OK, this is far from gardening, but people on this NG are generally clued in and not easily fooled by ad PR.
(Drum roll): I gave up cable early this year and have only OTA to receive 3 PBS channels. Am intrigued by Roku which purports to stream all kinds of channels from computer to TV.
However, in reading the gazillion reviews, I note that some people don't like that they have to pay for some channels.
Does anyone have Roku or similar, and have to pay for [your favorite] channels?
I have Roku and Netflix. I have to pay for Netflix. It is under $10.00 per month -- way, way cheaper than cable.
I love my Netflix. You can watch movies and series without commercials. Lots of documentaries too. There are other channels too, but you have to pay for each one separately. I only pay for Netflix. There are a few free ones, but they are not very good.
Netflix is usually pretty out of date. It would drive a teenager nuts. But, I don't mind. I am out of date too. If you really, really want to watch a new release, you can always buy a viewing one at a time through Amazon's channel. (I never have.)
Streaming U-Tube is free. Great for listening to your favorite music.
I'd go for it, but not if you don't disconnect your cable.
-T
I still get OTA. But then again, I am a radio design engineer and I know how to spec out antennas.
Naturally. There are people who object to having to pay for anything.
Roku provides access to hundreds of free and paid channels. Many/most of these are Roku-centeric - once you get Roku, you can look through their channel list for subjects you're interested in. Some of the channels require a subscription which you manage with your Roku account.
Roku will also provide access to non-Roku streaming content providers who require a subscription, such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, HuluPlus, etc. If you have a subscription with any of those providers, you'll be able to use your Roku to view their offerings on your tv.
Roku also provides access to non-Roku free streaming content providers who do not require a subscription, such as YouTube and Crackle. Some of the free content providers - such as National Geographic or PBS - limit what is available for free viewing. For instance, they may not provide full episodes of a particular series for free viewing. That's not a Roku issue, that's the decision of the content provider.
Content providers often have licensing agreements with the rights holders (say, movie studios and music companies) imposing conditions for when/how long any particular item is available for subscribers to view. As a result, the offerings available from these providers will vary. For instance, Amazon Prime might have a certain movie available for viewing for a period of several weeks, after which it will be not be available. Wait a few months and it might go back into their rotation, or it might not - it depends on their contract with the rights holder.
The best way for you to determine if Roku will work out for you is to buy the damned thing and set it up. They're not that expensive. Give it a week. If it doesn't meet your expectations, return it.
The best place to get your questions answered is Roku's own user forums.
Thanks for your thoughtful & comprehensive comments. Roku has a forum? Who knew? But then, doesn't everybody/thing I'm on my way.
You're also correct about installing the damn thing & THEN deciding whether to keep. Gets right to my awful habit of dithering. (Makes note for New Year's Resolution ... )
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