do you guys know anything about Roku?

[bakerbarber]

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-...right-for-you/

Nice article.

Why the hell does Roku need a valid credit card number? I was looking at getting one for my spare room and don't want to pay double for the WD HD Live if the Roku does the same thing. Well it streams, no USB or NAS integration, but enough for the bedroom or basement TV. Nowhere on Roku website except the PDF of the instruction manual do they mention a Credit Card during setup.

That's shady.

[devilock76]

I hear mixed reviews on Hulu's premium service. If I was going to cut the cable on all pay tv service though I would consider it.

I also see a lot of overlap between Amazon's free VOD provided to PRIME members and Netflix. I already have the Prime membership so I debate if I really need netflix. But Netflix right now works on more of my devices than the Amazon VOD store. It varies...

Ken

[bakerbarber]

Hulu Plus still has commercials?!? WUT!!??!!

I have a Roku in the bedroom and the private channels are awesome. I still pretty much just watch netflix.

I still prefer the Western Digital in the living room because it streams from NAT and has a USB port. It has yet to not play a file I threw at it. The netflix GUI is nicer on the WD too. Not that it's bad on the Roku.

I read that Netgear is coming out with some new streaming boxes based on HTML5 that are customizable and will start at 1080p and support more apps and channels. http://www.techhive.com/article/2010...streaming.html
http://www.forbes.com/sites/alicetru...splay-adapter/

Cable's days are numbered.

[Ainkor]

I have an Apple TV and a Roku box. I use my Roku box 99% of the time. We have Hulu Plus, Netflix and Amazon Instant video for renting new shows. I hate that the Apple TV takes forever for a stream to start when renting a movie.

We used to buy a DVD each payday for the last 15 years and in the last year, haven't bought one. Third time I've moved the 500 odd movies that we've only watched once :P

I got mine for free with my DSL service. Hell, I wouldn't have DirecTV except that my wife insists even though we watch a grand total of 10 hours at max a month.

[CoderGuy]

Hulu Plus still has commercials?!? WUT!!??!!

I have a Roku in the bedroom and the private channels are awesome. I still pretty much just watch netflix.

I still prefer the Western Digital in the living room because it streams from NAT and has a USB port. It has yet to not play a file I threw at it. The netflix GUI is nicer on the WD too. Not that it's bad on the Roku.

I read that Netgear is coming out with some new streaming boxes based on HTML5 that are customizable and will start at 1080p and support more apps and channels. http://www.techhive.com/article/2010...streaming.html
http://www.forbes.com/sites/alicetru...splay-adapter/

Cable's days are numbered.

Hulu+ commercials have gotten ridiculous. Now there are sometimes 6 breaks in an hour show, each 90 to 120 seconds.

[Crow]

I use the Adblock to block out the Hulu commercials. You still have to wait, but you don't have to go through watching ads.

[devilock76]

I have an Apple TV and a Roku box. I use my Roku box 99% of the time. We have Hulu Plus, Netflix and Amazon Instant video for renting new shows. I hate that the Apple TV takes forever for a stream to start when renting a movie.

We used to buy a DVD each payday for the last 15 years and in the last year, haven't bought one. Third time I've moved the 500 odd movies that we've only watched once :P

I got mine for free with my DSL service. Hell, I wouldn't have DirecTV except that my wife insists even though we watch a grand total of 10 hours at max a month.

I am wanting to pull the plug in the coming year on all traditional TV services. I figure with boxes like the Sony Streamer and roku plus an antenna and converter box where needed for HD over air signals I will have all I need. Only thing I want to add to the mix is to setup a linux box with myth for a DVR setup. Too bad there is not a practical way to view Netflix content over a linux install yet.

Ken

[Ainkor]

I am wanting to pull the plug in the coming year on all traditional TV services. I figure with boxes like the Sony Streamer and roku plus an antenna and converter box where needed for HD over air signals I will have all I need. Only thing I want to add to the mix is to setup a linux box with myth for a DVR setup. Too bad there is not a practical way to view Netflix content over a linux install yet.

Ken

True, but with Roku, you can stream Netflix as its one of the channel options. I'm not sure of the Sony Streamer since I've never used one before. We probably could get an HD signal where we live but I've never even tried. We lived in the hicks and sticks for so long that until I read that, I totally forgot about broadcast TV :P

[GoVegan]

OK my 2 year agreement with the cable company expires this month and my rates are going up. For TV and Interney it will be 161.00 without a contract and 124.00 with a 2 year agreement. Internet alone is $52.00 per mo. I think I am going to Wal Mart today to check out Roku. At 58.00 it would pay for itself in 1 month.

[GoVegan]

OK just an update. We got the $78.00 Roku today in case we get an HDTV later. This thing is like cable TV on steroids and there are literally 100's of channels. Most of the channels are free and other require a monthly membership. So far, Hulu+ seems to be a good deal. Hulu+ also has the Spanish Novelas on there so my wife is happy. I wish I would have ditched my cable box sooner.

[EricHill78]

I did the membership to netflix and it's definitely worth it.

The only free thing on roku I see is crackle. Am I missing something?

[Will22]

Guys, you MUST install Plex (http://plexapp.com/)!

[Bigblue1]

Guys, you MUST install Plex (http://plexapp.com/)!

Does this work with Wi-fi or is it wired? I just went to the site and it doesn't say much about exactly what it does. Would you mind telling us what it's advantages are?

[GoVegan]

I did the membership to netflix and it's definitely worth it.

The only free thing on roku I see is crackle. Am I missing something?

Your kidding right? About 80% of what they have in the channel store is free. I am also finding quite a few free channel packages on the web that are not in the Roku store.

http://www.thenowhereman.com/roku/

https://spreadsheets.google.com/spre...ue&widget=true

http://www.roku.com/roku-channel-store

http://www.rokuprivatechannels.com/

http://blog.roku.com/blog/2011/08/24...vate-channels/

This link is for PP!

http://hiddenchannel.com/

[Will22]

Does this work with Wi-fi or is it wired? I just went to the site and it doesn't say much about exactly what it does. Would you mind telling us what it's advantages are?

Basically, this is a media server that you are running on your computer, it manages all your local media files so you can watch/listen it on your tv via roku.
But it also has tons of plugins/channels such as Youtube, History, SyFi just to name a few...
Another convenient feature is a little bookmarklet for your browser. It allows you to put any video on the web to be placed in your queue, and be watched on your tv at your convenience.

They have very nice help section (http://www.plexapp.com/help/) to get you started.
Forum is also great http://forums.plexapp.com/