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ROKU new and old users?

10K views 40 replies 21 participants last post by  Nick 
#1 ·
I just jumped on the Netflix wagon train, and now I'm seriously considering buying a roku device. Specifically, I'm looking at the XD|S model with optical audio output. Are there any new or experienced ROKU users out there who love it? hate it? wish it were better?
 
#27 ·
I have it about eight months now, and it is pretty nice. No issues at all. I have the XD version. There are a lot a channels to choose from. Some are junk though. The biggest ones are Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, and Crackle. Rotten Tomatoes is a movie trailer preview channel of what is coming soon. It's pretty nice. Also NASA is in HD. Enjoy.
 
#28 ·
I have a ROKU XDS, Apple TV, Panny Blu-Ray player and Sony Bravia with built in "channels".

The ROKU is pretty much the best for versatility and access. Lots to choose from.

I must admit though, I am starting to use the Sony Bravia streaming capabilities (Netflix, Amazon VOD, etc) more and more. Because there are no cables and external boxes involved, the PQ wins hand down.

The Apple TV is good for ease of use but there are not as many channels to choose from.

The Panny Blu-Ray player is great but navigation is a bit cumbersome.

If I had a choice between all of them, I would still choose the ROKU. It's just an all around good box for streaming stuff.
 
#29 ·
rich584 said:
They are both 720p. Your OPPO should upscale that to 1080/60p. You should get a better PQ on the OPPO than you do on a Roku or Apple box. I do. By far.

Rich
I'm currently old school. I have the Oppo BDP-83.

Soon I will have the BDP-93. I'll buy the 93 around the time I upgrade my TV.

Currently I'm feeding the Apple TV2 through my Faroudja HD video scaler. Picture quality is pretty darn good too.
 
#31 ·
Rich said:
I really don't like Sammy products, so you can be sure that I'm not making this up. There's still a lot to dislike about the 5500s. The remote is almost impossible to use by feel in a dark room, the counters on the front of the displays just stop sometimes. Don't know why, but it keeps happening. I can't get sound sometimes if I switch from playing a disc to NetFlix streaming content. Have to shut them down and start all over. Sounds like a piece of junk, doesn't it? But the PQ is well worth all those problems. Best I've ever had.

Rich
Looks interesting. just 2 questions. Does it have a " front" usb port, and can I play AVI' movie files on this model? I currently have a sam that does, but I was looking for a BD that upscales regular DVD's. If it can't play the avi's it is a dealbreaker for me. Yes, alot of sams have alot of quircky issues, but the PQ is very good.

thanks in advance
 
#32 ·
satcrazy said:
Looks interesting. just 2 questions. Does it have a " front" usb port, and can I play AVI' movie files on this model? I currently have a sam that does, but I was looking for a BD that upscales regular DVD's. If it can't play the avi's it is a dealbreaker for me. Yes, alot of sams have alot of quircky issues, but the PQ is very good.

thanks in advance
Aw, now I gotta get up and look, wait one...yup, it does have a USB port in the front panel. I opened the flap to look at it and the Sammy turned itself, my TV and my AV system on... :lol:

About the AVI movie files. I have no idea what they are, but here's a
link to the 5500 I have, perhaps you can figure that out or call them and ask them. There is also a BD-D5500 out now that does 3D.

I can't say enough about how well the C5500 I have upscales standard DVDs and NetFlix content. I would think the D5500 does as well.

Rich
 
#33 ·
Rich said:
Aw, now I gotta get up and look, wait one...yup, it does have a USB port in the front panel. I opened the flap to look at it and the Sammy turned itself, my TV and my AV system on... :lol:

About the AVI movie files. I have no idea what they are, but here's a
link to the 5500 I have, perhaps you can figure that out or call them and ask them. There is also a BD-D5500 out now that does 3D.

I can't say enough about how well the C5500 I have upscales standard DVDs and NetFlix content. I would think the D5500 does as well.

Rich
AVI is a type of file you can load on a usb stick and play it back. This is how I watch video's from Graboid. My current samy has a front usb and plays these files back like a dream.

Thanks for checking, seriously, did opening up the front panel fire it up?

I guess I will have to call or do a google search, as it lists many, but I need to be sure..............[ about the AVI"S]
 
#34 ·
satcrazy said:
AVI is a type of file you can load on a usb stick and play it back. This is how I watch video's from Graboid. My current samy has a front usb and plays these files back like a dream.
So much I don't know...Thanx for explaining.

Thanks for checking, seriously, did opening up the front panel fire it up?
Seriously, it sure did. Just one of the many odd things I've seen it do. And when the BD player comes on, the TV comes on and the AV system comes on. I've learned to live with this thing because it does it's basic job so well.

I guess I will have to call or do a google search, as it lists many, but I need to be sure..............[ about the AVI"S]
You could try calling them up, that should be a confidence builder....:lol:

Rich
 
#35 ·
Rich said:
So much I don't know...Thanx for explaining.

Seriously, it sure did. Just one of the many odd things I've seen it do. And when the BD player comes on, the TV comes on and the AV system comes on. I've learned to live with this thing because it does it's basic job so well.

You could try calling them up, that should be a confidence builder....:lol:

Rich
According to a google search [ yeah, I heard about the CS at samsung, lol] It does support AVI's, so does the d5500.
 
#36 ·
satcrazy said:
According to a google search [ yeah, I heard about the CS at samsung, lol] It does support AVI's, so does the d5500.
That D5500 isn't getting the good reviews that the D5700 is getting. Don't know how much you can go by the reviews, but I have read a lot of them and some seemed like the reviewer knew what he was talking about. Wish I had a link to some of them. Amazon's reviews seem to liberally sprinkled with reviews by people who don't have a clue, so I usually take them with a grain of salt.

Rich
 
#37 ·
Rich said:
That D5500 isn't getting the good reviews that the D5700 is getting. Don't know how much you can go by the reviews, but I have read a lot of them and some seemed like the reviewer knew what he was talking about. Wish I had a link to some of them. Amazon's reviews seem to liberally sprinkled with reviews by people who don't have a clue, so I usually take them with a grain of salt.

Rich
OK, assuming they all play AVI's by front usb port, I would ask which one does the best upscaling of standard DVD's ? I don't stream as my dsl is too slow, so that's a non issue for me. I just don't want to have to replace all my regular dvds.
 
#38 ·
satcrazy said:
OK, assuming they all play AVI's by front usb port, I would ask which one does the best upscaling of standard DVD's ? I don't stream as my dsl is too slow, so that's a non issue for me. I just don't want to have to replace all my regular dvds.
Most of the reviews I've read raved about the upscaling on DVDs and NetFlix content. That was pretty much the same across the board on the Sammys. From the most expensive to the cheapest. I only have experience with the C5500s, but I need another one and I'm trying to decide between the D5500 and the D5700.

Apparently, they all use the same remote, so buying a newer model doesn't resolve those issues.

If I didn't have a NetFlix sub, I'd be happy with a Panasonic. They seem to upscale standard DVDs as well as the Sammys do, it's in the NetFlix content that you really see the upscaling difference. The remote on the Pannys is a bit of a PITA, too. Not nearly as bad as the Sammy remote, tho.

Rich
 
#40 ·
I have had the XDS for about a year. I am very satisfied. Anytime I have had a question that I am unable to find the answer, the support group is first class and very prompt in responding. Not sure about the .avi file compatiblity. Good question. I know of a software product you can install on a pc and it will play .avi wirelessly to the Roku.
 
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