topic Re: Chromecast v Roku v Fire Stick in Electronics

Chromecast v Roku v Fire Stick

KristeninChicago — Tue, 02 Dec 2014 20:26:36 GMT

I'm looking to buy one of the 3 above for my dad for Christmas. He lives alone and would like to be able to watch Netflix hoping that will help him get through the winter. He has an iPhone but I still wouldn't call him tech savvy so I am looking for something simple. An employee at Best Buy recommended the Roku over Chromecast because it had a remote but I think my dad could probably handle an app on his phone if needed.

Any recommendations?

thx

Re: Chromecast v Roku v Fire Stick

chickenbutt — Tue, 02 Dec 2014 21:08:19 GMT

I have Roku3. Best of the bunch, according to the reviews/ratings I've seen. The Roku3 has stuff that the earlier, or more portable, versions don't have. Roku over all seems to be the best over all also.

Re: Chromecast v Roku v Fire Stick

Nuttmeg — Tue, 02 Dec 2014 21:15:49 GMT

Amazon had the Fire TV Stick on sale a October 27th for Prime customers for two day. I will receive mine about December 18th. I was looking online at a review. You should check out a YouTube. The ""Stick"" has more memory than the Roku. Your dad may not want to have his cell phone by his TV all the time. You may want to check different online places for a sale on the ""Stick"" and Fire TV. The Fire TV has a voice activated remote.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/amadoudiallo/2014/11/28/roku-chromecast-or-fire-tv-which-streaming-stick-is-right-for-you/

Re: Chromecast v Roku v Fire Stick

Rabid1 — Wed, 03 Dec 2014 07:45:35 GMT

For the price neither the Roku 3 or the Chromecast can even touch the hardware of the Fire Stick.

Chromecast is a one trick pony, but if all you want to do is cast video it's great.

In a sense the Roku 3 is the same except it can play some games, but it is extremely limited by it's hardware. Roku has more "channels" but let's be honest, 90% of them are trash or media streams that are all connected to the same servers.

The Fire Stick can use the Amazon BT controller and most the the games the Fire TV does. 4 times the power of the Roku 3 at half the price.

Re: Chromecast v Roku v Fire Stick

VolvoGirl — Wed, 03 Dec 2014 09:17:41 GMT

This might be a stupid question but does your Dad have internet and a wireless router in his house? Does he use a computer? He needs a wireless internet connection to use that stuff.

Re: Chromecast v Roku v Fire Stick

KristeninChicago — Wed, 03 Dec 2014 23:52:51 GMT

On 12/3/2014 VolvoGirl said:
This might be a stupid question but does your Dad have internet and a wireless router in his house? Does he use a computer? He needs a wireless internet connection to use that stuff.

Yes, he does have WiFi.

Re: Chromecast v Roku v Fire Stick

KristeninChicago — Thu, 04 Dec 2014 00:01:26 GMT

I use Chrome and Gmail but I'm still not a fan of Google so that one is more likely out.

So it's between the Fire Stick and the Roku streaming stick. The techie reviews online say they are pretty much the same thing. He will be using my Netflix account and I also have an Amazon Prime membership so it probably makes sense to go with that one.

I kinda want one now but I have a TiVo that I use to watch Netflix, one less thing I actually need!

Re: Chromecast v Roku v Fire Stick

lovescats — Thu, 04 Dec 2014 17:20:08 GMT

I vote for the roku 3.

Re: Chromecast v Roku v Fire Stick

ValuSkr — Thu, 04 Dec 2014 17:25:25 GMT

Just wondering - if I get a smart TV, does it eliminate the need for one of these devices (Roku, Chromecast, etc.)?

Re: Chromecast v Roku v Fire Stick

glb613 — Thu, 04 Dec 2014 19:13:39 GMT

On 12/4/2014 ValuSkr said:
Just wondering - if I get a smart TV, does it eliminate the need for one of these devices (Roku, Chromecast, etc.)?

Probably. It really depends on what channels you get on your Smart TV. I have a Smart Sony Blu-ray player and Apple TV. That's all I need.

Re: Chromecast v Roku v Fire Stick

WRXtoo — Thu, 04 Dec 2014 19:31:44 GMT

There's a great comparison and review of all 3 on cnet.com (all in one article). Sorry, I can't do the link here.

Re: Chromecast v Roku v Fire Stick

ValuSkr — Thu, 04 Dec 2014 20:07:01 GMT

On 12/4/2014 WRX said: There's a great comparison and review of all 3 on cnet.com (all in one article). Sorry, I can't do the link here.

Here's the link. Looks like a great article.

Re: Chromecast v Roku v Fire Stick

JGalt — Fri, 05 Dec 2014 20:29:15 GMT

I really like my Roku 3. Despite the cost, it is very worthwhile to get that model. It is much faster than the earlier models. I may be wrong, but I don't think the Fire device gets "AcornTV". Acorn cost (I think) $50 for a year's service, and I watch the Acorn shows almost exclusively (unless I want a movie, use Amazon Prime). The shows on Acorn are GREAT...British and Australian programming. I'm over age 65, so maybe it's my age, but the only shows I like on regular TV are NCIS and Blue Bloods.

Re: Chromecast v Roku v Fire Stick

JGalt — Fri, 05 Dec 2014 20:34:12 GMT

On 12/4/2014 ValuSkr said:
Just wondering - if I get a smart TV, does it eliminate the need for one of these devices (Roku, Chromecast, etc.)?

I have a Vizio Smart TV, and it does not get most of the channels I like.

Re: Chromecast v Roku v Fire Stick

JGalt — Fri, 05 Dec 2014 20:48:49 GMT

I wanted to add...with the super low prices last week, I was going to buy a Roku stick to put on my second TV (a Smart TV), but after reading reviews, I did not buy it. I was at another house for a month recently that had one of the earlier generation Roku, and the slowness made me nuts. The Roku stick is slower than the Roku 3. It isn't worth it to me to have the less expensive item if it will be annoying. I'll just live with the one TV having Roku, or move the Roku from time to time.

Re: Chromecast v Roku v Fire Stick

chickenbutt — Fri, 05 Dec 2014 20:57:59 GMT

While that is a good comparison, it only compares the stick units, so the regular units (the best of which is the Roku3, as already mentioned, for numerous reasons) are not compared at all.

Re: Chromecast v Roku v Fire Stick

ladyPA — Mon, 08 Dec 2014 04:06:48 GMT

On 12/4/2014 ValuSkr said:
Just wondering - if I get a smart TV, does it eliminate the need for one of these devices (Roku, Chromecast, etc.)?

I bought a LG smart TV which is 3 years old and the manufacturer no longer updates the unit. My Sony smart TV Wi-Fi is a bit wonky. I've been using Roku since the first model.

Re: Chromecast v Roku v Fire Stick

Rae-Rae — Thu, 11 Dec 2014 16:46:01 GMT

I have a Roku XS and it works for me. I have about 60 channels and watch about 16 of those on a regular basis. The others every now and again, they are there when I get in the mood for that type of show.

If someone could figure out how to get Pinterest on the Roku I would use it all the time!

I vote for the Roku box.