TGM

http://www.amazon.com/Roku-XD-Stream...0956178&sr=8-2



snagged 2... couldn't pass it up at that price.

runner001

The description for this one doesn't mention what resolution it can display. This item "Roku XDS Streaming Player 1080p" obviously displays up to 1080p, but costs $100.

edit: oops. I somehow found myself on the page for "Roku HD Streaming Player" instead of the "Roku XD Streaming Player 1080p"

Mr. Salty

I love my Roku. Definitely worth the money.

runner001

ordered it. received it today, set it up. like it. went to order another one, but price went up.

question: does it have an "off" setting? there's no power button.

Sdallnct

Does the Ruku have a buffer?

My net connection isn't fast enough for HD netflix on my PS3. I'm trying to fix that, but if that doesn't work, I'd like to consider other options.

Kmical

No - there is no power switch. It appears to go into some sort of sleep mode after a period of inactivity, but seems to come right back if the remote is used.

runner001

thanks for answering. so this is a power drain then huh? guess i'll have to remember to unplug it if I know I won't use it for a while.

Mr. Salty

I know a buck's a buck, but it hardly seems worth it.

According to the tech specs on Roku's website, all of Roku's players draw 4 watts in standby (and a whopping 6 watts in use). That's about 35 kWh per year. It varies by state, but according to this chart, that would add up to about $4.20 per year where I live.

I think I can find more significant ways of cutting my energy bill than unplugging my Roku every night before I go to bed.

DAC

How does this compare to Boxee or AppleTV? They all do the same thing right?

Mr. Salty

According to Apple's website, AppleTV has a 6-Watt power supply. However, being an Apple product, it also consumes your soul.

tlwizard

I'd like to know the answer to that as well. My parents love Netflix instant queue but don't get fast enough internet to always do it.

runner001

Thanks for the research. I wasn't actually referring to unplugging it every night. That would surely get tiresome. I was thinking of unplugging it when I'm away for the weekend or on vacation.

As for if the device has a buffer, I think it does. (doesn't all devices that stream have to have a little buffer at the least?) I see the progress bar advance in a dark shade ahead of wherever I currently am on the show.

Sdallnct

I would suggest getting a decent power strip with a power button.

I have my media room set up like that. When we all go out of town for the weekend I'll flip the switch to off. Longer than that, I might switch to off and unplug the unit. Maybe overkill, but only one plug to deal with for all components.

runner001

yep. i got the setup plugged into a power squid.

rbrown498

I wanted to get my mom some way to enjoy Netflix streaming as a Christmas present, so I was torn between getting the Roku player (which is cheap and small) and a cheap (and substantially larger) streaming Blu-ray player. I finally decided to go with the Blu-ray player, since a) Walmart put the Magnavox 5120 with wireless LAN on sale on Black Friday for $69 (only a dollar more expensive than the Roku, with free shipping AND the capability of playing Blu-ray discs) and b) I'd read some fairly inconsistent reviews of the Roku player, with some people loving it and more than a few really hating it.

Now I've got to wait until Christmas Day to see if I made the right decision.

DAC

rbrown498,
I just looked into the Magnavox and it looks like the reviews on Walmarts page are saying there is no Netflix capability.
http://answers.walmart.com/answers/1.../questions.htm

runner001

I actually bought that same Magnavox player because it advertised the built-in wireless LAN. I set it up and found out that it only streams Vudu content. Nothing else. I promptly returned it since I already have a couple of Blu-ray players.

kefrank

I snagged one of these at $68 for the bedroom. My wife and I stream TV shows from Netflix pretty often (currently only through the PS3 in our den), so this should be perfect for having that option on another TV in the house.

TGM

Amazon is now having a promotion where you can get this for $59.99.

Save an Extra $20 on the Roku XD Streaming Player

To Receive this Promotion:

1. Purchase or rent a movie, TV episode, or TV season of $5 or more from Amazon Video On Demand between December 7, 2010, at 9:00 a.m. Pacific time and January 3, 2011, at 11:59 p.m. Pacific time and you will automatically receive an email notifying you that a $20 credit will be applied to your purchase of a Roku XD Streaming Player.

2. After you receive the email, you will have until February 5, 2011, at 11:59 p.m. Pacific time to redeem the credit by purchasing a Roku XD Streaming Player on Amazon.com. The credit will be automatically applied when you complete your purchase of the Roku XD Streaming Player.

Link to Roku XD currently selling for $79.99.

Link to the promotion

rbrown498

Thanks, everybody! I've got a couple of weeks to get the player back to Walmart and pick up an acceptable substitute. Stupid Walmart website/flyer info!

runner001

Think this will work with my online video credit of $5 I got from buying it the first time? I wan to get another Roku and $59 sounds just right!

TGM

dunno... worth a shot... says you'll get an automatic email, so you should know rather quickly

Spiky

It's still only Hulu Plus, right? Not free Hulu?

FrozenMetalHead

Anyone know where I can find what's available on Amazon On Demand that's NOT on Netflix or Hulu Plus? Looks like the F/X shows, possibly. Anyone know any others that jump out?

FrozenMetalHead

OK - So I did this deal. And I'm so confused at how they did my transaction:

********************************************
I found $15 of VOD credit in my emails that I loaded up.

I purchased the HD Breaking Bad Season 3.

They took $10 off my order. ($28.99 - $10.00 = $18.99 billed)

In my VOD library, I know have Breaking Bad Season 3 both SD and HD versions.

I also now have a $25 balance in my VOD credit. EDIT: I just checked again, it correctly reflects the $5 balance I would expect since they took $10 off.
*******************************************

1) Why didn't they use all $15 credit, rather than just $10?

2) Why did I get both the SD and HD versions?