Internet TV options? Anyone use this type of service?

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Candiru
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May 5, 2006
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Ok, so I am considering dropping my current T.V. provider. My kids dont watch much, as they are now more into gaming. I am trying to figure out my options, and I am only getting more and more confused. I am considering grabbing a ROKU. One of my questions is.... Are you able to watch current programming through any of the services? Say Mythbusters comes out with a new episode on Discovery, am I able to watch that? In HD? How do you watch sporting events? White Sox home games I can get on my antenna, but what about away stuff? Bears games the same question? Is this really a viable option for someone that wants access to some of the cable programming? I would love to save a few bucks a month, but I also want to make sure that I have access to programming worth watching, and not material that is out of date. Any info would be helpfull, thanks in advance.

Chris
 
Also what about multiple TV's? Do you need a ROKU type box for each? Im sure you can split the signal after the box, but in order to watch different programming on different TV's, you need multiple boxes correct?
 
I just got a roku Friday so I'm not an expert by any means but this is what I've picked up on. For current tv you can get hulu for $8/month, they dont have everything but you can look at their site and see what they do have and determine if its good for you. The roku 2 xs has hdmi, Ethernet, and a single plug video that splits out to your red/white/yellow. There is no coax so splitting is probably possible if you try hard enough but it would be the same programming so you're bettere off getting a cheaper model for secondary tv's. This is what I know at this time.
 
I have a question for you 2. What does a roku offer that a newer smart Blu Ray player or a video game console or smart tv doesn't already offer?

Hulu plus, Netflix, espn espn2 etc etc are already on all the above


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I don't play games and didn't need a tv so I wasn't interested in paying the extra money on these options and consequently never researched those routes. I compared the roku 2xs and apple tv which are considered the leaders in these devices. During my research I found apple tv didn't have as many "channels" as roku, it seemed that each channel is like an app. Apple's selling point is airplay but since I don't own any of their other products it wasn't a selling point for me. In the reviews I read none ever mentioned to go bluray over roku or appletv and since bluray players aren't much more money I can only assume that while the offer the most popular streaming options they do not offer anywhere near the options that roku and appletv offer.
 
I have a question for you 2. What does a roku offer that a newer smart Blu Ray player or a video game console or smart tv doesn't already offer?

Hulu plus, Netflix, espn espn2 etc etc are already on all the above


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Not much. It's mostly for people who don't already have a device that can handle web content

Swyped from my Rezound
 
I've been using a roku for over a year now and really like it. Between hulu plus, netflix, and a paper leaf antenna I'm able to catch most of what I want to watch, and anything else I'll try to stream online or download it from somewhere. Having all the music options and amazon video is a plus as well. We only have one tv anymore though so I've never tried to split the signal but would think that it would be easiest to set each tv up separately.
 
Not much. It's mostly for people who don't already have a device that can handle web content

Swyped from my Rezound

Aren't they in the same price range? Blu ray vs roku2? In any comparison review I've read it's always the Blu ray player is slightly slower but who knows how old their Blu ray player is


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It all depends on which player you have, buy my blueray isn't very well setup to use these features-almost like they were added last minute just to make them available to compete with other models. The roku is much more intuitive to use.
 
I never considered using one of the gaming systems. We have both the xbox 360, and PS3. I just went straight to ROKU for research. I wonder if there are any real differences. Ill have to check more into the game system stuff I guess. Thanks for the info so far, any more is appreciated.
 
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