Roku question

[njcarita]

can someone please explain Roku to me......... I have read up on it..... and looked at the different devices...... roku 1... roku2 .... streaming player... media player... etc........ the more I read the more I am confused..... My dish contract is up and I want to cancel it... we have netflix already... just wondering the benefits of the roku device... please use small words...,... I am not usually this dense just cant figure out why I would get this device....

 

[GrnMtnMan]

can someone please explain Roku to me......... I have read up on it..... and looked at the different devices...... roku 1... roku2 .... streaming player... media player... etc........ the more I read the more I am confused..... My dish contract is up and I want to cancel it... we have netflix already... just wondering the benefits of the roku device... please use small words...,... I am not usually this dense just cant figure out why I would get this device....

Roku is just one of several ways to get internet content onto your TV. Apple TV is one of the main alternatives.

The different Roku boxes don't change what you can and can't view, they just provide it to you in different size boxes, with differences in the quality of the video signal that will be output to your TV.

Roku doesn't get you any new access, just provides an easy means for putting stuff onto your TV (instead of a computer monitor or table/phone).

 

[rszdtrvl]

I am a newbie about the whole Roku thing, but essentially it helps to stream tv shows/movies from your computer using your wireless signal.

Right now, we use a PS3 to stream Netflix only. The Roku will allow us to stream without using the PS3, and has many other apps. that we can stream from our tv, including YouTube (you can stream music, movies, etc.).

You won't get live TV, and you won't get "special" channels (like the fancy pay sports channels) but you can access subscriptions that you pay for, like Netflix. Plus other channels that have free streaming.

I got DH one for Christmas, after reading up on it. I think he will enjoy it.

https://www.roku.com/
I learned a lot by browsing the Roku website, and reading others reviews.

 

[GrnMtnMan]

it helps to stream tv shows/movies from your computer using your wireless signal.

Other computers are not involved with a Roku. A Roku hooks up to your wifi and goes straight to the internet. You don't need a computer to use a Roku box, just internet service.

 

[smiths02]

Our Roku is connected to our WiFi. Then we connect it to our TV with an HDMI cable (like a DVD player or gaming system) (As PP stated, no computer involved)
We have subscriptions to Netflix and Amazon Prime, so we can stream movies from those places
We also stream YouTube and Pandora quite a bit
Roku also has some free "channels" and access to a lot of other paid for channels like Hulu, RedBox, etc.
We also have the UFC channel so we can get pay-per-view UFC (we have to pay just like Dish or cable, though)...so you can often find a way to get pay-per-view sports
Our Roku also came with Angry Birds

We don't have cable. We have WiFi, Roku, lots of DVDs, and a good antenna. We can get most local stations with the antenna.

We don't really miss cable. DH misses his 24-hour news stations (but he just reads the news on the internet now). The only people I see complain are sports fanatics because you really need cable to get all the games.


We are Droid/Kindle/PC users, so we didn't do AppleTV
We did stream to our TV using our BluRay player and Netflix, but Roku allowed us to stream Amazon, Pandora, YouTube, UFC PPV, etc. that our BluRay couldn't

 

[xlxo]

I have the Roku internet stick....

• wifi reliability is hit and miss... needs a bigger antenna
• a little frustrating to use with others using the internet at the same time. I have a 25Mbps connection.
• may not need it if you have a smart TV or a DVD player that already has smart capabilities
• pay attention to your data consumption... you might hit your data cap if you use the device for several hours a day.
• local content is dissappointing. Rabbit ear antennna is preferred
• recently switched back to cable.... wanted more channels, local content, and PVR abilities.

 

[mikehn]

Ruku does not support HD. If you are spoiled with HD, like I am, you will not want to go back to standard definition

 

[mcorbo]

Ruku does not support HD. If you are spoiled with HD, like I am, you will not want to go back to standard definition

The Roku 1,2, 3 and the streaming stick all support HD at 1080p resolution. Some older versions did not.

 

[IBelieveInTheMagic]

We bought a TV through Costco that came with the Roku stick (which was a nice perk) and it's my DS' Xmas present that will go in our guest bedroom. What I found cool about it and I know this will be regional, however we can use it to access some of our Time Warner stations as well. Currently I used the TW app on my iPad and can watch CNN, HGTV, Food Network, tons of stations basically that are "live" with the exception of the network channels. I think this is a nice perk and my DS doesn't watch a lot of TV but it's a nice to have feature

Can't wait to try it out!

Heather

 

[mikehn]

The Roku 1,2, 3 and the streaming stick all support HD at 1080p resolution. Some older versions did not.

Thanks for the clarification. I guess the question is, what HD programming is available. I know Amazon has SOME HD programming. Not sure who else streams HD .

 

[RubySue]

I like my Roku. I have the Roku 2. The salesman told me that Roku 3 is better if you do a lot of gaming. I just wanted to stream Netflix, Hulu, etc. to my bedroom tv so I bought the 2 and have been very happy with it. BTW, I'm NOT an electronics wizard and I find the Roku very easy to use.

Before the Roku, I had a Chromecast stick. That thing was worthless. The stick would get EXTREMELY HOT. Worked well for 2 months and then would buffer every 2 minutes and gave me all kinds of errors. Went online, called customer service, nothing they suggested made the thing work. That's when I bought a Roku.

 

[vacationer1954]

I guess the question is, what HD programming is available.

And whether you will really get HD. Streaming services will often step down to a lower quality stream if your Internet connection isn't fast enough.

 

[ObiWan]

can someone please explain Roku to me......... I have read up on it..... and looked at the different devices...... roku 1... roku2 .... streaming player... media player... etc........ the more I read the more I am confused..... My dish contract is up and I want to cancel it... we have netflix already... just wondering the benefits of the roku device... please use small words...,... I am not usually this dense just cant figure out why I would get this device....

Roku for Dummies (like I was before I looked into it):

1. Roku gives your TV the capability to stream content like Netflix, etc. from the internet. It also has other features like Facebook connectivity for your TV.

2. The different models offer different connection and resolution options. If you have WiFi a basic model will do the trick. However, if you have ethernet connectivity Roku offers a model that will do both. If your TV has 1080p resolution buy a Roku that will stream in 1080p. The XD or XDS models. You will get a much better picture.

3. Plug in the Roku to an outlet. Connect the Roku to your TV with an HDMI cable. Set your TV to that HDMI input. Follow the instructions and enter your WiFi SSID#. That's it.

The benefit of the Roku is that you can stream to your TV. It is very portable so you can take it with you to any TV that has HDMI inputs in a Wifi environment (hotels, etc.). Of course, you can also stream the content directly from your laptop to the TV using a USB to USB cable, but that is a burden.

 

[mrodgers]

Before the Roku, I had a Chromecast stick. That thing was worthless. The stick would get EXTREMELY HOT. Worked well for 2 months and then would buffer every 2 minutes and gave me all kinds of errors. Went online, called customer service, nothing they suggested made the thing work. That's when I bought a Roku.

Hmm, I was going to get a Chromecast stick. I don't have any of the paid streaming services. I watch a lot of various youtube channels on RC, guitars, and cars and all I wanted to do was bring youtube up on my cheap tablet and have it tell the Chromecast to stream it (now that someone at work has one and explained how it worked.) I can stream youtube with my Directv box but it only plays at 480 resolution.

I played around with a Roku 2 that someone let me borrow. It was a pain in the neck to search around through the various apps. Everything was listed in a single row and you had to scroll through the entire row to find what you're looking for. I've read that the Roku 3 had a better interface.

What I was told about Chromecast was, you download the app to your tablet/phone and any app you load up on the tablet such as youtube, you press a button to send it to "cast" it on the Chromecast, then the Chromecast streams it through your network connection. It's much easier using an app on a tablet/phone than using the remote to navigate on the Roku.

 

[clori]

Here is one link that describes chromecast, roku, and amazon fire. It also includes links to show what apps are available on each site.

https://gigaom.com/2014/11/26/chromecast-roku-streaming-stick-fire-tv-stick-comparison/

I have the roku 2 since before chromecast, roku 3, and roku stick were available.

If you have preschool age kids I know roku has many apps with free kiddie shows. There are also a lot of old movies you can watch for free through various roku apps. For the most part though we just use Netflix and Amazon Prime.

 

[JB2K]

While Roku (and Apple TV, Google Chromecast, etc.) is a good "internet streamer", if you have a newer Blu-ray Disc player, you likely have all the same apps available as on the other devices.

Plus, you have one box - to play your Blu-ray/DVD collection and to stream your favorites...

 

[puffkin]

You also do not need any of these devices if you already have a smart TV. I had some relatives insist they needed one, until I showed them their smart tv screen that they never knew they had. Saved them $100.