Roku HD Player
by Roku, Inc.
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Our Price: $69.99 Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: Home Theater See more product details |
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Customers in the UK,
Buy this product at amazon.co.uk
for British Pounds
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Roku HD Player
Customer Review: Worth the price, excited about future upgrades
Summary: 4 Stars
I bought this Roku box as an alternative to a cable subscription. As a person with off-kilter movie tastes, I'm in love with the older catalog netflix offers for streaming. I have close to 300 items in my queue, and some, like Monty Python's Flying Circus, have 45 episodes apiece. There's a lot of content if you start digging.
The Roku is shipped in its retail box. Kind of expensive shipping, too. It arrived 2 business days after shipping out of CA to end up here in New England.
The Roku is tiny. It's about the size of a large square piece of sandwich bread and about 3 DVD cases thick. Looks nice and minimalistic. A multitude of ports, but since I have a Panasonic Viera 32 LCD HDTV, I go right for the HDMI.
Picture quality is variable depending on a couple of things: Internet speed, source material, cable connections. Many older programs and movies are in 4:3 ratio, so keep that in mind. My tv has a scaler, though, so it's not a problem. I have 6Mb down, 2Mb up internet and always get great picture quality. Every once in a while you'll see some digital artifacts or some softness, but all in all, looks just as good as digital cable TV.
The reason I gave this 4 stars- I had some firmware/router issues at first. I am using a belkin model F5D7230-4 router. Reading through Roku forums, someone explained that the problem is an incompatibility with the firmware (v1.00 or whatever) the Roku ships with and my router. After an hour of frustration tooling around with wireless settings, I was able to run an ethernet cable directly into the modem and get the update needed (v2.00) to make everything work. After the firmware update, I reset my router and everything works like a charm. Wireless is fast, no need to run an ethernet cord. Still, bummed I didn't get this working right out of the box.
The Roku box is fast. I always have the '4 dot' or highest SD resolution when watching Netflix. I haven't figured out how to watch HD netflix movies yet. I did check the HD previews on Amazon on Demand, and was very happy, though. My TV is 720p and the Roku puts out 720p. The Dark Knight preview looked AMAZING on my TV. While I find Amazon to be a little pricey, it's nice to know the box can handle HD content quite well.
That brings me to my last point- this box is pretty good, and has the potential to be a LOT better. Right now Roku has 2 channels- Netflix and Amazon. There is going to be an addition of up to 10 new channels before the end of 2009, according to Roku. Many are speculating that TV network and content providers are in negotiations to stream their content on Roku, either via a subscription service or content with ads. I'm hoping for FOX, NBC, Showtime, HBO, Cartoon Network, the A&E/Discovery channels, etc to contribute in some way. Now of course, no one knows what the 10 new channels will be, but the potential is very, very exciting. Even if this is just a Netflix player, though, in the end it's worth the price of admission.
I'll update this after I put some more time into the box or if anyone has comments/questions.
Customer Review: A Best Buy for Netflix Users - Rebuffing can be an Issue.
Summary: 4 Stars
As Netflix users, this purchase has offered us an abundance of viewing material for what amounts to a minimal expense. For the $99 (plus shipping) one time investment, we have improved the quality of our viewing selections immeasurably. This review will be oriented from a Netflix perspective.
In the 3 weeks we've owned this device, we have watched over 20 programs through the Roku. Every once in a while, the device will pause and "buffer" the download. This has only been a major issue once, while we were watching Humboldt County. The download got "stuck" in a loop and could not get past a certain point 27 minutes from the end of the film. It was a bit exasperating! Eventually, the issue resolved itself and we were able to finish watching the film, though it took a while. This occurred on a Tuesday evening so I wouldn't think it had anything to do with "prime" usage periods.
Picture quality on our HDTV has been excellent. We are employing a wireless network and have not experienced many issues aside from the one described above. We've been extremely impressed with picture quality even when "pausing" a film through the Roku. Digital streaming is an impressive technology!
The only other issue we have had with the Roku is that we often have to unplug it and plug it back in for it to register on our TV. This only happens when we are switching from cable or DVD use back to using the Roku. There is no "on" or "off" button - nor is there even a "reboot" button. It's little trouble to unplug it, then plug it back in, so long as you have kept the box accessible.
It should be obvious by now that I'm not a technical person. My husband could tell you all about the specs of this device, our TV, our wireless network and how they all work together - but he's not the one that will sit down and write a review. He is very happy with our set-up, and from my own non-technical perspective I find the "learning curve" of this product to be extremely gentle. Of course, children will find it easy to use, but so would your 70ish parent. If you can use a remote, you can use this device.
It's a little challenging to untangle our opinion of Netflix from our opinion of Roku. Above, I've tried to review the actual device and our experience while using it and have tried to keep specifics that are Netflix related out of the equation. We would have never enjoyed titles like Ratatouille, Mozart and the Whale, or Terry Jones' Medieval Lives without our Roku - but that content is based on our Netflix subscription. Since this is not a Netflix review, I'll stop here and let you make your own decisions!
Edited to add:
Since posting this review, we have installed an Amazon Video on Demand account onto our Roku with no problems at all. Set-up and installation took just a few minutes. The Roku navigates Amazon's menus much the same way it handles a Netflix queue and delivers a consistent experience. We are amazed at the versatility of this player, especially as compared to its price tag!
Customer Review: A couch potato's dream!
Summary: 5 Stars
I just received my Roku player on Friday. Set-up was easy. Only thing I could nitpick at there was that everytime I picked a setting it restarted again. Restart did not take long so this would be some serious nit-picking! After I set it up I then began to get myself familiar with the device and began to check out several streams from Netflix and Amazon for quality. I must say I was really impressed. Is this Blu-ray? Not even close. But it is really good quality. The HD streams were great. Not crystal and not perfection but really really good. Probably as good as HD on comcast from my experience. Maybe better since the picture never faltered and blocked up on me.
I can't give feedback on sound as I did not have a cable to hook up my audio receiver. I believe Netflix only streams in stereo though so I didn't rush out to get another Toslink. If I am wrong on this please let me know b/c 5.1 on this thing would be awesome! That said, the sound coming out of my TV was synced, had no dropouts and was clear. Navigating the Roku screens was pretty simple.
I actually had my non-tech girlfriend do all the navigating to prove to her it was easy since my tech toys tend to scare her. She loved how simple it was. I'm guessing this simplicity is why the menu is designed the way it is. While I don't really mind, I could see the inability to sort movies into folders by category as an annoyance to anyone with over 50 shows in the que. I have about 53 in mine. While watching an old Bill Cosby Stand-up I sorted my movies putting my daughters movies fist so they were easier for her to find. Folders would be nice, but at the price point and to make it easy for even the most non-tech savvy person, I can accept the intensive effort of pressing down a button and scrolling through all my picks for the one I want to see. Some have knocked the inability to add to your que from the device and search for movies. Yes this would be nice, but possibly cumbersome with the current U.I. My Laptop comes on once everyday at home and I work in front of a computer all day so this doesn't bother me. It's easy enough to add to my que at any point during the day and night before I ever turn my TV on.
So all in all, I love this little device! Really really good picture, easy to use and amazingly convenient. I truly believe that it will not take long for me to get my money's worth from this little box and my Netflix service. Any additions to the Channel Line-up on the Roku only adds the how great this thing is. The addition of Youtube (with a better U.I. than my Panasonic's disappointing Vieracast) and maybe Hulu (doubtful) fancast or the like would make me start questioning whether I truly need cable. So for the price point and what you get out of it, Roku is a 5 star Product for me.
Oh and, one more note. There were many complaints about how long it took the device to ship. I was a lucky one I suppose. I ordered my Roku at 5:30 PM on Sunday night and recceived it at 2:30pm Friday.
Customer Review: Very disappointing
Summary: 1 Stars
I purchase the ROKU device June, 2009. Although my TV/ROKU is only about 35 ft from my wireless Linksys router, the signal was too weak to work effectively. So, I purchased a Belkin PowerLine kit. That worked great and my ROKU could download Netflix movies. I have a fast AT&T DSL connection--sometimes it is a bit flaky to say the least, but that is what I have. When I attempt to watch a movie it is regularly interrupted as the ROKU has to reload the buffer--it can take minutes to do that. Last night in the middle of a movie and in addition to the buffering problem, the ROKU device seemed to reset. I actually had to go to Netflix and get a new code to reinitialize the device. It then got bogged down in the buffering problem, so I, my wife, and friends stopped watching.
There is a silver lining to this. While I was using my new Gateway EC1437U "3 lb" laptop (from AMAZON) to access NetFlix and the ROKU authorization code, it was clear that the laptop was having no problem downloading internet info wirelessly from Linksys router--and I was sitting just feet from the ROKU. To make a long story short, I used the Gateway, connected to a 20" TV via the HDMI port, to look at the same movie. It worked seamlessly, and we happily finished the movie. At the end, the ROKU was still buffering.
I'm afraid the ROKO is done. I hate the money I've wasted on it--after I bought it, I was out of town for 4 months and did not use it--can't send it back. On the otherhand, the Gateway EC1437U works beautifully, although somewhat inconvenient (move small table to setup Gateway, attach Gareway, etc). At this point, the EC1437U is one of the better computer purchases I've ever made (I have a 17" Dell laptop--heavy, heavy!--and a powerful Dell desktop).
UPDATE Jan 28, 2011: I wrote the above just a little over 2 yrs ago. The ROKU device sat next to my TV all that time, doing nothing. Recently, I upgraded my AT&T service to Uverse "super high speed" DSL. When the installer came around, he put the router in the middle of the house, which is 8' from the ROKU box. I thought, this has to be ideal for the ROKU. I happily started up the ROKU--after 2 yrs it was a total restart requiring a new "code" from Netflix. Initially, the ROKU picked up the wireless Uverse signal. No problem. But, after being gone a few minutes to get the Netflix code, the ROKU had lost the wireless signal and could not seem to find it again--remember the router is 8' away. Again, I thought, crap! Still, with the router so close, a hardwire connection was possible &, God forbid, might work. Off to Radio Shack on Sunday morning for a 10' ethernet cable (only $14 more). Hooked it up, and it worked instantly. Now to try it. Par for the course, the first video I tried to download crashed and had to be restarted. However, to my surprise, I've now looked at 3 Netflix videos, all w/o problem. Am I happy with ROKU--NO! Am I happy it seems to be working, Yes--finally.
Customer Review: Very Nice!
Summary: 5 Stars
Overall, I love this. It's been a long time since I've come across something so simple, yet satisfies a tech-savvy guy like me.
Since reviews are going to be widely different based on multiple factors, let me lay out a little background:
- I am very tech savvy, working 10+ years in the Internet/computer field.
- I have a 15+ MB Internet connection
- I have a gigabit router with 802.11n wireless
Regardless of my skills, this thing was waaaaay too simple to setup. This is good. While I like have tons of features, knobs, sliders, blinking lights and everything else that gives something the appearance it came from NASA, I can't complain about this one at all. The front has one little light on it - that's it. The back does have all the connectors one would need to hook it up to every TV made in the past 25 years from regular RCA-style connectors, to S-Video, to RGB component, to HDMI. Connected by Ethernet, it setup in 3 minutes. Doing it by wireless, add a few more minutes.
I did need to have my PC on to register the device to the various channels, each taking a few minutes to set it up with Netflix and Amazon Video On Demand. Once setup, it is practically always on so there is no waiting to get to the menus that you want to browse through. Compare this with the special Netflix disc I have to use on my PS3, and the Roku saves at least 4 minutes - more like 6 or 7 minutes if I have to boot up the PS3 first.
Buffering programs does take at least 30 seconds, sometimes up to a full minute. Not too bad, but noticeable. I watched HD and SD programming and both were really good connected via Ethernet. When the wireless was connected, it was just as good when in the same room as my wireless router, but put 4 walls and about 30 feet in between them and quality on the HD does go down a tad. BUT - this is not the fault of the Roku, blame it on environmental conditions.
From what I read, this device uses 4 watts of power in standby, 6 watts when running. Compare that to my cable company's DVR's (which are very much like small computers) and PS3's and the Roku saves a LOT of power. A huge plus for those wanting to save electricity.
I do long for some more content, but right now I have a pretty good sized Amazon Video library and with Netflix, I can dump my cable DVR's since I haven't really touched them since getting my Roku. Since I've been using my DVR's to record all the classic TV I love to watch (which most channels are starting to not carry much of), I plan to return my DVR's to save on the monthly cost from the cable company plus the lowering of my electric bills because I won't have these DVR's sucking power all day. It will practically pay for my small Netflix account, plus a few movies from Amazon each month.
I hope everyone's experience with Roku was as easy and impressive as mine. I plan to buy another Roku for my bedroom TV in the near future.