Roku?

€uroMeinke · 02-22-2009, 10:46 AM

Having put our DVDs into binders and ripped all our CDs, I'm finding the concept of the Roku player rather compelling. I'm sure there will be some titles or cuts missing from their inventory but it seems they'd have just about anything commercially available, but I see this as a better alternative to a Blu Ray player.

Anyone have one already? Any thought?

Ghoulish Delight · 02-22-2009, 10:53 AM

We don't have Roku, but our TiVo provides mostly the same functionality. It works great. Quality suffers a bit, and on the TiVo, ffwd and rwd are somewhat painful as compared to a DVD/blu-ray. Don't know if Roku would be any better. But in terms of being able to watch a large selection at the touch of a button, these services work wonderfully.

Moonliner · 02-22-2009, 10:58 AM

Does the Roku allow for on-demand movies (aka pay-per-view) or does it just support the movies you can stream to a PC via Netflix?

Cuz if it's the latter then you won't be getting any new release movies on it.

Alex · 02-22-2009, 11:25 AM

Just Netflix for now. I believe they are working to expand it to other things.

I'm much enjoying the Roku so far (I haven't watched one of my mailed discs in quite a while). Some drawbacks:

1. Almost everything available from Netflix is not almost available via Roku. Of my 400+ queue only about 75 are available streaming.

2. Starz (the cable channel) is the source of a fair number of the newer stuff and they seem to still present most movies in fullscreen rather than widescreen.

3. No subtitles for English language movies (generally, when available I prefer to watch everything with subtitles - my hearing sucks and this lets me keep the volume at neighborly levels).

4. Only one audio track for foreign language movies so it may be dubbed or subtitled and you can't change it.

5.This is a streamed service so sometimes you do lose buffer while watching the movie and have to wait for it to restart. Netflix seems to still be working on the size of their pipe. Buffering problems (for me anyway) are worst on Thursday and Friday evenings.

6. If you have a large Instant queue the navigation is arduous since you can only scroll through the list linearly.

Pluses:

1. If a lot of movies you want to see are available, this can significantly improve the cost benefit ratio of your existing Netflix package since you are now limited only by the time you have to watch.

2. Super easy set up. It was literally 10 minutes from box opening to starting my first title.

3. If you've streamed movies to your computer from Netflix you might have questions about the image quality. Even on the best connection I found that there was a fair amount of artifacting. I do not see that with Roku (unless I get bumped down to a lower quality stream).

CoasterMatt · 02-22-2009, 12:16 PM

I don't see the need for something like this, but my TV is my computer screen, too.

flippyshark · 02-22-2009, 01:06 PM

Lack of original language (with subtitles) and lack of correct aspect ratio are deal breakers for me. Also, I miss the commentaries and docus, at least on those titles I end up really loving. (A great many movies don't intrigue me enough to care, it's true.)

I currently stream about two movies a week (mostly recent titles) through iTunes and onto my wall via AppleTV. (I don't have a TV set.) This is fine for a fairly wide swath of movies, but I am still left hungry for deep library titles, foreign films, independents and so on. But, things look to be improving steadily. In any case, I scarcely buy more than ten DVDs a year anymore, if that. (Edited to add - and those I do buy are invariably films that predate 1985 or so.)

cirquelover · 02-22-2009, 01:16 PM

We don't have Roku but we have the same kind of steup through the Xbox 360. I agree with everything Alex says but will add that some movies disappear too. Some items have a limited time to view them, which is fine if you pay attention. Sadly Zach and I learned that lesson the hard way with a Christmas special we wanted to watch.

I wish more movies were available through streaming, our dvd que gets bigger every day!

I also wish it was easier to sort through your que and to group items together.

That said, we are getting a lot of use out of it. It's been a kick showing Zach old movies from the 70's and 80's! He loves the cornball stuff like I do but also likes the Action and Sci-fi movies him and Dad have been watching.

Alex · 03-04-2009, 09:01 AM

Just got email from Roku saying that with the next software update in addition to access to Netflix Watch Instantly content, I'll also be able to use it to access Amazon On Demand titles which I can "rent or buy" for low prices.

Haven't looked into it yet to see exactly what "buy" means in this context but it looks like most or all "rentals" are 0.99 and the catalog seems to be more skewed to new releases than is available on Netflix (though a 40,000 title catalog is claimed).

Ghoulish Delight · 03-04-2009, 09:33 AM

"Buy" means one time payment for unlimited access to the title. You can download, or watch on demand. Your access survives as long as the service survives.

Kevy Baby · 03-04-2009, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

Your access survives as long as the service survives.

And therein lies the rub

02-22-2009, 10:46 AM	#1
€uroMeinke L'Hédoniste Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: A.S.C.O.T. Posts: 8,671	Roku? Having put our DVDs into binders and ripped all our CDs, I'm finding the concept of the Roku player rather compelling. I'm sure there will be some titles or cuts missing from their inventory but it seems they'd have just about anything commercially available, but I see this as a better alternative to a Blu Ray player. Anyone have one already? Any thought? __________________ I would believe only in a God that knows how to Dance. Friedrich Nietzsche
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02-22-2009, 10:53 AM	#2
Ghoulish Delight I Floop the Pig Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Alternative Swankstyle Posts: 19,348	We don't have Roku, but our TiVo provides mostly the same functionality. It works great. Quality suffers a bit, and on the TiVo, ffwd and rwd are somewhat painful as compared to a DVD/blu-ray. Don't know if Roku would be any better. But in terms of being able to watch a large selection at the touch of a button, these services work wonderfully. __________________ 'He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me.' -TJ
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02-22-2009, 10:58 AM	#3
Moonliner 8/30/14 - Disneyland -10k or Bust. Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 9,022	Does the Roku allow for on-demand movies (aka pay-per-view) or does it just support the movies you can stream to a PC via Netflix? Cuz if it's the latter then you won't be getting any new release movies on it. __________________ - Taking it one step at a time.
	Submit to Quotes

02-22-2009, 11:25 AM	#4
Alex . Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 13,354	Just Netflix for now. I believe they are working to expand it to other things. I'm much enjoying the Roku so far (I haven't watched one of my mailed discs in quite a while). Some drawbacks: 1. Almost everything available from Netflix is not almost available via Roku. Of my 400+ queue only about 75 are available streaming. 2. Starz (the cable channel) is the source of a fair number of the newer stuff and they seem to still present most movies in fullscreen rather than widescreen. 3. No subtitles for English language movies (generally, when available I prefer to watch everything with subtitles - my hearing sucks and this lets me keep the volume at neighborly levels). 4. Only one audio track for foreign language movies so it may be dubbed or subtitled and you can't change it. 5.This is a streamed service so sometimes you do lose buffer while watching the movie and have to wait for it to restart. Netflix seems to still be working on the size of their pipe. Buffering problems (for me anyway) are worst on Thursday and Friday evenings. 6. If you have a large Instant queue the navigation is arduous since you can only scroll through the list linearly. Pluses: 1. If a lot of movies you want to see are available, this can significantly improve the cost benefit ratio of your existing Netflix package since you are now limited only by the time you have to watch. 2. Super easy set up. It was literally 10 minutes from box opening to starting my first title. 3. If you've streamed movies to your computer from Netflix you might have questions about the image quality. Even on the best connection I found that there was a fair amount of artifacting. I do not see that with Roku (unless I get bumped down to a lower quality stream).
	Submit to Quotes

02-22-2009, 12:16 PM	#5
CoasterMatt BRAAAAAAAINS! Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: One Step Beyond... Posts: 8,802	I don't see the need for something like this, but my TV is my computer screen, too. __________________ Do you like my photography? Visit photosbymatt.tumblr.com to purchase prints!
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02-22-2009, 01:06 PM	#6
flippyshark Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 2,852	Lack of original language (with subtitles) and lack of correct aspect ratio are deal breakers for me. Also, I miss the commentaries and docus, at least on those titles I end up really loving. (A great many movies don't intrigue me enough to care, it's true.) I currently stream about two movies a week (mostly recent titles) through iTunes and onto my wall via AppleTV. (I don't have a TV set.) This is fine for a fairly wide swath of movies, but I am still left hungry for deep library titles, foreign films, independents and so on. But, things look to be improving steadily. In any case, I scarcely buy more than ten DVDs a year anymore, if that. (Edited to add - and those I do buy are invariably films that predate 1985 or so.)
	Submit to Quotes

02-22-2009, 01:16 PM	#7
cirquelover Cruising around in my automobile... Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oregon Posts: 2,617	We don't have Roku but we have the same kind of steup through the Xbox 360. I agree with everything Alex says but will add that some movies disappear too. Some items have a limited time to view them, which is fine if you pay attention. Sadly Zach and I learned that lesson the hard way with a Christmas special we wanted to watch. I wish more movies were available through streaming, our dvd que gets bigger every day! I also wish it was easier to sort through your que and to group items together. That said, we are getting a lot of use out of it. It's been a kick showing Zach old movies from the 70's and 80's! He loves the cornball stuff like I do but also likes the Action and Sci-fi movies him and Dad have been watching.
	Submit to Quotes

03-04-2009, 09:01 AM	#8
Alex . Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 13,354	Just got email from Roku saying that with the next software update in addition to access to Netflix Watch Instantly content, I'll also be able to use it to access Amazon On Demand titles which I can "rent or buy" for low prices. Haven't looked into it yet to see exactly what "buy" means in this context but it looks like most or all "rentals" are 0.99 and the catalog seems to be more skewed to new releases than is available on Netflix (though a 40,000 title catalog is claimed).
	Submit to Quotes

03-04-2009, 09:33 AM	#9
Ghoulish Delight I Floop the Pig Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Alternative Swankstyle Posts: 19,348	"Buy" means one time payment for unlimited access to the title. You can download, or watch on demand. Your access survives as long as the service survives. __________________ 'He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me.' -TJ
	Submit to Quotes