Author Topic: Help me choose a streamer  (Read 29583 times)

evan1

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Help me choose a streamer
« on: April 13, 2011, 03:00:08 PM »
I'm only concerned with streaming Netflix right now and maybe Pandora . Right now I'm just using my granddaughters Wii to stream Netflix but when she is here on weekends I put it back in her bedroom .I don't want another Blu Ray player . I love the streaming idea so I want to choose between the Apple TV and Roku XDS. Same price but which do you think I will be better off with ?


Offline etcarroll

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Re: Help me choose a streamer
« Reply #1 on: April 13, 2011, 06:12:54 PM »
Are you already an Apple fan? Do you have a iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad you can download the more robust controller app to versus the remote that comes with it? Does your TV have an hdmi port? If yes to all 3, get the Apple TV box.

Otherwise, Roku.
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Offline spudco

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Re: Help me choose a streamer
« Reply #2 on: April 14, 2011, 04:37:20 AM »
+1 on the AppleTV.  Just installed one 2 weeks ago and it is fine for netflix, photos/slide shows, internet radio.

It also recognizes "other" remote control codes.  I taught it to respond to a Yamaha receiver code set to use my Pronto.  Took a few seconds and works great.

djdube525

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Re: Help me choose a streamer
« Reply #3 on: April 14, 2011, 08:54:39 AM »
The only downside that I could see with an AppleTV over a Roku was that Roku offers at least one model with 1080p... I believe AppleTV is just 720p.

If that matters to you anyway...

Dave

Offline tmazz

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Re: Help me choose a streamer
« Reply #4 on: April 14, 2011, 02:15:35 PM »
The only downside that I could see with an AppleTV over a Roku was that Roku offers at least one model with 1080p... I believe AppleTV is just 720p.

If that matters to you anyway...

Dave

I think the 720 vs 1080 decision should be driven by basically two things.

1) how big of a screen will you be playing this on? of the screen is 40: or less then 720 could be on the table. At 42" I would start to worry a bit and over 42" I wouldtry to stick with 1080p. Just one man's opinion YMMV.

and

2) What are your other sources? If you have a large screen and a bluray player that you us regularly, the lower resolution of a 720p stream will become quickly noticeable. And while 720p in and of itself is not really that bad, if your frame of reference is the high res output of a bluray watching a 720p stream could possibly become irritating.

Of course one other thing to be concerned with is whether or not your internet connection has the bandwidth to cleanly stream at 1080p. Because no matter how good the picture is, if the stream is constantly pausing because the buffer emptied out, you will tire of it in a hurry.
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Offline bpape

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Re: Help me choose a streamer
« Reply #5 on: April 14, 2011, 02:22:23 PM »
IMO, it also depends on the native resolution of the screen coupled with how good the scaling solution is in the screen.  If it's a native 720 set, then stay with 720. If it's 1080 and has a decent scaler, then the 720 could be OK but the 1080 will still negate the need for conversion.

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evan1

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Re: Help me choose a streamer
« Reply #6 on: April 14, 2011, 02:27:46 PM »
I have a 50 inch Samsung plasma and it's only 720p. I think that is the highest Netflix streams at this time.

Offline tmazz

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Re: Help me choose a streamer
« Reply #7 on: April 14, 2011, 10:36:06 PM »
I have a 50 inch Samsung plasma and it's only 720p. I think that is the highest Netflix streams at this time.

If your TV ans Netflix both top out at 720 then whether a streamer goes to 1080 is not really something you need to worry about right now.
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djdube525

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Re: Help me choose a streamer
« Reply #8 on: April 15, 2011, 10:48:31 AM »
It looks like Netflix can do 1080p based on this...

Which does bring to mind... the PS3 is not a bad streamer/blu-ray combo.


evan1

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Re: Help me choose a streamer
« Reply #9 on: April 15, 2011, 01:56:10 PM »
It looks like Netflix can do 1080p based on this...

Which does bring to mind... the PS3 is not a bad streamer/blu-ray combo.



But my TV will not

djdube525

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Re: Help me choose a streamer
« Reply #10 on: April 15, 2011, 03:19:42 PM »
Well... that is something you could rectify.  :thumb:

evan1

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Re: Help me choose a streamer
« Reply #11 on: April 15, 2011, 03:33:27 PM »
Well... that is something you could rectify.  :thumb:


:nono:

Offline tmazz

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Re: Help me choose a streamer
« Reply #12 on: April 15, 2011, 04:57:05 PM »
Well... that is something you could rectify.  :thumb:

Video Nervosa?  #-o
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evan1

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Re: Help me choose a streamer
« Reply #13 on: April 15, 2011, 11:33:36 PM »
Well... that is something you could rectify.  :thumb:

Video Nervosa?  #-o

Nah. Did the HT thing years ago but it was won over by Audio Nervosa.

Offline tmazz

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Re: Help me choose a streamer
« Reply #14 on: April 16, 2011, 06:30:21 AM »
Well... that is something you could rectify.  :thumb:

Video Nervosa?  #-o

Nah. Did the HT thing years ago but it was won over by Audio Nervosa.

My kinda guy!  :thumb:
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