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Cable TV is expensive, and satellite TV is even more expensive. I paid $35.00 / month 58 channels of "basic cable." After their call center called me for months asking if I would like to upgrade. I finally admitted that I did: because of how unsatisfied I was with the current service that they provided.
So I started to pay $98 / month for 90 channels...of stuff I rarely watched because it was mostly re-runs or the same-old-crap on TV. Well, I found a solution to cut the cable on my cable TV provider. If your also wondering how to get rid of cable and satellite TV, but still watch TV with lots of, actually good, channels and movies: then you will want to keep reading.
There are a lot of different replacements (we tend to call them streaming media players) coming out these days for Cable and Satellite television. But the many different choices seem to have narrowed down to just one choice for most people: Rokuversus Apple TV.
Both Apple and Roku are both reputable companies (although Roku is nowhere as well known as Apple Computers Inc.). Roku is often considered as just an alternative to Apple TV--most people just assume that Roku is just a knock-off of the well known Apple TV... but Roku is actually very different beast, than Apple TV, altogether.
Apple TV: what is Apple TV and how does Apple TV work?
Basically, Apple TV is a small box that plugs into the HDMI port on your digital TV and will stream anything you have puchased, or rented, from the iTunes Store or through your account with Netflix.
So that sounds good, right? Everything that's on iTunes and Netflix: you can stream to your TV in 1080p video with surround sound! So how much is it?Apple TV is about $300
The newest version of Apple TV is only $99!
Okay. Cool, but I wanted to stop paying money every month--not just shift my money from my Cable Companies' pockets to the pockets' of the geeks at Apple or Netflix. Apple TV is really good if you have already purchased lots of content from the iTunes Store and have an active Netflix account... I have neither.
The worst thing for me was that the Apple TV remote needs to be in line-of-sight with your Apple TV just to work, and I did not need more wires and boxes in my living room in plain-sight. The Roku box has a remote that works over Wi-Fi; so I can then hide the Roku box in one of my shelves below my TV.
So I went with Roku over Apple TV because of the remote, but also because of all the channels on Roku that are for free.
Read more user reviews about Apple TV reviews
Roku: what is Roku and how does Roku work?
On Roku box you get access to Netflix, Hulu, Amazon videos, HBO, Spotify, Pandora, Rdio, and Vevo.
Plus, you get access to custom user channels that people create; and you can upload your own videos and files directly onto Roku to play them.
How does roku work? Roku is similar to Apple TV. You just plug it into your TV and it streams media. But the Roku also has a USB port so you can upload media directly to it (for times when a friend comes over with a movie to watch on a USB data stick). Roku also has a rich on-screen channel viewer to browse quickly like you would with Cable or Satellite.
Some of the user created channels contain access to TV networks, and online networks, like: Food Network, HGTV, FOX, NBC, ABC, CNN,CBS, JustinTV, YouTube, Newscaster, Playon, Revision3, CNET, Tunein, TWIT, Chow, CrackleTV.com, Flixter and a tonne more; plus local channels from all over the world!
So what can you watch for free on Roku? A lot! As users create new channels all the time.
And how much is Roku per month? Nothing. Just pay $99 for the Roku Box and it's yours for life!
So the question: can Roku replace cable and satellite TV? Absolutely. Most of my favorite channels are already on Roku TV, and users keep adding more new channels all the time.
Top reasons why Roku 3 is better than Apple TV
I'm currently using Roku instead of cable.
Now you can also go cable free (free yourself from cable and satellite TV bills) and take your lightweight Roku 3 media streamer with you anywhere (it also works on your laptop, or on hotel room TVs) and stop paying your monthly cable TV and Satellite bills.
Read more user reviews about the Roku 3 reviews
There are a lot of different replacements (we tend to call them streaming media players) coming out these days for Cable and Satellite television. But the many different choices seem to have narrowed down to just one choice for most people: Rokuversus Apple TV.
Both Apple and Roku are both reputable companies (although Roku is nowhere as well known as Apple Computers Inc.). Roku is often considered as just an alternative to Apple TV--most people just assume that Roku is just a knock-off of the well known Apple TV... but Roku is actually very different beast, than Apple TV, altogether.
Apple TV: what is Apple TV and how does Apple TV work?
Basically, Apple TV is a small box that plugs into the HDMI port on your digital TV and will stream anything you have puchased, or rented, from the iTunes Store or through your account with Netflix.
So that sounds good, right? Everything that's on iTunes and Netflix: you can stream to your TV in 1080p video with surround sound! So how much is it?
Okay. Cool, but I wanted to stop paying money every month--not just shift my money from my Cable Companies' pockets to the pockets' of the geeks at Apple or Netflix. Apple TV is really good if you have already purchased lots of content from the iTunes Store and have an active Netflix account... I have neither.
The worst thing for me was that the Apple TV remote needs to be in line-of-sight with your Apple TV just to work, and I did not need more wires and boxes in my living room in plain-sight. The Roku box has a remote that works over Wi-Fi; so I can then hide the Roku box in one of my shelves below my TV.
So I went with Roku over Apple TV because of the remote, but also because of all the channels on Roku that are for free.
Read more user reviews about Apple TV reviews
Roku: what is Roku and how does Roku work?
On Roku box you get access to Netflix, Hulu, Amazon videos, HBO, Spotify, Pandora, Rdio, and Vevo.
Plus, you get access to custom user channels that people create; and you can upload your own videos and files directly onto Roku to play them.
How does roku work? Roku is similar to Apple TV. You just plug it into your TV and it streams media. But the Roku also has a USB port so you can upload media directly to it (for times when a friend comes over with a movie to watch on a USB data stick). Roku also has a rich on-screen channel viewer to browse quickly like you would with Cable or Satellite.
Some of the user created channels contain access to TV networks, and online networks, like: Food Network, HGTV, FOX, NBC, ABC, CNN,CBS, JustinTV, YouTube, Newscaster, Playon, Revision3, CNET, Tunein, TWIT, Chow, CrackleTV.com, Flixter and a tonne more; plus local channels from all over the world!
So what can you watch for free on Roku? A lot! As users create new channels all the time.
And how much is Roku per month? Nothing. Just pay $99 for the Roku Box and it's yours for life!
So the question: can Roku replace cable and satellite TV? Absolutely. Most of my favorite channels are already on Roku TV, and users keep adding more new channels all the time.
Top reasons why Roku 3 is better than Apple TV
- Lots of FREE content (no having to pay monthly to Netflix and Apple)
- A remote that always works!
- Access to GOOD channels like Food Network, Comedy Central, etc.
- Loads more overall content: Over 750+ (and counting) channels to watch!
- Load you own content to watch on Roku via USB
I'm currently using Roku instead of cable.
Now you can also go cable free (free yourself from cable and satellite TV bills) and take your lightweight Roku 3 media streamer
with you anywhere (it also works on your laptop, or on hotel room TVs) and stop paying your monthly cable TV and Satellite bills.Read more user reviews about the Roku 3 reviews
