Criteria
Comments
Rating
- Media support Media support is similar with other models. Added USB port is adding some functionality now, with more to come.
- Video quality Quality depends greatly on bandwidth and the encode. Netflix on the whole is good/great w/ HD streams, Amazon in HD is on par or better than cable.
- Audio quality Netflix is decent for Pro Logic, Amazon is very good 5.1 support w/ movies. Other channels vary widely.
- Ease of use Same as other units, with a few added features. New remote is helpful, but the info button at this point serves very little purpose. Setup/general use is great.
- Design and form factor No comments
Detailed review
If you have used a Roku unit, this is a very similar experience. The updated hardware in a smaller frame is a nice touch as well as the redesigned remote, but the real experience is based on the software, which in this case is the same across all models. Software is intuitive and easy to use, so much so that a friends 5 year old manages to get SpongeBob up an running on their older unit running similar software.
This is my second unit (first an original HD Roku) and I cannot recommend enough that everyone should have one in their home. The caveat to this is if your household has either a TV, Blu-ray player or game system with Netflix and Amazon abilities, this box may not be for you.
The unit is very easy to use after initial setup. Setup often requires logging on to different accounts on your computer to sync accounts to the Roku channel. A hassle, but after initial setup, it is a painless experience. The main interface is very easy to use and using the channels is a breeze.
I mainly use this for Netflix, Amazon on Demand and Pandora. Experiences for each is excellent in most cases, without any major streaming issues aside for very occasional buffering, usually at fault of my ISP. Amazon has new releases in HD for rent and sale, and I have not been let down by the quality. Netflix has a wide variety of older to newer titles, and as time goes on it seems that newer releases are becoming more the norm.
Overall I have no major faults with this device. More of an refresh than a new release, but if you are thinking about a device like this I recommend it. The software is constantly changing (in a good way), and I look forward to seeing what the Roku guys have coming up next.
This is my second unit (first an original HD Roku) and I cannot recommend enough that everyone should have one in their home. The caveat to this is if your household has either a TV, Blu-ray player or game system with Netflix and Amazon abilities, this box may not be for you.
The unit is very easy to use after initial setup. Setup often requires logging on to different accounts on your computer to sync accounts to the Roku channel. A hassle, but after initial setup, it is a painless experience. The main interface is very easy to use and using the channels is a breeze.
I mainly use this for Netflix, Amazon on Demand and Pandora. Experiences for each is excellent in most cases, without any major streaming issues aside for very occasional buffering, usually at fault of my ISP. Amazon has new releases in HD for rent and sale, and I have not been let down by the quality. Netflix has a wide variety of older to newer titles, and as time goes on it seems that newer releases are becoming more the norm.
Overall I have no major faults with this device. More of an refresh than a new release, but if you are thinking about a device like this I recommend it. The software is constantly changing (in a good way), and I look forward to seeing what the Roku guys have coming up next.
good review!
2 people find this review helpful
review history
- 2010-09-23
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Updated detailed review