brybry
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Post by brybry on Oct 13, 2023 18:08:47 GMT -5
Due to the pandemic, high speed internet is finally available in my area. We own an older smart tv and a non smart tv. We want to drop Dish but need a device that will let us use the Hulu+ service. Our choices are a Roku, Fire Stick and the Apple thingy.
I'm kind of leaning towards the Roku as its a little cheaper than the Fire stick and we will need 2.
Opinions are welcome if you use / used either before or currently. Both options are wayyy cheaper than new TVs.
Never heard of the Apple thingy and haven't bothered looking it up.
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hypodactylus
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2021
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Post by hypodactylus on Oct 13, 2023 18:38:28 GMT -5
I have tried both Fire TV and Roku. I ended up going the Fire TV stick route because it wasn't too expensive and everything seems to work well. I wasn't a fan of not being able to turn off the Roku; not sure if that is still a thing (but that is just my obsessive brain). I am not fond of the Apple ecosystem, so I tend to avoid their products. I do use their Apple TV+ service from time to time though; there are some good shows (you don't need their device for this).
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Oct 13, 2023 18:39:47 GMT -5
I have an older Roku. Works just fine. I actually have another one that is an Express 4k+ one that I haven't hooked up in my bedroom yet. I need to get rid of my cable and then I'll subscribe to most likely Hulu+ and maybe Netflix. Not sure yet exactly yet.
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dillonf
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Post by dillonf on Oct 13, 2023 19:11:21 GMT -5
We use Fire TV. My folks use Roku. We bought an apple TV for one of our TVs - didn't like it then got another fire stick. I think you kind of have to be an apple person to like the apple tv
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Post by rockjunquie on Oct 13, 2023 19:33:05 GMT -5
We had roku when it came out. We just have a smart tv now. Everyone I know uses roku, but firesticks have their fans. People get "Jailbroke" firesticks which allow you to watch everything for free but I know nothing about it.
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Post by jasoninsd on Oct 13, 2023 20:56:19 GMT -5
We have a Firestick. Got it as a Christmas present. Use it sometimes. I don't have anything negative to say about it...
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quartz
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Post by quartz on Oct 13, 2023 21:35:58 GMT -5
I went with ROKU, partly because my provider gave us two when cutting cable. Have the Streaming Stick+ on two non-smart TV's and am completely satisfied with them. I got Hulu+ for local channels and Friendly TV for some stuff they have, cut my phone internet and TV bundle by $76/mo. from cable. I don't know anyone who uses Firestick so no comparison.
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Post by stardiamond on Oct 13, 2023 21:53:20 GMT -5
I've used Tivo recorders for a long time. They quit adding interfaces so I bought a Tivo streaming stick. It didn't work very well and content providers weren't supporting it. I got a Roku stick and it works great. Good user interface and few problems.
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Post by aDave on Oct 13, 2023 21:57:27 GMT -5
I have Roku and Firestick. I really don't have a preference, as they pretty much do the same thing. The interface for each is just a bit different, but I can see everything I want. For me, the price for the device helped me with the decision.
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Post by Rockoonz on Oct 14, 2023 0:13:27 GMT -5
I am overjoyed that I have no idea what roku or firestick are. Have not turned on a tv other than in a hotel room in well over a decade. I have a 32" TV that is still in the box, plan to use like a monitor for photo and video editing one day, but no hurries. I do agree that anything Apple is to be absolutely avoided, funny how Jobs created a cult that will pay 3x the money for a vastly inferior product.
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Post by rockjunquie on Oct 14, 2023 6:59:34 GMT -5
I am overjoyed that I have no idea what roku or firestick are. Have not turned on a tv other than in a hotel room in well over a decade. I have a 32" TV that is still in the box, plan to use like a monitor for photo and video editing one day, but no hurries. I do agree that anything Apple is to be absolutely avoided, funny how Jobs created a cult that will pay 3x the money for a vastly inferior product. The kids and grandkids HAD to have Apples when they got their first phones... the have since switched to android. Apple phones make horrible phones. They may be good pocket computers, but their phones suck.
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Post by Rockoonz on Oct 14, 2023 9:21:19 GMT -5
I am overjoyed that I have no idea what roku or firestick are. Have not turned on a tv other than in a hotel room in well over a decade. I have a 32" TV that is still in the box, plan to use like a monitor for photo and video editing one day, but no hurries. I do agree that anything Apple is to be absolutely avoided, funny how Jobs created a cult that will pay 3x the money for a vastly inferior product. The kids and grandkids HAD to have Apples when they got their first phones... the have since switched to android. Apple phones make horrible phones. They may be good pocket computers, but their phones suck. There was once a day when Apple owned photo and video editing, they now just seem to be a few months behind on their blatant, and poor copies of whatever Android and Samsung dream up. Newish GM cars seem to do well with Apple products though, a client I took to an appointment this week in the company caddy asked to play her music and the interface seemed decent. Unfortunately She was a Swifty and I'm still trying to shake it off, but that's another story...
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Post by rockjunquie on Oct 14, 2023 9:23:41 GMT -5
The kids and grandkids HAD to have Apples when they got their first phones... the have since switched to android. Apple phones make horrible phones. They may be good pocket computers, but their phones suck. There was once a day when Apple owned photo and video editing, they now just seem to be a few months behind on their blatant, and poor copies of whatever Android and Samsung dream up. Newish GM cars seem to do well with Apple products though, a client I took to an appointment this week in the company caddy asked to play her music and the interface seemed decent. Unfortunately She was a Swifty and I'm still trying to shake it off, but that's another story...
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Fossilman
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Post by Fossilman on Oct 16, 2023 12:08:12 GMT -5
We stream and use ROKU...
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brybry
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Post by brybry on Oct 16, 2023 18:36:15 GMT -5
I believe we're going with the Roku since we can get it locally. They rank in the 10 of streaming devices so how can I go wrong? Thanks much for all the input.
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iamchris
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Post by iamchris on Oct 19, 2023 4:53:09 GMT -5
I believe we're going with the Roku since we can get it locally. They rank in the 10 of streaming devices so how can I go wrong? Thanks much for all the input. Roku has multiple products. Which one are you going with?
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brybry
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Post by brybry on Oct 19, 2023 7:35:19 GMT -5
Not sure yet. Haven't picked anything firm but their cheapest unit scored the highest of all their products I if I remember correctly.
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quartz
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Post by quartz on Oct 19, 2023 21:26:16 GMT -5
The problem with the bottom end unit is that it won't function the TV, only change channels within the streaming system. TV on/off and its volume have to be controlled on its remote. I have one of those too, fine for watching something that runs for a long time w/o changing the volume, but it seems volumes vary so much from station to station here, and the movies that either whisper or scream. My other unit is the Streaming Stick +, it runs everything.
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Post by realrockhound on Oct 20, 2023 14:51:02 GMT -5
I am overjoyed that I have no idea what roku or firestick are. Have not turned on a tv other than in a hotel room in well over a decade. I have a 32" TV that is still in the box, plan to use like a monitor for photo and video editing one day, but no hurries. I do agree that anything Apple is to be absolutely avoided, funny how Jobs created a cult that will pay 3x the money for a vastly inferior product. MVP. I also watch as little of tv as possible. I do spend some time on the computer or phone. But 99% of that time is spent reading/learning about things.
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iamchris
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Post by iamchris on Oct 23, 2023 15:41:12 GMT -5
Not sure yet. Haven't picked anything firm but their cheapest unit scored the highest of all their products I if I remember correctly. First off, I have to say you're making the right choice to get a streaming device despite having a smart TV. The downside with TVs getting smarter is that they also are able to monetize the data they're collecting on you. Samsung started this practice and is still the worst, with some models going as far as taking screenshots of what you're watching and sending it back to Samsung. My Sony TV displays ads on its home screen, as do many other brands. If you're privacy-minded, the best thing you can do is update the firmware of your smart TV and then disconnect it from the internet. I would also recommend reconsidering the Apple TV if you have an iPhone, or if privacy is important to you. 1. It's nice being able to use your phone as a remote, and also type using your phone keyboard instead of using the streaming device's remote. The Roku now offers AirPlay, so Apple no longer holds that as a sole advantage for iPhone users. 2. Apple is the only privacy-minded company in this list. Google and Roku collect your data. What you watch, your location, and it'll try and tailor ads that it either shows on screen, or then sells to advertisers. With Roku, Chromecast, and Amazon, you're both the consumer and the product. I'm happy to pay a bit more to Apple to only be the consumer. It's admittedly been a while since I've used a Roku, but it appears to have not changed since 2015. The Apple UI is much cleaner, if things like that matter to you. And at $129 for the Apple TV versus $99 for the Roku Ultra (which is the only one that offers comparable features and performance), the free 3 months of Apple TV+ is a good way to negate the price difference if you accept the sunk cost. But if you're anti-Apple as many here appear to be, Roku is your next best option for the quality of its interface. But I would highly recommend not going with the cheapest Roku option. As is noted you can't control TV or use voice with the Roku Express. And you'll be forever limited to 1080p, so though it's the cheapest, you'll probably want to upgrade to a new one at some point as you get a better TV or become more acclimated to the streaming ecosystem. Unless your budget is limiting you to the Roku Express (or any of the cheapest options), I would recommend spending a little bit more. If you don't care at all about the privacy concerns, by far the best bang for the buck is the Roku Streaming Stick 4k.
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