Roku media streamer

[Folster]

I'm thinking about getting a digital media streamer and from everything I've read the Roku is the way to go. Is anybody using this that can provide some feedback and tips about the device? Thanks.

 

[O]

I have one and it works great, love it.
Just like all of these types of devices a lot of it depends on your internet speed.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I had more than a few problems with mine (issues with the remote and long loads) so I switched to Apple TV and love it. Most of the Amazon comments I read on the Roku were positive so I know it does the job for a lot of people but in addition to the problems I had I also benefitted from the Apple TV Itunes integration that Roku lacks.

Steve

 

[Folster]

I had more than a few problems with mine (issues with the remote and long loads) so I switched to Apple TV and love it. Most of the Amazon comments I read on the Roku were positive so I know it does the job for a lot of people but in addition to the problems I had I also benefitted from the Apple TV Itunes integration that Roku lacks.

Steve

Which model did you have Steve?

O, which subscription services do you have and recommend for it? Do you use Playon?

 

[AzStevenCal]

Which model did you have Steve?

O, which subscription services do you have and recommend for it? Do you use Playon?

It was the 2xd. I'd have probably been better off waiting for the 2xs as I have a lot of problems with wireless in my house and the version I had didn't allow for ethernet. One of the huge advantages of the Roku over the Apple is that Roku offers so many more channels but short of that, I'm happy with the Apple TV.

Steve

 

[BigRedRage]

I've tried roku and an rca brand one. Buy the roku. Love it droid has an app for remote also.

Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk 2

 

[O]

Which model did you have Steve?

O, which subscription services do you have and recommend for it? Do you use Playon?

I have the XS model.
I mainly use it to rent movies from Amazon.

I have Dish Network and last year they dropped AMC Network for a while but offered a free ROKU unit to subscribers as a consolation so that's why I have mine.

 

[Dr. Jones]

I am going to jump in on this convo because I am looking at these also.

Can Apple TV do Amazon Prime videos?

 

[BigRedRage]

on roku I do netflix and hulu but it also has vudu, crackle, amazon, a bunch of stuff.

I has the newer model with the motion control in 2 rooms and the LS model I think in my daughters room. Alll wonderful.

The motion control sucks and if a breeze hits it it thinks its on and uses some battery. within a year it stopped working so I would suggest the non motion model.

I use my droid smart phone as my remote now, works fantasticly.

Ditched cable over a year ago in favor of dvd players, rokus and my xbox / netflix and hulu. Never looked back.

rca model = garbage - do not buy.

 

[RON_IN_OC]

We switched to Roku permanently over a year ago. One on our main tv and another on the kids room tv. We use it for HuluPlus, Amazon Prime and Netflix, mostly. It's our only source of tv now. Both of ours are the 2xd...easy to set up and get going. Just have a good wireless interenet stream in your house.

BTW: I'm watchig Breaking Bad season 3 as I type this.

 

[JS22]

Roku is solid. We have one in the bedroom.

But the ability to "hack" the Apple TV and put XBMC on it is really interesting.

 

[Folster]

Do any of you guys with a Roku use Playon?

Thanks for all the advice.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I am going to jump in on this convo because I am looking at these also.

Can Apple TV do Amazon Prime videos?

No and it probably won't happen until/unless Apple and Amazon make up. Right now, they are very much at war and each is more likely to be proprietarily locked from the other as not.

Apple, unlike the Roku, doesn't allow you to add channels either. Personally, I think the Apple TV works better than the Roku at what it does but the Roku does much more. Apple TV's current channels are Netflix, Hulu Plus, MLB.TV, NBA, NHL, Trailers, You Tube, Vimeo, Podcasts, Radio, Photo Stream, Flickr and WSJ Live. That, plus full integration with Itunes is all you get. Roku claims over 600 channels IIRC although many of them are novelties at best for the average viewer.

Steve

 

[desertdawg]

Roku!! I just scored a second one at Goodwill for $9.99 with the remote, and the previous dude had all kinds of wierd stuff on there, the world is crazy.

 

[BigRedRage]

Do any of you guys with a Roku use Playon?

Thanks for all the advice.

not familiar with playon but it does have thousands of channels. All services work good on roku so if it has the playon, your good.

 

[JS22]

Do any of you guys with a Roku use Playon?

Thanks for all the advice.

I have. And it's not bad. Plex is a much better (and free) option, IMO.

PlayOn has the advantage of more add-ons. But Plex is catching up.

 

[Folster]

Thanks guys. I think I'm going to go with the XS model. I like the ethernet option as it seems most of the poor reviews are due to wireless problems

Another reason why I'm getting one is because my parents are on a fixed income and looking to cut costs. I'm going to test it out so I can set them up with one. I figure I can replace their cable with Roku and a few subscription services and replace their phone with a product like Ooma. They'll just have to pay for Cox internet that is like $55 bucks, Roku content, and FCC taxes for Ooma. I figure that'll cost about $75/m vs. well over $100 for Cox.

 

[Shane]

We LOVE our ROKU

 

[BigRedRage]

Thanks guys. I think I'm going to go with the XS model. I like the ethernet option as it seems most of the poor reviews are due to wireless problems

Another reason why I'm getting one is because my parents are on a fixed income and looking to cut costs. I'm going to test it out so I can set them up with one. I figure I can replace their cable with Roku and a few subscription services and replace their phone with a product like Ooma. They'll just have to pay for Cox internet that is like $55 bucks, Roku content, and FCC taxes for Ooma. I figure that'll cost about $75/m vs. well over $100 for Cox.

All my rokus are wonderful on WIFI. I switched to cox 18mbps plan tho, on quest they abrely worked. Watch deal sites like 1saleaday.com woot.com or groupon.com sometimes they have rokus for half off.

The purple LS model works fine, my daughter has it, got it for I think $50.

The wifi is fine. It works on N routers, not G and as long as your service is good, ive neve rhad a single problem.