Roku/Chromecast

MrsMoo01

Have been considering buying a Roku stick from Costco. However, I have read about Chromecast which seems similar.

Any pros and cons for either please?

enfield_freddy

different things , both plug in but do different jobs , do some research , if you are thinking of roku for plex , consider a nowtv box that has been "altered" to put the plex back on

MrsMoo01

That sounds a bit technical! Will try and work out what I want and then try and do a comparison. I thought they did the same job vis a vis catch up channels etc.

enfield_freddy

well yes , the chromecast is a very much "pay to view" stick http://www.google.co.uk/chrome/devices/chromecast/ , freeview and youtube only are free.


the roku/nowtv are much the same apart from you can stream audio/video from your media collection on your tv

Tropez

I've got two Roku's.

Nice selection of channels, although missing a few 'big' ones like Amazon and Blinkbox. Channel selection is account-bound so setting up second Roku to have same channels easy (although cannot hide channels on one, so may be an issue from a parental control standpoint).

Fast enough. Responsive enough.

Good picture. Supports screen-mirroring from some devices.

Occasionally glitchy though and the UI for the majority of channels is very basic. There's also a hell of a lot of nonsense in the channels store and no easy option to sort things except via category. UK Roku missing a few features available on US Roku.

Still very happy with them overall. I'm using Roku 3's though so will be different to streaming stick.

azzabazza

If Chromecast is basically pay to view then probably Roku or even a Nowtv box will suit your requirements. I was advised to modify my Nowtv box to make it more like a Roku but haven't got round to investigating this

Not sure what Blinkbox is but I can get Amazon through our Blu-ray player.

ukcarper

enfield_freddy wrote: »

well yes , the chromecast is a very much "pay to view" stick http://www.google.co.uk/chrome/devices/chromecast/ , freeview and youtube only are free.


the roku/nowtv are much the same apart from you can stream audio/video from your media collection on your tv

I think you can use plex to stream with chromecast

stuart07970

If you're looking at Chromecast and Roku, you may want to consider an Apple TV depending on your set up.

Polarpenguin

ukcarper wrote: »

I think you can use plex to stream with chromecast

You can. I use Plex with my chromecast to stream my media library.

MrsMoo01

stuart07970 wrote: »

If you're looking at Chromecast and Roku, you may want to consider an Apple TV depending on your set up.

I have a pc, laptop and android tablet. I don't think an Apple product is what I am looking for but thanks for the suggestion.

MrsMoo01

Tropez wrote: »

I've got two Roku's.

Nice selection of channels, although missing a few 'big' ones like Amazon and Blinkbox. Channel selection is account-bound so setting up second Roku to have same channels easy (although cannot hide channels on one, so may be an issue from a parental control standpoint).

Fast enough. Responsive enough.

Good picture. Supports screen-mirroring from some devices.

Occasionally glitchy though and the UI for the majority of channels is very basic. There's also a hell of a lot of nonsense in the channels store and no easy option to sort things except via category. UK Roku missing a few features available on US Roku.

Still very happy with them overall. I'm using Roku 3's though so will be different to streaming stick.

Thanks. Tomorrow will be spent working out what I exactly want from this sort of technology.