Difference btw Roku and Chrome?
621591
Chrome requires a tablet or phone to operate. Roku Streaming stick requires an MHL enabled television, preferably one branded "Roku Ready". They are selling Roku Ready TVs now for as little as $200 (less on sale), but until previously they were harder to find and more expensive. Roku streaming stick is operated by TV remote. Even if you already own a tablet or phone, just keep in mind if you have guests they can't use the TV if you opt for Chromecast.
621592
Chromecast allows you to extend your smartphone's functionality to the TV wirelessly. Roku 3400R streaming stick is a replacement for a Roku box but only for TV's equipped with MHL. As you can now purchase an MHL TV on Amazon for $200 (32") the smart phone may cost as much as the TV. Basically, they are different but related devices.
621593
Roku is better on the access to content side. Roku has access to over 700 channels. Nothing else comes close.
621594
Chromecast new w very few channelsRequires hamilton AND either USB or elec powerRoku bias many channels and effective remoteChrome cast just coming out and 35 dollarsRoku established and btw 59 and 99
621595
Roku is way more user friendly, has far more program choices, a blue tooth remote, but is considerably more expensive. The Chrome cast does require a smartphone or tablet for remote control. I found the Chrome cast much more difficult to operate. Google Play does offer a lot of movie and TV series along with Netflix and others it is a good alternative.
2091234
It is none of those. Those are 2013 models. This is a Roku HD, which is an older model. It's still a great device and has 95% of the same features as the 2013 models.
207165
We purchased it as a replacement for the original Roku..so I don't know..sorry
1466633
I can't list out the exact differences, but conceptually google tv is a smart tv but powered by android. This means you can say things like "espn" and the tv will think about it for a second or two and auto tune to espn. If you ask a different question to your remote, the outcome might be to launch a browser. Of course like a smart tv you can still access other content like netflix, but the software driving the process is so much more robust and solid.
98450
No. It's just a wireless receiver. You use it to connect to the internet only. Unlike Chromecast or Roku stick it doesn't have apps or anything. It's more for CPU's and devices that need an internet connection.
206415
In comparison to Roku, PLAiR has a lot more software support for beaming content both from laptop and mobile devices. E.g. using the PLAiR Chrome browser plug-in you can go to almost any website and beam videos, music, presentations etc. to the TV. Also, because PLAiR supports Android ICS based apps, you have a wide variety of video, music and casual gaming apps that you can use on the TV.
2275515
I'm wondering the same Laura. I don't see a huge market for a Roku ready TV. I'm not going to buy a TV every time a new "stick" of some kind comes out. I have the Roku 3 and a Chromecast. Guess I will stick with those. The issue I have with my Roku is that DirecTV does not have an agreement with them so I cannot view HBOGO. A huge thing for me and I wish I'd known before switching from Dish. The Chromecast does allow for me to watch HBOGO and it's portable. :)
966973
Since you said "through Chrome" i assume you mean recorded shows on websites. In that case, yes. It has a full version of flash installed so you can watch pretty much anything that you would be able to watch on your pc on the costar.
532052
Roku 3 have: higher price tag, faster processor speed, USB port, only hd (hdmi only), ethernet port, ... But the same content. Roku 2 works fine only WiFi, no USB, rca sd output, both have headphone Jack in the remote control, for wireless listening. This us a conflict solver at bedroom ;-)
1845833
Not sure what Roku is but TV says that more apps can be added later. So maybe that will help you decide.
1845835
You dont need Roku with this TV as you can find most of the apps with this TV. Another disadvantage of Roku with regular TV is, Roku does not have Youtube app now. To do that, you have to install another app to your computer and then stream the Video from your computer to be shown on the TV which is sometimes painful because I like doing the search on the TV and play it instantaneously.
577447
No, the Roku does not. It's not meant to be a web browser. From one of their engineers: We have numerous interface improvements in the works, but we have no interest, in the short term or long term, to add web browsing to the product. http://forums.roku.com/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=25340&start=30
250114
Google TV just offers an interface similar to Android. You can browse the internet (via Chrome, of course), download apps, and hopefully a lot more with each successive update. The app store is still fairly limited (especially 'free' apps), but there are definitely some nice ones out there if you're willing to pay. Also, if you have an Amazon Prime account, you can easily stream the 'rented' videos right on your TV (depending on your internet connection, as I noticed a fairly considerable drop in quality when streaming on the TV compared to streaming on my laptop and connecting via HDMI. YMMV). Some other nice benefits are being able to 'fling' webpages between your computer and TV, so you can do the browsing on the laptop and just fling to the TV when you found what you're looking for. You can also download the chromemote (sp) and use your laptop as a remote control for the TV. Overall I wouldn't break the bank to pay for Google TV, but it's a very nice addition if the prices/specs are comparable otherwise.
1650668
It can't view videos on the chrome browser, but there are apps that can be used to workaround that. I use an app called Plex to stream shows from CBS, it works fairly well on the cube.
1264417
I use the Plex App from the Chrome Web Store top play files from my networked pc and other devices.I did not install a different OS, my box works finewith Chrome OS.I also use the Chromecast to play files as well.
502370
Your son is wrong. I stream programs through my computer that are not available through devices such as ROKU. Example, HGTV, ABC family channel, many others. It's more cumbersome, and you can not use your computer for anything else while streaming through the computer. These devices =such as Roku, do not tie up your computer. My wife can use the computer while I stream movies through ROKU. Since Roku is both wired/wireless, you can watch it from any room. for $ 49, it's a no brainer.
1264418
Startup is pretty quick. Remember, the chromebox can only play thru a web browser. I would be hesitant to stream something that requires a ton of resources.