What are you using for Streaming on TV?

[geoff_hartwell]

Hey Gang,

what are you using for streaming Netflix and such?

i love my iPad and laptop, but if I'm binge watching with the missus I'd like to use the regular TV.

i have friends that use wifi enabled bluray players, xbox or play station. 

What are your experiences?

[Lockbody]

We use either our AppleTV or Playstation PS-4, with the lion's share being the PS-4 since we just went with it for all of our TV viewing. The AppleTV is good if you have other Apple devices like you seem to.

http://www.hamerfanclub.com/forums/topic/76663-anyone-using-playstation-vue/

When we buy a new 4K TV I imagine we'll use the apps in the TV to make use of the 4K content.

[gtone]

X-Box 360 or Blu-Ray player.

[G Man]

X-Box 360 here as well, in fact, that's about the only thing I use the xbox for.

[HSB0531]

I'm using a Roku device.

Cost me $39.95 and no monthly charges.

I like it.

[BubbaVO]

Our TVs stream, Xbox will do it and the wife bought the Apple TV without talking to me.  I would have told her not to. 

Having said that, I like browsing using the Apple TV Remote.  It makes Netflix easier to navigate than the Vizio tv remotes or an Xbox controller.  The downside is that I can't surf Amazon prime on Apple TV.

if I had to do it all again I would  consider the Amazon equivalent. 

[gwayne]

Roku. Can't remember the version. Very happy with it.

 

[DNight]

Roku here as well...

[cynic]

The Roku gui is for streaming what the tivo gui is for cable.  Most tv and tv related components have apps built in but they are quite clunky when compared to Roku.

One downside is my Roku box occasionally causes interference on my OTA antenna.  No idea why, but there are times I can't get a single station, but unplug the Roku and my normal dozen are immediately crystal clear.  I also have a 48" Roku tv that only gets about half the channels as my 60" plasma when connected to the same antenna in the same location.  

[killerteddybear]

Google Chromecast

Costs about 35 bucks.
A (WiFi?) module goes on the back of the TV. You load a bit of software onto your laptop.
Any tab on Chrome can be 'cast' to the TV: YouTube, craigslist, porn, whatever.

I use it to bigscreen stuff from my NetFlix account. So far so good.

My understanding is that you can cast stuff from your smart phone as well, but I haven't tried that yet.

[HAMERMAN]

We have a Sony Blu-Ray player that has Netflix and Amazon Instant Video streaming built in and really like it - when on sale they go for just a touch over $50. Plenty of devices have Netflix built in these days but I think Amazon is still somewhat unusual. We have Netflix and Amazon prime so we wanted both. The nice thing for us is that it keeps the setup simple and reduces the number of remotes. You can also plug in a USB stick.

In the interest of full disclosure I will admit it hasn't been flawless - maybe once every three or four months it seems to get stuck on the opening screen and we have to unplug it and plug it back in. Our cable box seems to need that treatment monthly and I would be surprised if the alternatives do any better in that regard so I still wouldn't hesitate to recommend the Sony.

[prototype-fan]

I use xBox One. It has apps for all of the streaming services (i.e., Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, etc.) and I can stream my cable box through it.

[scottcald]

I'm using AppleTV.   You can save a few bucks by getting the Apple refurbished ones:

http://www.apple.com/shop/browse/home/specialdeals/appletv

Same warranty etc. as new.  If you're already using Apple's ecosystem to watch stuff, you're already there.  

[murkat]

Roku

[atomicwash]

We've been happy with Roku. Don't buy the cheapest unit, the next one up works better.

[The Shark]

Xbox and Roku.  I think we have Hulu too.  My son has HBOGo.  And Netflix.  And...

[Teh]

Apple TV, though the BluRay player has it available as well...

[sixesandsevens]

Roku, chromecast, PS3, and Xbox 360. 

The newer roku units are our favorites.  The chromecast is cool, but it works very differently than a traditional set top box.  The secondary device is required to browse.  The chromecast is just a playback endpoint. 

[kizanski]

Amazon Fire Stick. 

[hanspanzer]

Chromecast or PS3. Prefer Chromecast as it can cast from my Sony Z5 phone but the kids uses PS3. 

[Disturber]

31 minutes ago, hanspanzer said:

Chromecast or PS3.  

Ditto.

[mrjamiam]

Roku 3 or AppleTV.  AppleTV (not the newest one) is mainly because it was the easiest way to throw internet to the TV screen for me.  Mostly the Roku.  It forgets what it's supposed to be doing every few weeks, then I unplug it, count to 10 and plug it back in to reset it.

[unfun75]

Formerly Roku, presently Sony Blu-Ray player. Also, download stuff to USB drive and just plug that sucker into the side of the TV. 

[DaveL]

wifi enabled Samsung blue ray player, not a real expensive one (under $100)...  works well...

[crunchee]

Basic Cable.  My 19-inch LCD TV recently quit on me after 9 years, so I'm back to watching TV on my old picture tube'd Panasonic.  One of the reasons why I kept that TV is because it has both a built-in DVD & VHS tape player. 

I'm a man of modest means...and needs.  The last time I tried to keep up aggressively with cutting-edge 'modern technology', Commodore was still in business making Amigas.    I'm long done with going down that rabbit hole, anymore I just get whatever I can't avoid getting.

[Armitage]

What's a VHS tape player?