Last week I finally did the 7 day trial for Hulu Plus from my PS3. I was excited to give it a try as I thought it might finally be the final straw for cable. I already watch Netflix more than I do cable. I expected Hulu Plus to fill the gap. It doesn’t! In fact, I was pretty disappointed with the service when I discovered that I would have to deal with commercial interruptions even if I paid $7 a month. After a week though, I got used to the commercials and started to appreciate the features Hulu Plus has.
The Hulu Plus library is not all that impressive when you compare it to Netflix. Shockingly, shows that are available on your computer are not available on the PS3 via Hulu Plus. So, we’re talking a severely limited library. Still I found a few series that piqued my interest. Hulu is slowly adding new shows, and it’s updated enough to keep my attention. Right now I spend some evenings watching The Alfred Hitchcock Hour and My Name is Earl.
The little features are what kept me paying for the service after 7 days. I really like that the software will prompt you to resume watching your show or movie if you shut the PS3 off in the middle of a show. It also has a feature where it will auto-play entire series of shows if you want it to. It drives me insane that Netflix doesn’t have this feature. I have to reach for the remote every time one ends when all I want to do is watch King of the Hill for 3 hours. Not having to do that, even though the content is lacking, really won me over.
Another thing that wins me over is the picture clarity. It’s very clear! Most Internet video services have a slightly grainy look to them, but I usually can’t even tell the difference between cable and Hulu.
Overall, Hulu Plus is not worth it unless you find a few series that you like. If you’re looking for a service where you can discovered unknown shows in a wide selection of shows and movies, I would pass. It’s not something that will make you want to cut cable either. It’s a really good start though. I remember the Netflix Instant Video service wasn’t all that impressive when it first started. Hopefully they will continue to grow the content the same way they have.
Overall Review Rating: 6 out of 10.
