I
have been a long time Netflix user, and love the
fact that I can rent movies through the mail and return them on my own
schedule. Netflix now allows you to stream a number of movies to your
desktop, though the streaming service requires that you are able to run
Microsoft silverlight. This is pretty awesome, though I wanted a way to
be able to watch movies on my high definition tv without having to
involve a PC. After a bit of searching, I came across the Roku digital
video
player.
These nifty little devices provide native integration with Netflix, and
provide a remote control that allows you to find movies, start movies
and pause movies all from the comfort of your favorite chair.
Now, I was extremely skeptical about these devices at first, but the glowing reviews on Amazon set me at ease and I decided to pick on up Here are the other reasons I purchased mine:
- Each Roku comes with an HDMI port that can be hooked up to your receiver or digital tv
- Roku devices support wireless (802.11G) as well as wired Ethernet connectivity
- The Roku remote allows you to browse, start and pause movies from a distance
- All of the available Netflix streaming movies are one click away (you have to pay for Netflix though)
- The Roku is CRAZY easy to get up an operational
This review wouldn’t be complete without listing the downsides, which I have only found one. I have spent WAY TOO MANY HOURS watching documentaries and educational videos, which have precluded me from blogging about technology. The break has actually been kinda nice, and has allowed me learn about all kinds of stuff (history of American presidents, Rome, The Dark ages, various painters, finance related topics, etc.). If you don’t already have a device with native Netflix integration, then the Roku may be for you!