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Post by MDG on Apr 20, 2015 11:45:46 GMT -5
Has anyone tried Roku? We're really considering this over the Amazon TV box. I have an older model, I believe it's first generation. I like that it's expandable -- you can install apps for different streaming services. There's the standard Netflix, Hulu, Amazon video, etc. But you can also install apps for a bunch of other, lesser-known services as well. The one thing I don't like about it is that the Hulu app sucks. It's unstable, and will periodically freeze on you. However, this may be a non-issue with the latest Roku players so don't necessarily let that detract you from getting one. I've had a Roku for a couple years and love it--maybe 80% of the TV I watch. One thing to look out for is the hundreds (probably) of channels available, since apparently, it doesn't take much to set one up. There are dozens with the same PD movies on them, either free or very cheap, though the free ones have frequent, repetitive ads. Also good for music and radio through Spotify (need to pay to use through Roku), Pandora, and Tune In Radio. Randle--I got a newer one a year or so ago, and it's more stable. The first one I had, I'd unplug to reset every other day or so after a freeze. |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 20, 2015 12:12:53 GMT -5
Has anyone tried Roku? We're really considering this over the Amazon TV box. I have an older model, I believe it's first generation. I like that it's expandable -- you can install apps for different streaming services. There's the standard Netflix, Hulu, Amazon video, etc. But you can also install apps for a bunch of other, lesser-known services as well. The one thing I don't like about it is that the Hulu app sucks. It's unstable, and will periodically freeze on you. However, this may be a non-issue with the latest Roku players so don't necessarily let that detract you from getting one. I doubt we'll even use Hulu. My question now is, Can you pause shows? If not, that's going to make potty breaks suck. I am CONSTANTLY pausing shows because I have to pee, take the dogs out, kids come to the door with a million questions before bed, etc. |
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Post by Randle-El on Apr 20, 2015 12:47:19 GMT -5
I have an older model, I believe it's first generation. I like that it's expandable -- you can install apps for different streaming services. There's the standard Netflix, Hulu, Amazon video, etc. But you can also install apps for a bunch of other, lesser-known services as well. The one thing I don't like about it is that the Hulu app sucks. It's unstable, and will periodically freeze on you. However, this may be a non-issue with the latest Roku players so don't necessarily let that detract you from getting one. I doubt we'll even use Hulu. My question now is, Can you pause shows? If not, that's going to make potty breaks suck. I am CONSTANTLY pausing shows because I have to pee, take the dogs out, kids come to the door with a million questions before bed, etc. Yup. Any function that's normally supported by the streaming service you can do on Roku. I pause Amazon, Hulu, and Netflix all the time. I would think the only time you wouldn't be able to pause is for a live-streaming service where it's not pre-recorded content. |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 20, 2015 12:55:46 GMT -5
With Comcast, I can pause all programs as they are aired. If I need to pee on a Monday night right as Better Call Saul is on, I can pause it.
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Post by Randle-El on Apr 20, 2015 13:43:01 GMT -5
With Comcast, I can pause all programs as they are aired. If I need to pee on a Monday night right as Better Call Saul is on, I can pause it. I'm assuming that's because you have DVR. I don't think you can ordinarily pause without it, since a DVR acts as a storage buffer to store the content that's continuing to air while you go pee. Either that, or your cable box has a small amount of memory for buffering. It's a moot point with the services you'll be using to stream content on Roku, since the content you're streaming is pre-recorded. I can't say for sure because I haven't used it, but the one exception to this might a streaming service like Sling. As opposed to Hulu or Netflix, which streams pre-recorded content on demand, Sling lets you stream content as its aired in real-time. Because of this model, they might not let you pause or play non-airing content, since it would require you to buffer content locally. As Sling is a web service (and not a hardware provider), that might be too difficult to implement across different hardware platforms that may or may not have the local storage to support buffering. |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 20, 2015 17:09:50 GMT -5
Has anyone tried Roku? We're really considering this over the Amazon TV box. I have a Roku because it streams better than my Playstation for some unknown reason. Haven't tried the Amazon box but I think they're both pretty comparable. |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 20, 2015 17:10:33 GMT -5
I have an older model, I believe it's first generation. I like that it's expandable -- you can install apps for different streaming services. There's the standard Netflix, Hulu, Amazon video, etc. But you can also install apps for a bunch of other, lesser-known services as well. The one thing I don't like about it is that the Hulu app sucks. It's unstable, and will periodically freeze on you. However, this may be a non-issue with the latest Roku players so don't necessarily let that detract you from getting one. I doubt we'll even use Hulu. My question now is, Can you pause shows? If not, that's going to make potty breaks suck. I am CONSTANTLY pausing shows because I have to pee, take the dogs out, kids come to the door with a million questions before bed, etc. Yeah I pretty much only use mine for Hulu but you can pause on there at least. |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 20, 2015 17:12:04 GMT -5
I can remember when everyone had that giant antenna on top of their house. EVERYONE. I did too. In my area we had Antennas in everyone house until 1984 of where Cable came in and took over everything. That's the first 23 years of my life. Cable from 1984 to Present. Seems they were on all the roofs in my grandparents neighborhood in Rialto until the late 80's. And then when I moved to Chino Hills as a kid there was not cable, so they were there too. Last one I saw was in Salton Sea, sitting in the front yard of a home that must have just got cable, like in 2008  |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 20, 2015 17:14:19 GMT -5
I can remember when everyone had that giant antenna on top of their house. EVERYONE. And I remember my great grandma's giant satellite dish in the back yard. I always wondered why she didn't have every channel on the planet with that thing. Are you talking about the towers and then the antenna was on top? If so, I had one. And I climbed it, like, every single day of my life from age 4 until probably 8 or 9 years old. They had a ton of different models but I think this was the most popular one  |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 20, 2015 18:44:00 GMT -5
Are you talking about the towers and then the antenna was on top? If so, I had one. And I climbed it, like, every single day of my life from age 4 until probably 8 or 9 years old. They had a ton of different models but I think this was the most popular one Yes! But mine had the tower like this, and I used to climb it until my mom would yell at me from the kitchen window to get down because I was going to kill myself.  Girls were not to climb tv towers. We could get hurt and dirty. |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 20, 2015 19:39:20 GMT -5
Damn that does look scary as hell though, to imagine a four year old up there
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Post by Deleted on Apr 20, 2015 20:53:18 GMT -5
Oh god no! I did not get anywhere near the top of that!!!! and mine, I do not believe, was as tall as that. But it was a tower like that.
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Post by Action Ace on Apr 20, 2015 20:57:24 GMT -5
Fox viewing positions everyone!  Which was true. When Fox came on the air, the nearest location was 90 miles away and you needed your antenna just right. |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 20, 2015 21:47:50 GMT -5
Oh god no! I did not get anywhere near the top of that!!!! and mine, I do not believe, was as tall as that. But it was a tower like that. Thanks goodness ...  |
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Post by DE Sinclair on Apr 21, 2015 9:43:11 GMT -5
Are you talking about the towers and then the antenna was on top? If so, I had one. And I climbed it, like, every single day of my life from age 4 until probably 8 or 9 years old. They had a ton of different models but I think this was the most popular one We had something similar to that on a big pole right next to our house. You could turn the pole to try to get better reception. I remember many times being outside twisting and turning the pole trying to get the only somewhat local channel that had the Spider-Man cartoon on it to come in (this was in the late sixties). It never really did come in, so we were left straining to see and hear what was going on. Compared to that, cable was a blessing. |
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