Roku vs. Apple TV

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 14 Apr 2015 12:28 pm

My Apple TV box just died. Before I just replace it, am wondering whether it's better to get a Roku (or something else?) instead. Anybody have experience to share?

One thing I liked about Apple TV is that they have their own licensed movie selection, so if I couldn't find something I wanted to watch on Netflix (where I already have a streaming account), I would next check Apple TV. Does Roku have movies like that?

Thx

Howard Parker · Post by **Howard Parker** » 14 Apr 2015 1:18 pm

Jim,

Roku has dozens if not hundreds of streaming movie and TV providers.

I went to a Roku & Chromecast solution when I "cut" the cable several months ago. I'm very pleased.

I am not familiar with Apple's offerings.

cheers

h

Tim Russell · Post by **Tim Russell** » 14 Apr 2015 1:44 pm

I have Roku as well, not familiar with the others. It has all the streaming movies that you want, plus a ton of free channels. I'm very pleased with my "free" TV!

John Booth · Post by **John Booth** » 14 Apr 2015 1:50 pm

I've had both and the Roku 3 is tops hands down.
TONS of stuff free too.

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 14 Apr 2015 1:53 pm

Some of the systems available seem to only stream Netflix through your cell phone into the set top box. I don't want to be streaming movies through my cell phone account and using up my whole data plan that way. Does Roku stream Netflix directly or through the cell phone?

Howard Parker · Post by **Howard Parker** » 14 Apr 2015 1:59 pm

-edit for more detail-

I use a combination of the Roku Stick and Roku 2 on my TV's.

I do pay for one subscription, HuluPlus ($7.95/mo ) That's it. The rest of my viewing is free content.

I use Chromecast for casting additional content from Android and Chrome based devices.

I did watch a Peter Lorre, Mr. Moto film last night. That was entertaining

h

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 14 Apr 2015 2:01 pm

Are you saying Movies are free?

Howard Parker · Post by **Howard Parker** » 14 Apr 2015 2:01 pm

Jim,

Roku streams as a device off of your WiFi router.

There is a ton of free content on Roku in addition to popular pay subscriptions, including Netflix.

h

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 14 Apr 2015 2:03 pm

Good. So where do you source your movies for streaming? Sounds like you don't have a Netflix account. ..

Howard Parker · Post by **Howard Parker** » 14 Apr 2015 2:10 pm

If you already subscribe to Netflix you'll just enter your account info the first attempt at access and you'll be good to go.

There are many movie "channels" on Roku. I'm not into current stuff, preferring classics, film noir, documentaries, musicals.

A lot of that stuff is free on the purchase of a Roku device.

Hell, I binge watched 2 hours of 30 second TV commercials from the 1950's-60's. What was I thinking??? Lots of esoteric viewing for free.

h

Howard Parker · Post by **Howard Parker** » 14 Apr 2015 2:18 pm

I also stumbled across a whole series of Jascha Hiefetz mentoring a "master class". That was intense.

Also "Omnibus" with Alistair Cooke, guest a very young Lenny Bernstein, deconstructing Beethoven's Fifth, playing the passages that Ludwig discarded.

That was cool beans!

h

Michael Haselman · Post by **Michael Haselman** » 14 Apr 2015 5:09 pm

Roku is just an interface between your wifi and TV. It has no content on its own. You just use one of the channels, such as Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, or many others. Many have free content, but the free stuff is, IMHO, third rate. Except for PBS and maybe a couple others. You pay one time for the Roku, link it to your wifi and add the channels you want.

Wiz Feinberg · Post by **Wiz Feinberg** » 14 Apr 2015 10:27 pm

I have a Roku 3 player that is only used once in a blue moon (I have Comcast cable TV). What I dislike is that most of the movies and TV content that ships with the unit require an ongoing monthly or annual subscription, plus there are no local channels for my area.

The good part is that there is an equivalent of the dark web on Roku. Individuals can produce and host private channels that Roku owners can subscribe to for free. These channels are usually supported by advertising, to offset the hosting and production expenses.

Streaming video content usually requires a leased dedicated server, which can range from $50 to $250 a month, depending on the amount of data transfer and disk space it uses.

Decent streaming can be had with a steady download speed of about 1.5 mbps, which is a typical DSL speed. Comcast offers a lowest tier Internet service, which I have, that goes up to about 3 mbps downstream and about 90 kbps upstream. It is sufficient if no more than two wireless devices are streaming video content.

Here's a tip for other lower tier DSL and Cable Internet customers. Hardwire your personal computer to your router (use a wired LAN port) and stream wirelessly to the Roku (or Smart TV). Log into your router's admin panel and see if there is an option to lower the priority on the wireless channels. Doing this will allow you to open websites in your browser while somebody else watches a movie on Roku, or on a Smart TV.