Apple TV vs. Roku

[lemoon]

Well, I would like vote for the Apple TV.
Besides jailbroken..xbmc, and netflix, airplay, and with handbrake to make the Apple TV to be a home media centre, stream and watch freely.
of course HULU is no problem!
http://www.appletvhacks.net/2011/03/02/how-to-watch-hulu-on-apple-tv-2/

 

[Njshoremom4gurlz]

Europa your a genius... I've come browsing here for awhile and have to tell you this! Your answers are always very helpful & specific. Thank you!


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[Njshoremom4gurlz]

Apple tv! I think this will be my next buy(unless I get the iPhone 5 first lol)
Ok I have WII downstairs tv and upstairs only have my regular cable via infinity with on demand that's awful and halfway through the movie it spazzzes out on us.
There is another HDTV in my kids rooms but I only have a DVD player hooked up. I'm considering giving them the WII for Netflix & games(but not sure cause we play games as a family downstairs)....and get Apple tv for the other TVs..
Maybe I should try Apple TV for bedroom.
I'm sick of my infinity bill. 169$ without tax. I do not use their voice sevice(I do not want another phone I use my cell for everything including calls) my husband and teen daughter same way!
Ok, drifting but I think I should KICK cable out and just find a good wifi provider and just watch Netflix! LoL it's not like I watch much TV anyways!
There's Netflix for kids as well! I love Netflix and have no idea what Hulu works like.
I love how Netflix streaming most movies DO have close captioned!
Whatever happened to blockbusters lol


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[raqball]

I figured I would update this thread because since I posted it, I have actually purchased and used both..

After this thread was posted I purchased an Apple TV and used it for almost 3 months.. I then sold it and purchased a used Roku XDS off Craigslist..

The Roku died a horrible death and I then purchased another Apple TV (3rd Gen) from Sams Club. I used the Apple TV for about 2 more months then decided to return it Sams (they have a 90-day return policy) because I was not happy with the channel content they provided..

I then purchased another Roku XDS (this one brand new)

I have now used both twice within the last year and here are my thoughts. I figured I would post here in case anyone else has a similar question and finds this thread..

The Apple TV appears to be built better, it slightly bigger and heavier (a plus in my book).. The Apple TV syncs up with my computer just fine and AirPlay is an added bonus.. I do not like the fact that I am stuck with the content that Apple decides I want on the device. There is no way to add / remove channels.. The GUI is gorgeous and easy flowing.. No Pandora or ability to add it. No TWiT app (love their shows) or ability to add it. I know I can subscribe to the podcasts but I often enjoy watching the live feed..

The Roku is light and feels cheap.. The GUI is seriously leaps and bounds behind the Apple TV.. But I can add and remove hundreds and hundreds of channels. If something is not listed in the Channel Store, there are a TON of private channels where you simply enter a code to get the channel on your box..

I am keeping the Roku XDS..

For me, I really like the fact that I can add and remove the content that I want.. This is a big, huge, and massive bonus in my book.. Pandora? Check! TWiT? Check!

I will miss AirPlay but I honestly did not use it much at all and while home sharing from my computer was nice, it was not a feature I used often..

For me at least the Roku wins for MY needs.. If Apple had the ability to add and remove channels then it would blow the Roku away.. As it stands now, you are stuck with the content that Apple thinks you want with no way of changing it.. For me, channel options rule..

My .02

 

[chris]

If you don't need iTunes on your TV, then I'd completely agree. I picked up a Roku XS a few weeks back. While a number of my devices support Netflix streaming, they offer varying levels of quality doing so. I really enjoy the Roku interface, the speed and the channels are a bonus. Having HBO Go and Plex on a sub-$100 box is awesome. The app works very well on the iPhone, which can make navigating even easier.

Big fan of Roku. When I initially set mine up, I was annoyed at the requirement for Dolby Digital Plus in order to have surround sound using Netflix. Their customer service was a bit inept. Instead of explaining the restriction was Netflix, they had me disconnecting and re-connecting cables. Very frustrating. In the end, they should have just said, "Hey, it's Netflix that pushes their audio through DD+".

They offer refurb units on their site at good prices. Just search Roku deal and they come up. I bought mine at Best Buy with some reward dollars I had left. Happy I did..

 

[Muckcityjustin]

Thanks guys I already have the roku and I think I am going to stick with it. I almost pulled the trigger on an Apple TV this week but changed my mind after reading the comparison here.

 

[SMELTN]

We won an ATV3 at a Mac store grand opening a few weeks ago and we love it. We use it for Netflix and Hulu Plus viewing 99% of the time. I have used it a couple of times to stream from the macbook and iPhone 5, but honestly I just did it just to do it. The usefulness is DEFINITELY Hulu Plus.

Like most standard DVR's you can only record 2 shows at a time and on some nights at times there are 3 or more shows on we want to watch. We ended up trying Hulu Plus on the ATV and LOVE it. We have actually STOPPED DVRing anything and watch it on Hulu now. Definitely worth it for that alone to me

 

[Njshoremom4gurlz]

I'm grabbing Apple TV



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[ripsqueak]

I have both and I just tend to stick with the Appletv. Suits my needs more because I frequently use airplay, sync w/ my comp, and I like the interface a hell of a lot more.

I find what channels I can add to ruku just seem cheap and not very noteworthy for me. Then again, I didn't explore more than what I could find in their store. What sorts of channels on ruku would you rec?

 

[chris]

I have both and I just tend to stick with the Appletv. Suits my needs more because I frequently use airplay, sync w/ my comp, and I like the interface a hell of a lot more.

I find what channels I can add to ruku just seem cheap and not very noteworthy for me. Then again, I didn't explore more than what I could find in their store. What sorts of channels on ruku would you rec?

Roku has HBO GO, if you are an HBO subscriber.

Those interested in ROKU, they are promising a Black Friday deal to those who like them on Facebook and/or follow them on Twitter.

 

[raqball]

I have both and I just tend to stick with the Appletv. Suits my needs more because I frequently use airplay, sync w/ my comp, and I like the interface a hell of a lot more.

I find what channels I can add to ruku just seem cheap and not very noteworthy for me. Then again, I didn't explore more than what I could find in their store. What sorts of channels on ruku would you rec?

There are a TON of private channels.. Most are junk but there are a few decent ones..

Here is one site that has private channels listed:

http://streamfree.tv/apps/roku-private-channels/all/

 

[chris]

1saleaday has the Roku XS (top of the line) for $50. Granted it's refurbished, but it's half price.

 

[Napoleon Lopez]

I am in the market for one of the two..

Everything I own is Apple (iMac, iPod, iPhone, Airport)

Does anyone have both and can compare?

Thanks in advance!

I have an Apple tv i got recently. It is ok. I like that i can stream some of the stuff from my iPhone 5 to the Apple tv. I have a pc so i don't mirror from my laptop. I plan on getting a second hand ipad eventually, so the streaming from the ipad to the tv is what intrigues me. I think the big key at that point, is to be able to mirror ipad apps on the tv. That to me may be a bigger plus than any roku apps that are available now. Anyway, i will keep playing with it. And decide whether to keep it, and get the ipad. Or bring it back, and get a roku, and use the apps they provide.

 

[Europa]

Napoleon Lopez and chris, I must be missing something. If you have HBO GO, you also have HBO. And if you have HBO, you can watch it on your TV via the cable or satellite box and don't need an alternate device enable viewing HBO. How it is even necessary unless the Roku is connected to a third or fourth TV in the house that doesn't have a cable box?

 

[Santa]

Napoleon Lopez and chris, I must be missing something. If you have HBO GO, you also have HBO. And if you have HBO, you can watch it on your TV via the cable or satellite box and don't need an alternate device enable viewing HBO. How it is even necessary unless the Roku is connected to a third or fourth TV in the house that doesn't have a cable box?

On demand. You can watch back episodes and movies you missed.

But of course, you can do that on your iPad and stream it to your Apple TV.

 

[Napoleon Lopez]

On demand. You can watch back episodes and movies you missed.

But of course, you can do that on your iPad and stream it to your Apple TV.

I thought that Apple was blocking stuff like hbo to go from mirroring to the Apple tv? I read somewhere they are doing that with some of their services. As far as the device, so far i am liking it. But since i don't have a mac, i may have to shell out the money to buy the ipad or mini to get the most out of the Apple tv.

 

[Napoleon Lopez]

Oh and the only thing that frustrates me is that i mainly use netflix on it. And it always gives me a message or error saying that it cannot connect please try again later. I have the latest firmware on it. I end up having to reboot it over and over till it works. But when it works, its pretty nice.

 

[chris]

Napoleon Lopez and chris, I must be missing something. If you have HBO GO, you also have HBO. And if you have HBO, you can watch it on your TV via the cable or satellite box and don't need an alternate device enable viewing HBO. How it is even necessary unless the Roku is connected to a third or fourth TV in the house that doesn't have a cable box?

As Santa said, it's to have access the entire library of HBO. Every episode of The Sopranos, The Wire, GOT and more. I have TiVo in my house, so we don't have cable co on demand. Roku helps fill that gap. We also use it as our primary Netflix streamer. TiVo has Netflix, but I've found loading on Roku to be superior.

Finally, Roku can be inexpensive, especially if you don't mind refurbs. 1saleaday always has them on the cheap.

 

[Napoleon Lopez]

chris Europa Santa What i am mainly interested in is whether that rumor i read online was true. Whether ppl are actually mirroring hbo 2 go and other similar apps from their ipad to the Apple tv. Or does Apple actually block the app from mirroring it to the Apple tv. The idea that i have is to get an ipad, and view my facebook and twitter, instagram etc on a full screen. As well as web browsing full screen via the ipad. And possibly subscribing to apps like hbo 2 go, spotify etc and mirror those apps to the tv. (Without Apple interfering and blocking certain apps from mirroring from the ipad to the Apple tv)

Mirror all my apps from the ipad to the tv i meant. Without limitations from Apple.

 

[chris]

chris Europa Santa What i am mainly interested in is whether that rumor i read online was true. Whether ppl are actually mirroring hbo 2 go and other similar apps from their ipad to the Apple tv. Or does Apple actually block the app from mirroring it to the Apple tv. The idea that i have is to get an ipad, and view my facebook and twitter, instagram etc on a full screen. As well as web browsing full screen via the ipad. And possibly subscribing to apps like hbo 2 go, spotify etc and mirror those apps to the tv. (Without Apple interfering and blocking certain apps from mirroring from the ipad to the Apple tv)

Mirror all my apps from the ipad to the tv i meant. Without limitations from Apple.

I've only tried using AirPlay and the app blocks it. If I recall, I ended up with audio and no video. It makes no sense that it's not allowed. HBO GO has a ROKU app, so why not allow it on the Apple TV via iPad using AirPlay?