Anyone use Roku?

[endo]

It's an internet streaming device that has it's own online channels. Supposedly it has over 750 channels available, though some you have to subscribe to.
www.roku.com/


Were paying $191 a month right now for cable. That's no movie channels, but the HD package, NFL Network and internet and phone.
This is a one time fee to buy the device you want, I'd get the $99 one for HD. But one time fee, and most of the channels are free.
I'd have to get an antenna for local channels and football on Sundays, but I researched that, and the old rabbit ears get the HD signal and produce it perfectly. So, that's only $10.99 at Best Buy.

Then I could drop cable and phone and just keep the internet and use my cell phone.
Just wondering if anyone has used this or knows anyone that has.
It has a 30 day guaranteed money back policy, no questions asked. Really thinking of trying this.

[NDX]

I know nothing of this, but I am interested now.

[endo]

I think I'm gonna order this Monday. I'll let you know how it goes. Of course, we'll lose DVR, unless we add a Tivo down the road.
But, I'm so tired of paying for freaking cable man. My sister has Verizon and has six TV's all with boxes and all the movie channels, internet and phone and pays $224 a month.
We have one box, no movie channels... internet and phone and pay $191. It's just stupid.

[NDX]

Yeah, I'm on the verge of dumping cable for Verizon, too.

[gorepolice]

Never heard of this before, but it sounds pretty cool. Let us know how it goes if you get it.

[endo]

Yeah, I'll keep you posted. Some channels it looks like I just won't be able to get. But, with the money I'll save on cable, I can get the fastest internet speed they have and watch the shows on their respective sites.

And, I'll get all local channels through the antenna.

Not gonna cancel anything until I get a feel for this, but I'll buy the antenna. Worst case scenario I'm out $10.99. And really not even that, I can use the antenna in the living room.

[gorepolice]

$10.99 sure as hell beats what you're paying now. If it's bad, at least you won't be out too much.

[endo]

Yeah. It's gonna be a big change dropping cable, if this works like they say. But the savings are going to be great.

[endo]

Just to update, having some trouble convincing the wife to give this a shot. It's money back guaranteed and all, but she see's hassle.
Still trying to just get it an audition.

[endo]

It doesn't look good until I'm back to work full time. I don't want a fight out of this, and that seems like what I'm going to get.
Drops the cable bill from $191 a month to at least $60, just for internet...but, it will not be advantageous to continue to pursue this, no matter what the numbers say.
I know when to back off...and when I'm back to work full time and implement this, I know how to say I told you so.
I can wait.

[endo]

Got this today. I found a Roku 2 on E-bay for a decent price, so I got it. It's not the newest version, but all the newer one offered over this one is a motion remote for the games and being able to plug headphones into the remote.
I'm not using it for Angry Birds, so saving some money and getting the older model worked for me.

Just got it set up and so far, it works as advertised. There are a ton of free channels with movies and shows, some of the channels have the occasional commercial, but I can't complain too much since they're free. The movies are full and uncut.
When you set it up it suggests 12 channels to add right away, Hulu plus and Netflix being two of them. They are both pay channels, but I already have the Netflix DVD service, so switching it to streaming won't cost anything.
Hulu plus isn't expensive and you can watch all the new TV shows the next day on it, so if we do axe cable, there's the shows we watch.
I would still need an antenna to get my local channels, just for football really, but that isn't much either.

It has a micro SD slot so you can save a ton of channels to it, I added a 4GB one and am going to add some channels later. There are some really good free horror channels I'm going to add.

I'm still giving it a test run, but so far, it seems pretty freaking sweet. It was easy to set up and connected right away. No lag or buffering at all in the movies and they're full screen and 1080 resolution. Well worth the $69. Especially if we decide to drop cable.

[endo]

OK, I found a bunch of decent horror channels, and some that show only the older, shlocky movies. Found some other good channels that had all different kinds of movies as well.

But, it looks like I'll be using Netflix, Hulu Plus and this channel called Playon the most. Netflix will be for most movies, obviously. And between Hulu Plus and Playon I'll have all of the cable shows we watch and Playon even offers the network shows.
Probably only need an antenna to see the Redskins play, or for local news.

If we gave up cable TV, the only recurring monthly charges would be $7.99 a month for Hulu Plus and Netflix each and $60 a month for internet, and that's only because we upgraded to the fastest speed they offer.
So, down from $184 to $75 or so a month. That would really help, especially right now.

[endo]

Found a channel called Plex, and this thing is awesome. Basically, you download the program to your PC and it acts as a server. Then, you set up your info on their site, and bam, anything on your PC you want streamed to your TV in 1080p and BD is right there.
Really beats converting the movie or show to a burnable format and the wasting a disc on it, especially for a 30 minute program.
I can download anything and send it right to my TV with this channel. Really cool. With the new program I have for the BD movies, this is really great.
I haven't even switched to Netflix streaming yet, and I already have a good selection of BD movies lined up. My wife thinks it was a waste of money...some HGTV stuff she needs to see just isn't available on Roku, but I think it's already paid for itself.
Having a blast with it.

[NDX]

Cool, glad it worked out.

[endo]

If I were single, and this is just me...I don't know what each of you watch, but for me, this could easily replace cable.
Not gonna happen in our house despite the dollars it saves, but I'm still glad I got it. Tales From The Darkside, Are You Afraid of the Dark, Freddy's Nightmares, Twilight Zone, every episode streamed to TV. I'm in nerd horror heaven.