Should I get media box??

ronnieko

Right now I stream from a server PC to my TiVo and/or PS3. (All gigabit wired) I stream HD video M2T files, SD video MPG files, and MP3 files. With the PS3 I use TVersty, which is -OK- but REAL confusing to get around. I wish it had a more user friendly way around.

SO, my question is, would there be an advantage getting a Roku/WD/Sony or any kind of streaming box. In order to find an easier way to get around, meaning easier interface, thumbnails for videos like you see demo's of Roku...

OR!!!

Would I be just waisting money, and better off continuing using the PS3, and the TiVo?

Maybe something different than TVersity? Also looking at "Plexapp"

Any opinions??

Thanx

Chris Gerhard

I don't have a Roku, it is a very popular box but of no interest to me, very limited with no YouTube app and no web browser but it is easy to use and works well for the things it does do. I don't think it is considered very good for the purpose of local content from a PC or media server. I primarily use Google TV for internet streaming, I don't have much in the way of local files other than TiVo and PlayLater DVR recordings.

For my needs, Google TV is easily the best internet streaming box but I still have to have a PC for Hulu and PlayLater and PS3 for Amazon, Vudu and Hulu Plus. I think Google TV, particularly the Sony NSZ-GT1 is very good for handling local files, other popular options include the WD Live TV boxes. Some of the other Google TV boxes such as the Vizio Co-Star are very limited in the file types they handle compared to the Sony NSZ-GT1 which can handle many additional codecs. No MPEG-2 and no DTS with the Co-Star for example.

If you can handle everything you have with your current boxes, I would just wait, this product type is going to evolve in the next couple of years and something like the Roku is going to be considered worthless. Of course it isn't really very expensive now so buying it and unloading it in a garage sale won't be too much expense.

I cut the cord and use three Google TV boxes, two TiVoHDs, a PC, a PS3, Oppo BDP-93 and LG BD590 right now to handle everything so jumping through a lot of hoops is the order of the day if you want everything covered. No one box does everything, not close yet, although a PC still comes closest. I don't use TVersity, I use PlayOn/PlayLater and Plex, just getting started with Plex but it shows promise.

The Sony NSZ-GT1 is to be replaced by the NSZ-GP9 but I don't know when.

Trudint

We cut the cord at my house as well and haven't looked back since. To stream web content such as Hulu Plus and Netflix and our converted blu-ray movies we use the Apple TV. If we want to watch anything on Amazon Prime or anything outside of iTunes we have to use the PS3.

If you're wanting an AIO box to do everything I'd stick with a HTPC or look into the Boxee Box. I'm not a huge fan of it but it works good.

straybeat

We have 3 Roku's and it does have Youtube, always has. There are over 250 "channels" on it (Roku says 500, but I don't think so), but it won't stream from a PC. It has all the standard Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, Vudu, you name it. It even has XXX porn if you go for that?

The $99 model does have a USB port to play movies off a stick and will play every format. It comes with a motion controlling remote like a Nintendo Wii for playing games. We bought the red "Angry Birds" edition for $89 when they had one of their sales and it looks pretty cool with my otherwise all black setup. Great conversation starter, "Hey man, what's that?" I have 1 old XD's and 1 XD 2 besides. Quite a cool little streamer.

It does 1080p on all the channels that have content. And/or can also set up for 480 to 720p if that is your TV's native resolution? All are wifi or wired, your choice. I went wired on the living room box (also gigabit in my setup) for the best connection, the bedroom ones are wifi.

Gloworm20

We cut the cord at my house as well and haven't looked back since. To stream web content such as Hulu Plus and Netflix and our converted blu-ray movies we use the Apple TV. If we want to watch anything on Amazon Prime or anything outside of iTunes we have to use the PS3.

If you're wanting an AIO box to do everything I'd stick with a HTPC or look into the Boxee Box. I'm not a huge fan of it but it works good.

How do you like your apple TV? It seems to be compatible with just about everything. I have a PS3 in my family room where I have my surround sound and big screen. I was thinking about adding an apple tv to stream movies and music. I also have a tv in the living room with an Xbox 360. I guess I have 2 questions, is Apple TV worth the purchase and can I have 1 Netflix account on multiple tvs' (ex apple tv in one room and xbox 360 in another)?

Gloworm20

[quote=Gloworm20;1292916]We cut the cord at my house as well and haven't looked back since. To stream web content such as Hulu Plus and Netflix and our converted blu-ray movies we use the Apple TV. If we want to watch anything on Amazon Prime or anything outside of iTunes we have to use the PS3.

If you're wanting an AIO box to do everything I'd stick with a HTPC or look into the Boxee Box. I'm not a huge fan of it but it works good.


How do you like your apple TV? It seems to be compatible with just about everything. I have a PS3 in my family room where I have my surround sound and big screen. I was thinking about adding an apple tv to stream movies and music. I also have a tv in the living room with an Xbox 360. I guess I have 2 questions, is Apple TV worth the purchase and can I have 1 Netflix account on multiple tvs' (ex apple tv in one room and xbox 360 in another

jr33928

I cut the cord in July after buying a Roku 2XS,and i'm very happy with it.
It gets hundreds of channels.Incl. Hulu Plus,Amazon,Netflix,and Vudu. If you then install the free version of Playon on your PC,you'll be able to get Hulu and some other channels.If you install the paid version of Playon you'll have access to various plugins and scripts for many many more channels which will make your player even more useful.

straybeat

I'll have to check into Playon, sounds cool. I have Plex set up for getting all my favorite vids from Youtube and "permanently" putting them in my directory. http://www.plexapp.com/

And I stand corrected about Youtube on Roku. It seems Google shut it down until Roku works out a deal (in the works now), but all of us who have had it all this time were grandfathered in, so we didn't see an interuption of it?

Chris Gerhard

I have both PlayOn and Plex, the Plex app is 99 cents for Google TV, not sure about cost with other platforms. I prefer PlayOn for what I do. Far and away the best method I have found for playing the free Hulu that is intended ony for PCs is to use PlayLater to record the programs to a USB drive and then just connect the USB drive to the media player in whatever room. I have 3 rooms with HDTVs, no cable or satellite so I count on YouTube and Hulu for a lot. The Google TV YouTube app works best but using PlayOn or Plex for Hulu over the network is a pain, no trick play, no advance using the time slider. If recorded to USB drive, all trick play functions and automatic resume from saved point works. I think most any media player with playback of files connected by USB port can play PlayLater files if recorded as MPEG-4. I have almost quit using PlayOn and almost never used Plex anyway. Plex is supposed to be very good but I never quite figured it out, PlayOn just worked so I used it instead.

Recording for later playback also solves the problem of programs that aren't available for viewing long. PlayLater also records YouTube, Netflix and many other sites but standard definition only which of course is all Hulu offers. I just program PlayLater to record the shows I want at night a couple of times each week, it has been very useful.

straybeat

We have 3 HDTV's too, so I put a Roku on each of them. The Plex app is free for Roku (at least for now), so the wife, kid and I just get what we want off Youtube. Hulu Plus and Netflix are the only things we pay for so that covers most everything besides OTA? I have a Netgear router that can act as a media server, so I keep debating on getting an EHD for it? But I can't think of anything I'd put on it though that we can't already get some other way?

Chris Gerhard

I have multiple media players at each HDTV but Google TV covers most of the internet streaming and PlayLater file playback. As long as these boxes don't break, cutting the cord will save a lot of money. I don't have to update to the newest models. My TiVos and Google TV boxes are 2008 and 2010 models respectively with no plans for replacement.