@JEmlay: In your mad research, you overlooked that the Roku outputs surround sound. Netflix is supposed to be adding HD and surround movies (eventually) and they will play through the Roku box.

itchytooth

Wish Apple had a monthly rental subscription package.

BiZarRroBALlmeR

@xxenclavexx:
How do you figure it's easier? Anyone with a retail DVR can record video. Now explain to the average Joe how to decode and rip a DVD. The spyware threat alone from going online to grab such a utility is enough to keep people away.

I don't see this being an Apple TV killer. Nothing this box does competes with Apples HD, Surround Sound, YouTube, Pictures, Music and of course the ever popular iTunes (which I hate!). Will this Roku send everything I buy to my PC for syncing with my other devies? Doesn't look like it!

I've been researching these like MAD for the past two weeks and I'm one step away from grabbing an Apple TV. VuDu was the first to get scratched off my list. Too expensive and the movies are also more expensive.

The only thing the Roku has going for it is the movies will be cheap! But then again, the movies will be CHEAP (quality).

JEmlay

@tucker: I wonder this as well, I think its easier to pirate a disc than a stream. Plus its better quality if you get the disc

xxenclavexx

Adding Hulu and ABC.com would be awesome. Possibly enough for trade out my HTPC for.

By the way, has anyone been able to get ABC's streaming video to play fullscreen? It drives me crazy.

itchytooth

can someone please explain to me why the big studios don't mind if Netflix send DVD's out, but they do mind if Netflix wants to stream the movies out.

(referring to the sad selection of recent movies on Netflix VOD)

tucker

Okay, but would this be an addition to boxes yet to come out, or would this be a software upgrade to already purchased boxes?

As an early adopter (and pretty happy for it) I would hope for the latter!

jhcovert

@itchytooth:
And? It must have been another unit that didn't have surround. So what about the rest of my post?

Also, "HD Ready" doesn't mean squat. When it does become reality then we can talk about what percentage of users in the US are even capable of straming HD content seeing as how this unit has NO HDD.

JEmlay

@JEmlay:

> "How do you figure it's easier? Anyone with a retail DVR can record video."

Yes, the average consumer can record video with a DVR... but then what? It takes someone else with skills to edit it, compress it and upload it to Youtube. DVD ripping isn't that hard... I taught my mom how to rip and burn DVDs. I won't ever begin to teach her about H.264.

If the studios were truly worried about their work getting copied, they wouldn't ever show it to anybody!

Besides, there's only a tiny percentage of the population taking their time to record, compress and upload. There are still millions and millions of people watching regular TV.

MichaelScrip

@tucker & jhcovert: I'm seriously loving the Roku box and can't wait for Netflix to sort out whatever issues their having with the studios.

@JEmlay: You can use the same DVR to record off a DVD if you're not comfortable with ripping it.

Most of the things (Youtube, music, pictures) you mentioned for the AppleTV are going to be used by a very small group of people. Likewise for HD content. The Roku box is here right now and while not streaming 1024i, the quality is better than most channels I used to get from my cable provider. And while I'd love to have all the content be HD, for the majority of shows I'd be watching 'on demand', broadcast quality is fine.

To be honest, I doubt the Roku is the new paradigm for VOD of the future, but it's definitely closer to the true path than AppleTV is right now. Ideally I'd love to see the AppleTV fed by Netflix (or some other non-Apple, non-super-greedy entity).

Toshie

@JEmlay: Just something to consider. The AppleTV has improved since it's introduction and I bet the Roku will too.

itchytooth

@JEmlay:

I don't think it's an Apple TV killer either, that thing committed suicide. Don't blame Roku.

akashhhhh

@tucker: I believe the answer to that question is hinted in this article. Some studios don't want Netflix to stream their videos because they want to figure out a business model for it. If they do it on their own, they could devise a way to make more money without the middle-man (ie Netflix). As for DVD rentals, the structure is no different than a rental store, and studios already have a business model setup for that.

ripfire

@MichaelScrip:
Who said anything about editing and uploading? I doubt that's what their worried about. All it takes is ONE to start the sharing. They're more worried about individual storage which is why we have such solutions today as the Roku.

The easier and cheaper they make it for us, the more we'll start to hand out our cash again.

JEmlay

@itchytooth:
Not without a HDD.

@Toshie:
This device is supposed to feed future programming. So you have to consider today's screen standard.

Agreed, the Apple TV would be better with options to choose from but Apple is never about CHOICE.

Roku is going to have to continue to add more features like Hulu if it's going to get anywhere above it's competition. As of now it's bandwidth dependant and that's NOT KEWL in the USA where bandwidth sucks.

JEmlay

@itchytooth:
It wont gain anything substantial. But that's mostly opinion. However I'd bet this opinion is shared by a lot of people. How many people parrot the fact that the Roku is GOING to be HD without understanding what's required to actually get it to work?

JEmlay

@JEmlay: Not what without a hard drive? It can certainly gain features without a hard drive. Lack of a hard drive might lead to trouble with streaming HD, for people with slow connections though. A worthwhile hack would be be upgrading the 64MB of memory it comes with.

itchytooth

I got one of these and the only thing I don't like about it is their failure to put a damn on/off switch on it or at least on the remote control. This thing is on 24/7 unless you unplug it. And if you unplug it, the next time you plug it back up, it wants you to go to Netflix and get another activation code. Being that it's powered on 24/7, I imagine the lifespan of the unit won't be long. I'll just have to wait and see.

allstarecho

@JEmlay: Word.

And for the record, I really like the Apple TV. I just wish they would team up with Netflix for some cheap unlimited streaming of old content.

itchytooth

Yeah, what AppleTV should have been. Sure, Apple wants to make people buy/rent from their iTunes store, but people want access to all the services they use in one box. At least somebody has figured this out.

ianmac47

yet another remote control and always-on device.

yippee.

shawn_dude

Roku has now been ordered just on the POSSIBILITY of Hulu content. Can't get enough of my Arrested Development!

Plus under $100 (plus plan) is amazing.

rudolphdude

I have the Roku box. This will definately be a downloadable update. The box is worth 90 dollars, and more with an upgrade. I only have standard definition, but the quality comes better then my cable provider. With hulu added into the mix I probably can drop cable. I only watch The Soup anyway.

BTW JEMlay did not do any research. If you are a Netflix subscriber you should own this box. Paying 4 dollars with Apple TV for a movie that you cannot burn to DVD is a waste. Plus, the reviews of Apple TV have said that the quality of the downloads are disgusting.

Bring on the hulu baby!

Sticky230

This would be so Awesome if it's true I bought the box thinking hell at least I'll get Netflix and they will expand their catalog. but getting a more content without buying a subscription is even better.

Benchmade7