Smart TV upgraders? Roku Boxes? other?

[Deleted]

Anyone use any of these things? I am thinking to buy one to test out if a smart TV is something to buy next.....

if you use them, pros / cons?

can you hook a wireless keyboard / mouse to it?

I am thinking it will be yet another remote control.........and one more component / clutter..........

[deantrip]

I have a PC hooked up to my tv, better functionality and I still get High Def video and audio, plus gaming on big screens is awesome.

[happyhoix]

DH and I use Netflixs on line a lot (well, DH does, he's a history geek and loves all those history series). We used to access it on our TV via the Wii, but switched to Roku and like it much better. The Roku is very small, maybe 2" by 2", so it's smaller than the Wii, and MUCH easier to navigate using the Roku remote (the Wii was kind of tricky).

[Deleted]

Dec 3, 2012 9:26:16 GMT -5 happyhoix said:

DH and I use Netflixs on line a lot (well, DH does, he's a history geek and loves all those history series). We used to access it on our TV via the Wii, but switched to Roku and like it much better. The Roku is very small, maybe 2" by 2", so it's smaller than the Wii, and MUCH easier to navigate using the Roku remote (the Wii was kind of tricky).

[thyme4change]

We also got a Roku, and stream old television shows via Netflix. It is so much easier than when we were streaming through our blue ray. Totally worth the few bucks to purchase it (of course, it is in a different room, so we still stream via the blue ray - but I'm glad we bought the Roku instead of a second blue ray.)

[Deleted]

Dec 3, 2012 9:38:56 GMT -5 @lonewolf said:

I just went to FAQ regarding the ROKU and all of this new technology is so confusing to me.
What exactly would be the benefit to this, for us?
We currently use Direct TV for movies and use the Wii for games.

If you don't watch a lot of TV it might not be worth it to you, but we pay $8/month for Netflix streaming which has entire seasons of TV shows and movies on demand.

[Deleted]

It's kind of like cable...the roku "box" allows you to stream different TV channels (Netflix would be one of the "channels" on there, once you pay for your subscription). And the movies on Netflix aren't all that new, I'd say they're at least 6 months old or more.

[thyme4change]

Not sure how Netflix works. We are still getting our new movies through Pay-per-view at 4 bucks a pop and everything else on Direct TV.

Netflix is $8 per month, and it gives you unlimited streaming - so if you watch a movie every day @ $4, then Netflix would be a better deal. Unfortunately, I think their movie selection for streaming sucks. I have more than 100 movies I want to watch that I have to get the DVD for. I'm wondering if we would be better off dumping Netflix and picking up Amazon or Blockbuster. We stream a zillion tv shows - so I'm quite conflicted.

[Deleted]

We use a roku, and use Netflix almost exclusively on it.. It is great for kids shows. Also for when there is nothing on TV.

[thyme4change]

Archie - do you have netflix, or do you go through Crackle, or Hulu Plus or what? I'm trying to figure out the best use of my subscription dollars.

[Deleted]

Dec 3, 2012 10:11:35 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

Archie - do you have netflix, or do you go through Crackle, or Hulu Plus or what? I'm trying to figure out the best use of my subscription dollars.

We tried Hulu Plus, but it did not stream well for us. I don't know if we have a bad router or what, but it would keep buffering and made watching it almost impossible. So we basically use netflix. We have the streaming only subsription for $8 a month. My daughter currently loves the show Dragon Tales, which was new when I was a kid. Too funny!

[jeffreymo]

We currently stream content to 2 of our TV's. For one of them we have a PS3 connected and access to Amazon Prime content and my friend sometimes lets me use his NFL Sunday Ticket login. For the other TV I have an HDMI-out adapter for my iphone and we are able to stream a couple of apps with it. Netflix works the best and has the best content in my opinion. I subscribe for a couple of months, and watch everything that I'm interested, then cancel it for a few months until the content is refreshed. Amazon prime (the free content) is not very good at all. I did the free trial of Hulu Plus at one time, and most of the shows we are interested weren't available.

I'd like to buy a Roku box because it functions better than what we're using now. I'm holding out for a few apps to offer streaming - HBO Go, ESPN etc... before I buy one.

ETA: Just saw that HBO Go is available for streaming on the Roku HD. I'm ordering one on Amazon today.

[formerroomate99]

I have a ROKU box. We have a netflix account, but there is also a HUGE amount of free programming available through it too.

Lots of blueray players have the same functionality as the ROKU box built in, but with mine, the interface is a bit clunky, so I just use my ROKU box.

[Deleted]

on the roku box, can you also surf the net? like find random www. sites?

[Deleted]

Dec 3, 2012 11:52:25 GMT -5 @robbase2012 said:

on the roku box, can you also surf the net? like find random www. sites?

no

[thyme4change]

on the roku box, can you also surf the net? like find random www. sites?

I would say "no." But I guess I should really say "Not that I know of." LOL - who the hell knows, this techology moves so fast, I feel like a 90 year old using email for the first time.

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

We have a Roku and use it for Amazon Prime streaming videos

[Deleted]

I like my roku, better than streaming Netflix, because its only on the one tv, not every device, and we generally buy show from amazon.

I did think when I saw it at my friends house that there were more apps? But I haven't been able to find some, like khan academy which I swore she had? But I haven't looked much either.

We also rent movies sometimes, I've greatly reduced Netflix.

[thyme4change]

I like my roku, better than streaming Netflix

I stream netflix through my Roku. You have a mismatch technology statement here. Roku is a device, netflix is a service.

[Deleted]

We have Roku, Netflix, Hulu, a laptop, tivo, an xbox, and sometimes the ipad all hooked up so we can stream stuff. So far my favorite is the recording service that comes with our tv package. DH has an eclectic bunch of shows he watches and he can't seem to get them all on one device. I hate commercials so a lot of the free streaming shows are irritating.

[Deleted]

Dec 3, 2012 13:20:34 GMT -5 oped said:

I like my roku, better than streaming Netflix, because its only on the one tv, not every device, and we generally buy show from amazon.

I did think when I saw it at my friends house that there were more apps? But I haven't been able to find some, like khan academy which I swore she had? But I haven't looked much either.

We also rent movies sometimes, I've greatly reduced Netflix.

If you go to the main menu on the Roku then choose the Channel Store you will find a bunch of channels to choose from. We selected all the free ones but we don't watch them all that often. I do like the Khan Academy!

[Deleted]

You are right, I definitely wasn't clear. The roku allows me to stream amazon, which I've found preferable to Netflix.