No HD Netflix for computer users any time soon

Right now, the Xbox 360, the Roku Player, some TiVos, and some Blu-ray players can play HD video from Netflix’s Watch Instantly service. But what about plain old computer users?

Steve Swasey, VP, Corporate Communications, recently told Gadgetell that Netflix has no plans to bring HD video streaming to PC or Mac users. “It’s a stake in the ground at this point.” He cited the underwhelming HD selection and the fact that the audio is only stereo and not 5.1.

While the HD movie selection is a bit sparse, the television offerings are better with shows like “The Office” and “30 Rock” available in HD right now.

Netflix’s main business is still shipping physical media through a subscription-based plan. They ship over two million DVDs per day and that number is still growing. Swasey says that the streaming service is an investment in the future of Netflix. He does not expect streaming to fully overtake physical media for about 20 to 25 years.