really just the opening salvo for what promises to be a protracted battle. The price is compelling, but there's something missing. I can't decide if it's because it's too tied in to Netflix or that it's too limited in content—two sides of the same coin.

All I know is that I want to be able to watch streaming video from the network sites on my television. And I want to watch the Netflix instant video as well. At this point, the option that fits my requirements is the HTPC but I don't want the expense, unsightliness, and noise of a full-fledged computer in my living room. The Netflix Player and the AppleTV are the perfect size and form, but they're not powerful enough.

Unfortunately, I think I'm going to have to pass on the Netflix Player. Maybe version 2 will wow me.