Tell me about roku

[DawnM]

How are you getting full cable for $41/mo?

Our Time Warner is a MIN of $50/mo and that includes no DVRs or boxes or anything.

We had Directv. They started out at about $45/mo for two TVs and two DVRs. When we ditched them they were up to $100/mo for 3 TVs with 3 DVRs. It was crazy. $1,200/year for television!

I DO miss my DVRs, I will be honest. I miss being able to pause live TV when I get a phone call or the kids need something.

However, we have been satellite free for 2 years now and that $2,400 savings can go directly to Disney vacations!

I also cut our cell bill from $180 to $80, but that is for an entirely different post. Thankfully I only paid $180 for one year, but I grew to regret signing that contract.

Dawn

Dawn it sounds like you're familiar with the gadget....Last season I seriously considered a dvd/dvr/streaming machine but held off b/c of my ds and his love of animal planet...but since I just got a notice in the mail telling me that my rates are going up...and paying over 500.00 per year is grating on me,,,I'm rethinking things.....

 

[hsmamato2]

we've had dishnetwork for a few years....1 DVR box on 2 tv's....total cost has held steady at 36.75 for a few years now....but I am feeling kind of cheap,since it's another 6.00 per month starting next month....am I crazy? I just feel like investing in the magnavox dvd recorder plus a 40.00 antenna is a better option.... it's hard to pull the plug,not knowing how it is to watch without it...I may try the antenna itself for a couple of weeks and see how I like it....that way I can hopefully record antenna shows I like,plus stream netflix for more options,I hope....

 

[hsmamato2]

If you do want to watch things from CBS.com, you can get a program called PlayOn. It is $39 for a lifetime membership. You must have a PC and it must have the program open, but then you can stream it to your Roku.

it is not perfect and sometimes can be glitchy, but it does work overall.

There is also a new channel called Plex that supposedly does the same thing. I haven't figured it out yet, but maybe someone here has.

Have you actually used Playon? it looks great!

 

[DawnM]

Yes, I have PlayOn. I don't have the PlayLater but am considering adding it on.

PlayLater would allow you to keep it stored even if it is no longer available on the net. However, I have heard you need to tell it what to program each time, so no "full season" recordings.

Dawn

Have you actually used Playon? it looks great!

 

[Octoberbride03]

I don't believe so, I do see some clips.

Thats what I thought from looking at the roku site yesterday. I'd lose a few shows I like but when I really think about it, if I were to get a roku what I really want access to is ESPN. I am a NASCAR addict and if i dumped cable I'd lose half the season cause the majority of the 2nd half is on ESPN, not ABC

Been thinking about Directtv too. All I really want though is Ala carte tv. Pay for what I watch and not what i don't. That would probably drop me down to 6-10 cable channels total maybe.

 

[DawnM]

Everyone wants a la carte so they can pick the 5 or 6 channels they actually watch.

What I have read is that sports actually cost the MOST to air and those of us who really just want TNT and CNN are having to pay more to fund those of you who want ESPN and sports! So, be glad it isn't based on actual cost!

Next question: Are the NASCAR events on ESPN.com? If so, you can stream them through the Roku box using PlayOn. However, it will not be live, it will be after it is aired on the net.

Dawn

Thats what I thought from looking at the roku site yesterday. I'd lose a few shows I like but when I really think about it, if I were to get a roku what I really want access to is ESPN. I am a NASCAR addict and if i dumped cable I'd lose half the season cause the majority of the 2nd half is on ESPN, not ABC

Been thinking about Directtv too. All I really want though is Ala carte tv. Pay for what I watch and not what i don't. That would probably drop me down to 6-10 cable channels total maybe.

 

[donaldandpirates]

We got a Roku box last week, cancelled cable, and couldn't be happier! As soon as we can afford it, we'll be getting another box for the TV in our bedroom. Right now we just have Netflix and Amazon Prime.

 

[Promomx2]

Do you have to have wi-fi in the house? We have verizon so we get wifi and tv together, how do I get just wifi without using verizon?

 

[DawnM]

Ask Verizon if they offer just wifi. If not, call the cable company, the will give it to you.

Dawn

Do you have to have wi-fi in the house? We have verizon so we get wifi and tv together, how do I get just wifi without using verizon?

 

[Octoberbride03]

Everyone wants a la carte so they can pick the 5 or 6 channels they actually watch.

What I have read is that sports actually cost the MOST to air and those of us who really just want TNT and CNN are having to pay more to fund those of you who want ESPN and sports! So, be glad it isn't based on actual cost!

Next question: Are the NASCAR events on ESPN.com? If so, you can stream them through the Roku box using PlayOn. However, it will not be live, it will be after it is aired on the net.

Dawn

As far as I know, ESPN.com doesn't air ANY events. live or taped. You can get summaries of shows and sport headlines, video clips of highlights maybe. The actual events are on tv only

 

[DawnM]

Isn't that what airing means? To put it on TV and broadcast it?

Dawn

As far as I know, ESPN.com doesn't air ANY events. live or taped. You can get summaries of shows and sport headlines, video clips of highlights maybe. The actual events are on tv only

 

[Octoberbride03]

Isn't that what airing means? To put it on TV and broadcast it?

Dawn

I imagine the line gets blurrier every day thanks to technology. But you asked about ESPN.COM airing events not ESPN the tv network. the .com arm is still just a vehicle for sports highlights not entire sporting events.

 

[1stvisit0909]

I imagine the line gets blurrier every day thanks to technology. But you asked about ESPN.COM airing events not ESPN the tv network. the .com arm is still just a vehicle for sports highlights not entire sporting events.

You used to be able to stream live events free at ESPN.com, but that has changed now. Now you have to have a log in from a pay service. The only part we missed this year was ESPN college football. :/ but not enough to go back.m

 

[hipchickie]

I also cut our cell bill from $180 to $80, but that is for an entirely different post. Thankfully I only paid $180 for one year, but I grew to regret signing that contract.

Dawn

I want the link to that thread!
We dumped cable and have amazon prime, hulu plus and netflix. Hulu plus is mostly for recent shows (they are available the day after air) so we will probably drop that for the summer, maybe netflix too.

It has been a couple months, and while there is some things I miss, overall it has been remarkably problem free, even for the kids

We currently are streaming through a wii (netflix and hulu) and a computer (for amazon prime and hulu + stuff that is online only) in the living room. My oldest has an xbox in his room that he streams through, my younger one has a rca model thingiemabob that is similar to roku

As has been said, the cool thing about roku is being able to add these independent "channels" that stream stuff. I may end up getting one because of that. I definitely also want to eventually grab an antenna to pick up local stations

FYI, I saw a blu ray at sams tonight that was ~$70 and could stream all the big ones (hulu, netflix, amazon, vudu, pandora, etc)

 

[eeyorethegreat]

So folks find that PLAY ON is worth it? Almost signed up for it but then didn't. What if your computer crashes and dies will you be able to load it on to another computer using the same account?

 

[hsmamato2]

So folks find that PLAY ON is worth it? Almost signed up for it but then didn't. What if your computer crashes and dies will you be able to load it on to another computer using the same account?

That is a good question...Dawn, how good is your computer/dsl? I am concerned mine won't be enough to actually get streaming thru them...I have an older laptop I was going to try setting up and leaving on for that...but the FAQ page says I need 100 GB of extra space to do it,which I surely don't have
Playon looks perfect though,and it even has some of the channels I currently don't get with my cheapo package .....
Anyone have experience with the ps3 and all this? I could start out using the one we have, but I think a Roku looks simpler to use in the long run

 

[hsmamato2]

oh,Dawn,one more ? is the content on playon from ,say,discovery channel...is it what's on their website,or is it discovery channel like you'd see on regular cable tv?

 

[1stvisit0909]

So folks find that PLAY ON is worth it? Almost signed up for it but then didn't. What if your computer crashes and dies will you be able to load it on to another computer using the same account?

I have the same questions abt play on. We did the free trial and I didn't get it. Lol

 

[DawnM]

Oh, no, I meant on television. The conversation was about ordering al la carte cable and not subscribing to the entire cable line up.

Dawn

I imagine the line gets blurrier every day thanks to technology. But you asked about ESPN.COM airing events not ESPN the tv network. the .com arm is still just a vehicle for sports highlights not entire sporting events.

 

[DawnM]

Yes. And I know, because that happened to us.

So folks find that PLAY ON is worth it? Almost signed up for it but then didn't. What if your computer crashes and dies will you be able to load it on to another computer using the same account?