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-   -   Video: Streaming hardware & services...anybody use this stuff? (http://www.allofftopic.com/showthread.php?t=1154)

theholycow 05-01-2013 08:26 PM

Streaming hardware & services...anybody use this stuff?
 
I'm beginning to wonder if I ought to join the rest of everybody in this millennium and use my TV with le internet. I have basic 27" CRTs so nothing fancy, no HDMI or anything like that, just chillin' with standard definition...and tired of watching the same shit every day, full of commercials, censored, on the schedule dictated by the network/cable channels.

It's a huge market full of all kinds of shit I'll have to read up on, but what are you guys doing?

Chevrolet Fanatic 05-01-2013 08:45 PM

I have a Roku 3 hooked up to my HDTV in my room, besides the PS3. Have Netflix, Amazon Prime Instant Video, Funimation, Crackle, Manga TV, Rev 3, Giant Bomb, IGN, and Machinima on it. There are a ton of channels on it besides those, quite a few free ones too. Crackle, Popcorn Flix, and OVguide all have free movies/shows on them...and those are only the more popular free ones I know about.

---------- Post added at 03:44 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:43 PM ----------

Only thing is the Roku 3 is HDMI only, so if you don't wanna go that route and upgrade your TV I would just get one of the Roku 2 models.

Here is a good rundown of all the models/channels on wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roku

---------- Post added at 03:45 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:44 PM ----------

I have Dish HD and hardly ever watch it...usually watch shit on my Roku now...use to on the PS3 before I got this.

Cez★ 05-01-2013 08:59 PM

netflix cao imo

theholycow 05-01-2013 09:29 PM

:hmm: Roku does look pretty cool, and the basic units (LT and HD) are more affordable than I expected.

Cez, I think Netflix is what got me thinking about this. Was at a buddy's place and he was playing episodes of TV shows I liked, pretty sure he was using Netflix. I gotta say I was impressed. I think he was using a game console.

stonehenge 05-01-2013 09:35 PM

We don't have cable TV at all. Just Netflix. On the TV we use a PlayStation 3 even though we never play games on it. You can get one used for $150ish and you get:

- a bluray/DVD/CD player
- can stream video/audio/image/pr0n files from your computer via network or from a flash drive
- can download movies/shows from PlayStation Store if you want
- can watch Netflix, Crackle, Amazon, Hulu, etc
- has an internet browser
- Controllers are Bluetooth and rechargeable so no batteries ever
- comes with red/yellow/white RCAs and has an HDMI port if you ever get an HDTV.
- you can play games on it if you/wifey/kittahs (not wein0r) ever feel like it

A Roku should work too but I love my ps3, bought the second one used just for streaming stuff.

Chevrolet Fanatic 05-01-2013 11:23 PM

The only thing better about the Roku's are the price and it has a a whole lot more free content. Although you miss the DVD/Blu-Ray player.

stonehenge 05-01-2013 11:32 PM

and you have to use bloated Plex to stream stuff to it :/

Chevrolet Fanatic 05-01-2013 11:37 PM

You can use PlayOn too, but FTS, I don't want either.

stonehenge 05-02-2013 12:01 AM

GheyOn?

Chevrolet Fanatic 05-07-2013 11:54 PM

$10 off this week on the Roku 2 XD on their website.

http://www.roku.com/roku-products

theholycow 05-08-2013 12:28 AM

I think I'm gonna pull the trigger on this and just grab a Roku LT. It's cheap enough to take the risk that it won't work out well. It's a birthday gift for my wife, and she loves purple so that will endear her to it. If she likes it but we need more features we can upgrade later. If they offered the HD or 2 LT in purple I'd consider them but I think she'll be more happy with purple than with technical features and therefore more likely to use it. Optimal end game would be we cancel Cox cable TV service, but until HBO sells standalone HBO Go subscriptions I may not be able to sell that; she can't live without seeing True Blood the day it comes out.

When I posted this thread I assumed these gizmos are priced in the hundreds of dollars.

stonehenge 05-08-2013 12:37 AM

Plus with Netflix you can watch pasture documentaries on the computer/iPad while she watches lady stuffs on the Roku

Chevrolet Fanatic 05-08-2013 02:28 AM

lol, pasture documentaries.

Yeah the LT is still good, it even plays in 720p HD if you ever upgrade your television or anything.

theholycow 05-08-2013 02:44 AM

:fiwdil:

Order placed. Purple thang coming in le mail. Wife's birthday substantially figured out.

stonehenge 05-08-2013 06:46 AM

First month of Netflix should be free, then only $8-9 after that depending on taxes and shit

MikeH 05-08-2013 07:03 AM

I don't watch Netflix all that much anymore, but there are quite a few good shows on there. Not the greatest movie selection though. I only have it still because my brother watches it all the time.

stonehenge 05-08-2013 07:17 AM

me and wifey watch it all the time since no cable :jester: there are a handful of shows i download because we watch them as they air

TV shows are definitely the best part of Netflix. There are decent movies too but they are mixed in with plenty of meh movies.

The documentaries and other informative shows can be pretty cool too.

Oh and the Netflix exclusives are fairly well made and they put the whole season on at once so you can watch them at your own pace. House of Cards was good, watched it all. Watched a few eps of Lilyhammer... a little weird but made well. Hemlock Grove just dropped and it is a warewolf show, it actually looks pretty gruesome lol. New Arrested Development later this month, Orange Is The New Black in July, and probably more after that.

Cao will like that all 9 seasons of Futurama, 9 seasons of Family Guy, 7 seasons of American Dad, 3 seasons of The Cleveland Show, 13 seasons of King of the Hill, and "Volume 1" of Beavis & Butthead, are all available to stream.

Chevrolet Fanatic 05-08-2013 10:15 AM

I honestly like a lot of the indie and B movies on Netflix...they have their fare share of big time blockbusters too though.

I usually have about 100 things in my instant queue all the time...and I usually watch Netflix rather than TV, if that gives an idea of how much content they have.

BTW, you foos need to watch Justice League/Justice League Unlimited and Avengers Earths Mightiest Heroes on there...BAMF.

---------- Post added at 05:14 AM ---------- Previous post was at 05:13 AM ----------

If you use this website it can help you find movies/shows a lot easier and keep up on new releases.

http://instantwatcher.com/

---------- Post added at 05:15 AM ---------- Previous post was at 05:14 AM ----------

I swear I honestly don't know how I lived before I got DSL.

theholycow 05-08-2013 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Juan! (Post 485095)
Cao will like that all 9 seasons of Futurama, 9 seasons of Family Guy, 7 seasons of American Dad, 3 seasons of The Cleveland Show, 13 seasons of King of the Hill, and "Volume 1" of Beavis & Butthead, are all available to stream.

:read:

I'm worried that I'm too late to the party though:
http://dottech.org/107610/netflix-ha...and-universal/
Netflix has lost 1,794 movies and TV shows thanks to expiring contracts with Warner Bros, MGM, and Universal

Did Netflix lose all content from those studios, or just some?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chevrolet Fanatic (Post 485101)
I honestly like a lot of the indie and B movies on Netflix...they have their fare share of big time blockbusters too though.

When Netflix first came out, before streaming was anything more than a pipe dream and they mailed DVDs 3 at a time for $15/mo, I had it and B movie jest was mainly what I used it for.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0265587/
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092610/
http://www.amazon.com/Bucket-Blood-G.../dp/B00005A07K

stonehenge 05-08-2013 01:13 PM

Not sure about the contracts but I didn't notice any drop in content. Plus they are always signing different contracts, they recently got Disney and Cartoon Network.

---------- Post added at 05:13 AM ---------- Previous post was at 05:12 AM ----------

Also, you can still get physical discs mailed to you. I think its $8 for one at a time. Idk don't use it.

Chevrolet Fanatic 05-08-2013 07:41 PM

I get 2 disks at a time and streaming, think mine is around $23 a month.

---------- Post added at 02:41 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:41 PM ----------

I think it is $8 for one at a time, but you get the best value with the 2 or 3 at a time if you send them back asap.

theholycow 05-08-2013 07:54 PM

That's why it never worked for me...I'd get 3 discs, procrastinate, and next thing you know it's months later and I could have bought them twice over for the monthly fees I've spent to sit on them.

Chevrolet Fanatic 05-08-2013 08:04 PM

Yeah, that is the main thing I try to do so I can get my moneys worth and more. I always watch them as soon as they come and then send them back the next day if possible.

stonehenge 05-08-2013 08:30 PM

nailz hoars it up

Chevrolet Fanatic 05-08-2013 08:35 PM

Stick em in, go hard, then pull out...and send them away.


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