Do you ROKU?

PhillieG

I'd like to post a diversion post here. This is wayyyyyy off topic. This has to do with streaming movies and TV instead of pay cable stations. Most of you know about Netflix and how they send DVDs as you need them with their service. No late fees and all that. It's pretty good. A while ago they started a service that offers streaming video to your TV instead of watching DVDs. All you need is $7.99 a month, a TV, BlueRay DVD player, a Wii or other gaming station, Apple TV (possibly) or a unit called ROKU. We started with the Wii and it worked great but the boys wanted their Wii back so I just bought a ROKU XDS for $99. It's a one-time fee. We can get the Netflix through there plus there are tons of "free" channels that you can watch on the ROKU. I don't think the other players offer the same choices, maybe they offer something else. Wii had none except Netflix that I knew about. So now we can watch movies, old TV shows like Bewitched, Sanford and Son, Beverly Hillbillys among others. Grif and I were watching Godzilla vs Mecha-Godzilla yesterday (life doesn't get much better than that!)
Since I bought the ROKU through Amazon, they gave us 1 month free of their Amazon Prime service which also has Movies and TV.

Here's a link for the ROKU channel database. Some stations are free, others are not like Hulu Plus for example.
Has anyone tried services like this at all and if so, do you like them?

plh4gail

I need a new TV too!
I don't have this or anything like it except for local cable company. I think I will check it out Thank's Phil!

Love and hugs, Gail

Buckwirth

I Wii
all over the Netflix account! *smile*

The Roku sounds interesting. Have you added any of the premiums? Any idea what they run?

Checked out the site, but to get cost you have to create an account.

Thanks!

RickMurtagh

I have
I have an Apple TV (first gen). It works pretty well for streaming the stuff I already own and is great for rentals. We have not had cable TV for years now. We read a lot, the kids are all grown, married and living away from home. We used Netfix in the WII but the streaming quality was horrid. All Apple TV needs a browser for me. It would be nice if it had Netfix. Not that I would use it - movies do not have the appeal they nice had for me - but it should hv it. I think gen two does.

I have lots of friends who have DVRs and some who have boxes like Roku or Boxee. The interfaces are not that great and I just don't like the experience they offer.

You should cancel cable and use your Roku box for everything. You might find you save money by renting the things you want, including TV series. We did and saved a lot over the cost of cable. But then it varied a lot - more expensive in the winter when you are trapped indoors more often and cheaper in h summer because we were always out.

I tried Hulu Plus also. Was very dissatisfied with the selection and that he selection was not the same for my browser and mobile devices (I love my iPad).

How long have you had your Roku and how do you like it so far?

PhillieG

To Answer What I Can..
You do need a TV that is HDMI capable. Most all new sets are, it's just a special cable that makes set up easy. I imagine there are work-arounds for older sets.

Hulu-Plus is $7.99 a month. Amazon Prime Video is $79 for a year with the first month free. The Roku boxes go from $59 for the basic to $79 for the middle one and $99 for the deluxe one. I have had the Deluxe model for about a week and really like it. The main difference between this and the middle one is that it has a USB port so I can view home video, photos, and music on it. My older Sony WEGA TV has an incredible sound system in it.
Link for prices

The streaming is quite good, part of it depends on how good your internet provider is. I would like to just keep basic cable so I could get NBC, CBS, ABC, PBS and the few other ones. My kids still like Nick and other ones and my older one is interesting in being a chef so he likes the Food Network. They do offer a free Food Network after dark that is free.

Other sites are crackle.com, ustream.com and plenty of other ones that offer various free public domain movies and audio programs. They have like 10 CSpan channels (if you can't sleep and want to) and NPR ones that just offer the audio.

So far, I am VERY satisfied with the service and quality of it all. The interface of ROKU is easy but some sites are a little clunky but not that bad. I'm still exploring and there's lots to explore. I may never leave my couch again!!! I actually find I watch less crap since I watch what I'm interested in. This is the wave of the future, cable hasn't found a way to benefit from it (yet) but I have faith they will add surcharges out the wazoo.
-phil

scouty

PhillieG said:

To Answer What I Can..
You do need a TV that is HDMI capable. Most all new sets are, it's just a special cable that makes set up easy. I imagine there are work-arounds for older sets.

Hulu-Plus is $7.99 a month. Amazon Prime Video is $79 for a year with the first month free. The Roku boxes go from $59 for the basic to $79 for the middle one and $99 for the deluxe one. I have had the Deluxe model for about a week and really like it. The main difference between this and the middle one is that it has a USB port so I can view home video, photos, and music on it. My older Sony WEGA TV has an incredible sound system in it.
Link for prices

The streaming is quite good, part of it depends on how good your internet provider is. I would like to just keep basic cable so I could get NBC, CBS, ABC, PBS and the few other ones. My kids still like Nick and other ones and my older one is interesting in being a chef so he likes the Food Network. They do offer a free Food Network after dark that is free.

Other sites are crackle.com, ustream.com and plenty of other ones that offer various free public domain movies and audio programs. They have like 10 CSpan channels (if you can't sleep and want to) and NPR ones that just offer the audio.

So far, I am VERY satisfied with the service and quality of it all. The interface of ROKU is easy but some sites are a little clunky but not that bad. I'm still exploring and there's lots to explore. I may never leave my couch again!!! I actually find I watch less crap since I watch what I'm interested in. This is the wave of the future, cable hasn't found a way to benefit from it (yet) but I have faith they will add surcharges out the wazoo.
-phil

Amazon Prime
Hi there Phil!!!

Good to see you around. Do you know if it is the same Amazon Prime where you get 2 day free shipping on most things you buy? That is probably the best $79 I spend every year. I'll have to look into it too.

Hugs to you my friend!
Lisa P.

PhillieG

scouty said:

Amazon Prime
Hi there Phil!!!

Good to see you around. Do you know if it is the same Amazon Prime where you get 2 day free shipping on most things you buy? That is probably the best $79 I spend every year. I'll have to look into it too.

Hugs to you my friend!
Lisa P.

Hi Lisa
It is part of the same Amazon package. I really don't buy that much through them. My wife sometimes gets digital music downloads but that's free and other times when I get something else it qualifies for free shipping. I do enjoy the movies and all though, I'm not sure if it was part of some promo they had or what.
Good to see you too, sorry I've been out of touch. Been busy with things...
Hugs-p

ron50

Hi Phil
I changed over to broadband from dial-up not long ago and part of my package or bundle as they now call it was a t-box. It is connected to the net by cable or wireless and allows me to watch broadband tv, download movies ,broadband videos ect. I pay per movie and the download time does not come off my broadband allocation. It's pretty cool and I have watched a few new release movies. Cheers Ron.

Unknown

ron50 said:

Hi Phil
I changed over to broadband from dial-up not long ago and part of my package or bundle as they now call it was a t-box. It is connected to the net by cable or wireless and allows me to watch broadband tv, download movies ,broadband videos ect. I pay per movie and the download time does not come off my broadband allocation. It's pretty cool and I have watched a few new release movies. Cheers Ron.

This comment has been removed by the Moderator

PGLGreg

bandwidth
I don't have enough download speed on my DSL broadband connection to get high quality video, so I watch TV over DirecTV satellite, which delivers very good picture and sound quality (not quite as good as over the air, though).

--Greg

tootsie1

1 issue
My son in-law and daughter use something called Boxee. The only issue I've found is that I love baseball, particularly the Atlanta Braves, and if doing something like that messes with me being able to watch them, it's not an option. *grins*

*hugs*
Gail

pokismom

I love to roku!
Yup me too, a friend bought us the Roku for Xmas, love watching Netflix, it's a great deal!