Learn me on Roku

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  • IRON-E
    I waste 90% of my day here and all I got was this stupid title
    • Dec 2007
    • 16548

    #1

    Learn me on Roku

    I did some reading online about Roku but, I'm still on the fence about buying one.

    I'm kind of ol'school and, have been paying for cable/direct tv for years, without a clue that such thing existed.
    My buddy told me about this magical box and said, that I could stop paying for 3 of my 4 cable boxes. So now, I am looking to you tech guys, to give me some more insight on this stuff.
    @IRON-E30 aka Edwin:D
  • ParsedOut
    E30 Fanatic
    • Sep 2005
    • 1437

    #2
    I don't know much about Roku, but I can tell you that I haven't had cable TV in almost 3 years. If you're enough of a nerd, you can build an HTPC (home theater PC) that will connect to the TV and audio receiver. XBMC is the best and most customizable media center software. NextPVR works in conjunction for live tv support.

    As for downloading TV shows and movies. Google search "sabnzbd", "sickbeard" and "couchpotato". That is the holy trinity of automated and SECURE downloading of content. These aren't torrents nor can anyone snoop or track what you're downloading, especially if you get a usenet server that supports SSL.

    I'm about as big of a nerd as they come, and it took me a few weeks of research and tinkering to my first set up going, since then I've revised it about a dozen times trying to get it just right. As of last week, I'm really happy with my current setup.

    *disclaimer* All of my experience has been purely educational, I always pay for all licensed and copyrighted content.

    Comment

    • Fusion
      No R3VLimiter
      • Nov 2009
      • 3658

      #3
      I like the raspberry pi solution. Going to look into that.
      http://wiki.xbmc.org/index.php?title=Raspberry_Pi

      Comment

      • IRON-E
        I waste 90% of my day here and all I got was this stupid title
        • Dec 2007
        • 16548

        #4
        You are blowing my mind and thank you but, I really need something to just plug & play.
        @IRON-E30 aka Edwin:D

        Comment

        • ST1G
          R3V OG
          • Oct 2012
          • 6689

          #5
          I like my Apple Tv.

          Comment

          • AndrewBird
            The Mad Scientist
            • Oct 2003
            • 11892

            #6
            Bought my parents a roku a while back. Works great and is easy to use. They used it mostly for Netflix.

            Keep in mind there is very little free content. You have to pay for a membership to Netflix/Amazon Prime/Hulu/etc and then buy a roku box to access it.

            Comment

            • ky0u
              E30 Modder
              • Dec 2012
              • 808

              #7
              I've been plugging my computer into my TV via HDMI for the past 3 years. Been watching whatever i want, whenever I want. And since my TV was already plugged into my audio receiver for surround sound, the computer audio automatically piggy backed on that and I didnt have to set anything up. Literally just plug in the HDMI and was good to go. Haven't paid a dime for cable or subscriptions the whole time.

              My friend has a roku though. I'll ask him for details tonight
              Web Designer / Front End Developer
              My Portfolio & Website


              IG: @w_illriderz

              Comment

              • Farbin Kaiber
                Lil' Puppet
                • Jul 2007
                • 29502

                #8
                I've been subscription free for about 4 months now, just Netflix/Hulu/AmazonInstant via PS3 and have been pretty happy, I miss a few things, but I've been told there are ways around that.

                I have been thinking I want a Chromecast when I get my next replacement Android phone as well.

                Comment

                • ParsedOut
                  E30 Fanatic
                  • Sep 2005
                  • 1437

                  #9
                  Originally posted by Fusion
                  I like the raspberry pi solution. Going to look into that.
                  http://wiki.xbmc.org/index.php?title=Raspberry_Pi
                  It's pretty cool for what it is, but limited to 720p and only certain codecs was a deal breaker for me. I already had a full i3 HTPC built last year, handles everything I've thrown at it without a hick up. Last week I finished up an Ubuntu fileserver/download box (free uncopyrighted content of course) which feeds my Win7 HTPC and my Linux Mint desktop.

                  Comment

                  • CorvallisBMW
                    Long Schlong Longhammer
                    • Feb 2005
                    • 13039

                    #10
                    I've had a Roku for about 2 years now and I love it. Yes you do have to pay for Hulu and Netflix, but combined those work out to $16/month, which is roughly 75% less than a middle-of-the-pack cable package but gives to access to tens of thousands more shows and movies. Combine it with standard OTA HDTV broadcasts for all your local/national channels and you can get 95% of what's available on cable for less than 25% of the cost. It's a no-brainer.

                    The imminent merger between Time Warner Cable and Comcast heralds the start of a new era: one of even more expensive channel bundles, and even longer

                    Comment

                    • ky0u
                      E30 Modder
                      • Dec 2012
                      • 808

                      #11
                      Originally posted by Farbin Kaiber
                      I've been subscription free for about 4 months now, just Netflix/Hulu/AmazonInstant via PS3 and have been pretty happy, I miss a few things, but I've been told there are ways around that.

                      I have been thinking I want a Chromecast when I get my next replacement Android phone as well.
                      There are websites you can use to stream free shows. Usually more complete than what they offer on netflix and hulu as well.

                      I use this one for movies
                      This domain may be for sale!


                      and this one for tv shows


                      Movies are hit or miss. Sometimes good quality ones come out within the first week of a movie debuting and sometimes only cam rips are available for a couple months.

                      The TV shows however, are usually uploaded and online within a day of first airing which is a step up on netflix which is usually a season behind

                      EDIT: Mods, not sure if i was allowed to post those due to the nature of what they are, so if they're not allowed just delete them
                      Web Designer / Front End Developer
                      My Portfolio & Website


                      IG: @w_illriderz

                      Comment

                      • F34R
                        sLaughter
                        • May 2009
                        • 12390

                        #12
                        Google Chrome cast/
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                        • kickinindian
                          R3VLimited
                          • Jan 2012
                          • 2327

                          #13
                          Originally posted by ParsedOut
                          It's pretty cool for what it is, but limited to 720p and only certain codecs was a deal breaker for me. I already had a full i3 HTPC built last year, handles everything I've thrown at it without a hick up. Last week I finished up an Ubuntu fileserver/download box (free uncopyrighted content of course) which feeds my Win7 HTPC and my Linux Mint desktop.
                          your disclaimers are great ill admit i borrow stuff all the time :finger:

                          Comment

                          • E30_Pare
                            R3V OG
                            • Oct 2008
                            • 7801

                            #14
                            +1 on google chromecast. Really tho just get yourself a laptop have it hooked up to your tv, get a wireless keyboard/mouse and enjoy your porn in full 1080p.

                            NEW ERA AUTO GLASS - SFV SOCAL - 818 974-3673
                            DREWLIENTE

                            1$ PShops PM me

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                            • Fusion
                              No R3VLimiter
                              • Nov 2009
                              • 3658

                              #15
                              That came to mind too. Get a laptop with a broken LCD on the cheap and an SSD, remove whole LCD.
                              Less power consumption, small, quiet.

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