Help Roku vs Apple TV ???

[tink576]

I'm looking at getting a streaming device and am between a Roku or Apple TV but am kinda at a loss of the actual differences between them. Any body use either of them and help with the pros and cons?
Thanks!

 

[ellochka]

I don't believe there is any difference in functionality, but the main difference is Amazon vs iTunes. Roku has Amazon, and Apple TV will have access to your iTunes purchases. If you have purchased much from either service, stick to it. If you have not, you should choose which one you are more likely to use going forward, and buy the corresponding device. Factors include whether you have Apple or non-Apple tablets, whether you would like to download the videos, and then stream them over the local network, whether you are up to ripping your DVDs or stripping the DRM from your purchased videos to make them work on a different device. If you plan to stream Netflix and YouTube, then there is probably no difference.

 

[GWhitten98]

Not sure about Roku, but we have a chrome and an apple TV and the apple TV hands down is better. That being said, all of our phones and mobile devices that we since with it are apple. As for amazon, I think you can get to it through a regular web browser using the apple TV, but I would quote me on that. We love ours enough that we are thinking of getting a second one for our bedroom and ditching cable all together.

 

[Orlando or Bust]

I have the older version of apple tv that can be modified to stream things and its amazing but if you can't then I would get a roku xx

 

[bananasplitkids]

Also right now Target has the Roku 3 on sale for $50 and it can be price matched at walmart with the ad.

 

[jrmasm]

Also right now Target has the Roku 3 on sale for $50 and it can be price matched at walmart with the ad.

My ad only has the Roku Stick for $49.99. Unless I'm blind.

 

[jeffbear]

I've had a Roku 3 for awhile now and it's been wonderfully stable and reliable. As noted above the biggest difference between Roku and Apple TV devises is the iTunes/Amazon availability. If you rely on one or the other as your primary source of purchased streaming content, then go with the device that supports that service. You will likely be happy with the hardware either way you go.

 

[princessfionasmom]

Apple TV 100%. Especially if you have an ipad or iPhone. You can mirror them on the tv or airplay from them to the tv which is so cool. I love the interface of Apple TV much better then roku. My anti-apple sister has roku and does not like it at all, she is getting Apple TV to replace it.

 

[bananasplitkids]

My ad only has the Roku Stick for $49.99. Unless I'm blind.

It has underneath it roku 2 and 3 on sale and online if you click on the roku stick image it brings up the roku 3 price for 49.99.

 

[tink576]

Thank you so much for your responses. I saw the roku stick and can't figure out how that would attach to my television, or is that to plug it into your computer?

I did see that Best buy had a $25 gift card with apple tv this week...

Decisions, Decisions ... I need to decide

 

[jrmasm]

It has underneath it roku 2 and 3 on sale and online if you click on the roku stick image it brings up the roku 3 price for 49.99.

Thanks, I went back and looked again and found this:

$89.99 store price* Roku 3 Streaming Player


$50 price must only be in certain markets.

 

[Praying Colonel]

They're both good. We have an Apple TV and like it.

If you're in the Apple ecosystem, than an Apple TV makes sense because you can stream things from your Apple device (iphone/ipad/Mac) to your TV via the Apple TV. If you're not, then a Roku probably makes more sense because you can access more channels through it than the Apple TV.

 

[nene0182]

Thank you so much for your responses. I saw the roku stick and can't figure out how that would attach to my television, or is that to plug it into your computer? I did see that Best buy had a $25 gift card with apple tv this week... Decisions, Decisions ... I need to decide

It connects to the HDMI port on your television.

We have a Roku box in our living room , my son has the Roku stick in his room and we have a smart TV in our bedroom. All of them work great. I don't have any experience with Apple TV though.

 

[willowsnn3]

Thanks, I went back and looked again and found this:

$89.99 store price* Roku 3 Streaming Player


$50 price must only be in certain markets.

Whoo! I was about to get real upset. I just bought the Roku2 at Best Buy for 59.99 and dd got the stick for 49.99. Haven't hooked them up yet but she's ditching the cable on the 16th.

 

[bananasplitkids]

Apparently it was a price mistake. It is now back up to $89.99 for my area as well. It took them awhile to figure it out when I went many Target's was out of stock.

 

[ellone]

Thanks, I went back and looked again and found this:

$89.99 store price* Roku 3 Streaming Player


$50 price must only be in certain markets.

If you want the Roku 3, amazon has it at 84.99.

 

[Johnny Boy]

hi guys check out rokuvsappletv.org it helped me out for sure! i was clueless about which one to buy