"Impressed!" is the section of this site dedicated to trying out Tech and Junk. A sort-of "non-review, review" as it were. Good and bad, exceptional and mediocre - these are our impressions.
Written by: John Mann
I have had a Roku 2 for about a year and recently upgraded to the Roku 3. Now, I know that there are several other devices out there regarding watching streaming media (ChromeCast, Apple TV, and even Rasberry PI). However, I have truly enjoyed my experience with the Roku 3. There are some key features that I want to point out regarding the Roku 3.
Setup
The initial setup of the Roku is a bit misleading mainly because there is no "monthly" service for Roku. However, it is not that practical without a subscription to some service (Netflix, Amazon Prime).
I went through the wizard to setup my system and as expected, it requires a credit card for "purchases" through your Roku box. That often deters people from signing up. However, you can watch several shows and channels without a subscription to anything. Ted Talks is something I highly recommend watching. Ok, back to the setup process... It is pretty straight forward and wired connection is obviously easier than WiFi.
One thing I did notice is the WiFi on the Roku 3 performs much better than the older Roku 2. In the process of setup, it adds some basic channels for you. I would review them carefully before adding some of them. A few have charges associated with them, and be careful of the "FREE" (for 30 days) ones also.
Channel Experience
Each channel is quite different and the best comparison is between Amazon and Netflix. Netflix has quite an immersive experience with full screen backgrounds of current titles, summaries, and a
series of selections based on your preferences. The most glaring miss on Netflix is the ability to play a trailer which Amazon supports. Amazon, in my opinion, has a better interface and the search is always available.
Netflix does have a nice feature regarding profiles, but keep in mind that each channel is different. I have seen Ted Talks, PBS, Kung-Fu Theater, IGN, and a few others. One thing that I found interesting is channels like HBO-Go, WatchESPN, and A&E require a subscription via your cable provider. So if you plan on getting rid of cable you still need those subscriptions to watch it, which means you can't get rid of cable.
Remote Experience
The remote for the Roku is one of the better ones I have seen. It is not directional and I have tested that out thoroughly. :-) I put it under a pillow and still was able to change channels, just to be sure. For those that are familiar with the Wii, it is very similar to those remotes, so much that you can actually pair a Wii remote with the Roku. The home button works great from any location, and playing angry birds on the big screen is always a fun experience.
Overall
I highly recommend the Roku 3 for your entry into streaming television and shows. If you ever want to binge-watch, Netflix on Roku is a great way to watch an entire season in a weekend. The remote interface is easy to use and is very tactical - especially for those more button inclined versus using touch-screens for remotes. The channels available for Roku are quite vast - now including YouTube and with even more channels on the horizon. The network configuration is as easy as any other device, and the navigation from screen to screen is well done. I have had some issues with network connectivity, but I think that is more my cable provider than the Roku. I hope you get a chance to play with a Roku and I plan on playing with a Chromecast this year and see how it matches up.
Setup
The initial setup of the Roku is a bit misleading mainly because there is no "monthly" service for Roku. However, it is not that practical without a subscription to some service (Netflix, Amazon Prime).
I went through the wizard to setup my system and as expected, it requires a credit card for "purchases" through your Roku box. That often deters people from signing up. However, you can watch several shows and channels without a subscription to anything. Ted Talks is something I highly recommend watching. Ok, back to the setup process... It is pretty straight forward and wired connection is obviously easier than WiFi.
One thing I did notice is the WiFi on the Roku 3 performs much better than the older Roku 2. In the process of setup, it adds some basic channels for you. I would review them carefully before adding some of them. A few have charges associated with them, and be careful of the "FREE" (for 30 days) ones also.
Channel Experience
series of selections based on your preferences. The most glaring miss on Netflix is the ability to play a trailer which Amazon supports. Amazon, in my opinion, has a better interface and the search is always available.
Netflix does have a nice feature regarding profiles, but keep in mind that each channel is different. I have seen Ted Talks, PBS, Kung-Fu Theater, IGN, and a few others. One thing that I found interesting is channels like HBO-Go, WatchESPN, and A&E require a subscription via your cable provider. So if you plan on getting rid of cable you still need those subscriptions to watch it, which means you can't get rid of cable.
Remote Experience
The remote for the Roku is one of the better ones I have seen. It is not directional and I have tested that out thoroughly. :-) I put it under a pillow and still was able to change channels, just to be sure. For those that are familiar with the Wii, it is very similar to those remotes, so much that you can actually pair a Wii remote with the Roku. The home button works great from any location, and playing angry birds on the big screen is always a fun experience.
Overall
I highly recommend the Roku 3 for your entry into streaming television and shows. If you ever want to binge-watch, Netflix on Roku is a great way to watch an entire season in a weekend. The remote interface is easy to use and is very tactical - especially for those more button inclined versus using touch-screens for remotes. The channels available for Roku are quite vast - now including YouTube and with even more channels on the horizon. The network configuration is as easy as any other device, and the navigation from screen to screen is well done. I have had some issues with network connectivity, but I think that is more my cable provider than the Roku. I hope you get a chance to play with a Roku and I plan on playing with a Chromecast this year and see how it matches up.
-John Mann
@techandjunk
