ROKU ROCKS!!! 2010-07-30

Reviewer: J.Go.

We got this a couple of months ago. It was initially quite disappointing as the Netflix streaming quality over WiFi downright SUCKED. We even considered returning this back to Amazon. Before doing that though, we decided to give it another shot by hooking it up to the internet using some powerline Ethernet adapters rather than WiFi. We were glad that we did...The box now streams HD videos from Netflix with no hiccups whatsoever. We haven't looked back ever since. Roku Rocks and Netflix RULES!!!

Better than I expected 2010-07-30

Reviewer: M. Clarke

So, I have tied most of the other options for streaming Netflix (my REAL reason for buying Roku). I have tried Sony blu-ray player streaming, Samsung blu-ray player streaming, PS3 (must use a disc to stream which is a pain), Wii streaming (again using the disc but interface is better but no HD) and Xbox360. Now the Xbox360 does a great job with Netflix streaming but I needed a solution in my bedroom that wouldn't cost me the price of another Xbox360. So I gave the Roku HD a shot. It's simple and to the point on what it is designed for. Set-up was easy and all I had to do is set the display to 16:9 HD and the sound to surround. The interface is HD quality and is very easy to read at a distance. I have a large bedroom where my 40inch LCD is 12 feet away from my bed. The Netflix interface is awesome and looks great. The navigation is fluid and user friendly. Movie playback quality is the best I have seen from any of the streaming devices I have used. Even SD selections look near HD. I am very impressed by this Roku unit so far. I have only had it for a couple of days. The Roku HD unit appears to be made well enough and I was surprised at how solid the remote is. All works well so far so good. My configuration is: HDMI, Digital optical out to receiver and hard-wire to LAN (I may try the built-in wireless at some point just to see if it works properly). I have found that there is a load of content for most people (especially an IT guy like myself). I was able to get this unit for $69.99 so I must say that this was a very good value.

WOW 2010-07-30

Reviewer: lisa mitchell

I have never wrote a review and I have many great products from Amazon but this is awesome. Easy to hook up and easy to use. The channels you get will for free is unreal and so much fun...connect to pictures on facebook..neat and videos with out commercials...you have got to get this. NO MORE CABLE OR DISH OR DIRECT NEEDED.

Can't Recommend IT 2010-07-30

Reviewer: doctorg13

I purchased this direct from Roku. It would not connect to the internet with either of the two wireless routers that I have even though it indicated that it connected to my network. Each of these routers works with multiple Windows PC, Apple, and Linux notebooks with no problems. I then tried a direct ethernet cable connection. It still would not connect to the internet. I contacted Roku through their webpage. I quickly received an automated reply promising an answer within 2 business days. That promised answer has not arrived and the time has passed. I am unable to recommend the purchase of this product.

worth every penny 2010-07-30

Reviewer: Emmit W. Stewart

I got this box because I had been watching my netflix instant play on my computer monitor and had lots of problems: reduced picture quality, frequent long pauses to adapt when my computer slowed down and mediocre sound. Not to mention that my monitor has a smaller screen. I wanted something that would work with my television and home theatre sound system.
I had read ads on my neflix jackets for quite a few devices that would give me the features that I wanted, but most of them cost a lot more and had features I did not want (such as video games, which I do not play, and blu-ray players, Which I already had) When the ad came for roku, it looked like the best deal on price and features, so I ordered it. I ordered the HD version since my tv was hi-def and the Roku HD player was only fifteen dollars more.
When it came, I was not able to install it for another month because my computer did not have a router, but this was an easily solved problem and I found out that the cheapest router I could find worked just fine. Once I had my router installed, setup was amazingly easy and as the ad said, I was watching movies in less than a half hour.
I think that the picture quality is outstanding. Perhaps it is not quite as good as from my Blu-Ray player, but it is much better than a standard picture, and, the difference is not noticeable to me. There are a few pauses where the picture quality needs to be adjusted, but not very often, and the pauses are very short, usually less than twenty seconds. On my computer, the pauses often came as many as five to ten times during a single movie and lasted as long as five to twenty minutes.
The sound quality is excellent and makes full use of my surround sound system. In fact. I often have to turn it down because the sound in some tv programs, particularly during the opening credits can be painfully loud, but this the fault of the producerss of the shows,not the Roku.
I am totally happy with my Roku. With it I can be watching movies and shows twenty four hours a day seven days a week if I wanted to. But who wants to?
I haven't cut down the number of Netflix I take at a time because, right now, there aren't nearly as many titles available for streaming, and the newest releases aren't available for streaming at all.
With the other sources available, such as Amazon Video on Demand it's possible for a fee to watch videos that have a long waiting list from netflix. There are quite a few other internet sources available, and possibly more in the future.
Altogether, this is the best entertainment value Ive found since the invention of widescreen HD tv.