[mythtv-users] Netflix under MythTV

[Mark Knecht]

On Fri, Apr 9, 2010 at 9:03 AM, Allen Edwards <allen.p.edwards at gmail.com> wrote:
> I have seen some discussion on integrating Netflix Streaming in a Myth
> system. Perhaps I can get some help, or be of help.
> I have set up a menu selection that runs VirtualBox and fires off Windows XP
> and Netflix.  I can then stream instant movies.  The problem is they jitter
> so badly nobody will watch them.  The sound is fine (digital), but the
> picture is jerky like you would expect if the machine lacked CPU power.  I
> am using a AMD 5400+, Mythbuntu 8.04 and Myth 0.21.  VirtualBox version
> 2.1.2.
> In a recent post, someone said that VirtualBox will run 99% of raw CPU power
> but I would expect my 5400+ to have enough power to stream.  Help would be
> appreciated.
> Allen
>

The recent post was probably me. I think I've run this under VB but
most of the work I've done is under VMWare Player. On numerical
calculations I do I run either Win XP or Win 7 at 99% the speed of
Windows running on the same platform. (Dual boot.) I dedicate a
minimum of 2GB to each VMWare Player instance and my tests of NetFlix
Instant Watch to date have been rather minimal but I certainly haven't
seen any skipping or stuttering. However since I hadn't tried to set
up sound on these machines I hadn't done much in this area - just a
few minutes watching the video stream in and play.

I'd certainly be interested in working on this but I'm somewhat tied
up over the next few days so don't get impatient with me. Feel free to
contact me off-line or through the list. If your email address is
geographical then it looks like we might be neighbors as I'm down in
Los Gatos.

Cheers,
Mark