Buy Roku

Buy Roku

Why Should You?

 

 

If you are looking to buy a Roku and have been thinking about getting one for a while like I was, let me break down for you exactly how they work, why I got one, where to get one, and why I love it! Let’s start with why I love mine and go from there -

Changes in Television

Television is changing. And fast. More and more “smart TVs” are coming out every day that have the option to watch shows streamed from the internet and more. The problem with these units however, is the fact that you are not able to use these features except on that particular television.

So, if you do not buy a Roku or some other kind of set top box, you are going to have to buy a new TV. With something like the Roku, you do not have to worry about having a new television or keeping your programming when you do purchase a new TV.

Portability

In addition, the Roku is tiny. It is only about 5 inches wide and long and weighs less than half a pound. This means you can easily grab it and take it with you on vacation or even to another room in your home if you want to watch programing on any television. The selection of the different kinds of connection on the back of the unit mean that you can basically hook it up to any TV out there.

Show Selection

There are so many different shows on the Roku, and it is growing every day! I have loved watching it and spending time finding new shows and channels that I can watch. I am a fan of the outdoors, so I have had the chance to find some cool new outdoor shows. I also have found some great news shows that I couldn’t watch before.

On-Demand Show Playback

Now I do not even have to worry about making sure that I recorded something on my DVR. Virtually all of the shows that are played on the Roku are available for you to watch anytime. You just pick the channel and click play! You can watch show live as well if you just cannot wait.

Less Commercials

I cannot say that if you buy a Roku, you will not have any commercials at all! However, there are a whole lot less than on regular television, and if you are not watching live, you can skip right through them. Some channels do not have them at all!

Netflix and Amazon on Demand

There are several other ways to get content besides just the channels on the Roku. You can use Netflix if you have an account or you can buy or rent movies through the Amazon on Demand program, which continues to grow in popularity.

Games

You can even play games if you buy a Roku! This is only true on the newer ones, and you need a specific remote to do it, but the newest models have games such as the ever-popular Angry Birds on there! As I understand it, they plan to add more and more games in the future as well.

HDTV

Almost everything on this device is broadcast in HD. Many channels are now switching over to broadcast in 1080p HD. You do not need to have an HDTV to watch shows, however, as you can switch it over to a non-HD mode.

The Future

It appears that this is way that television is going. I really believe that if you buy a Roku, you are buying into the future of what television will look like, and you will be ahead of the curve. Cable may be a thing of the past in the near future as people move more and more toward these types of devices.

Price

The price is definitely right on these devices, no doubt! You can get the cheapest one for about $69 (when you include shipping) at the time of this writing. And there are no ongoing fees to use the device. Some channels have small monthly fees, but most of the programming is free.

What You Will Need

The only equipment you will need is, of course, a TV, either HDMI or regular AV cables, and an internet connection. You can hook it up wirelessly if you have wireless internet in your home,  or you can plug the internet in directly.

Where To Buy One

One of the fastest ways to buy Roku is through Amazon -

Click here to find out more and read reviews on Amazon

How To Use A Roku

Once you have purchased a Roku, you of course will need to know how to use one! It is so simple to set up, it is crazy.

The first thing you are going to need, if you have the option on your television, is an HDMI cable. Just hook that up to the back of the television and plug it into the back of the Roku. If your Roku is plugged in, it should pop right up on your television, ,as long as you have the tv set to the right input.

If you don’t have an HDMI output on your television, then you can use the usual AV cables as well. These are probably similar to what you may use on your VCR (if you still have one of those haha!). Either way, all you have to do is hook it up to get started.

You will have to let the Roku know exactly what resolution your TV is as well. Check your manual on your set to know exactly what that is.

You also need to get it connected to the internet. There are two ways to do that – you can hook it up via wifi if you have some type of wireless internet in your house, or you could set it up using a regular ethernet cable. Either way works fine. If your wifi is encrypted and requires a password, you can do that as well. The Roku will ask you to pick the right network to connect to, and then you can put your password in, if you have one.

Once you have done that, you will need to connect your Roku to the Roku account you set up. If you have not done that already, head over the Roku site after you get it turned on and set up an account. It will then ask you to put in an access code to connect the account with the device. You also have to connect either a Paypal account or a debit or credit card to the device.

This part worries some people – why should I have to connect an account if I have not bought any channels yet? It is just to give you the option of buying paid channels or content should you decide to do so. Don’t worry, I haven’t found any extra unexpected charges from my Roku. I think it is just one of those things they are using to make it convenient to make a purchase if you decide to get paid content.

Paid Channels on Roku

Speaking of paid channels and content on Roku, there are some things they may be worth purchasing on the internet tv device. Here are a few I like -

Netflix

If you don’t have Netflix already, you should! There is so much content on there, and it can save you a load of money compared to the movie rental store. You can download and watch anything Netflix has in their queue on your Roku. If you have an account already, you just have to link it to the device. Otherwise, you will need to set up a new account.

Amazon On-Demand

Amazon’s instant content is starting to, in my opinion, rival what Netflix has on their platform. You don’t have to pay to get the Amazon On-Demand channel, but you will have to pay for anything you purchase.

GBTV

Lots of folks were sad to see Glenn Beck leave regular television and still want to watch him. Well, now you can get even more of him and his programming on GBTV, his new station. It costs anywhere from I believe about $4.95 to $9.95 per month to get this channel on your Roku, and it certainly beats trying to watch it on your computer.

Free Roku Channels

Yes, you can pay for those channels, but you can also watch the plethora of free channels that are available as well. This includes many of the news stations you are used to watching and some of their programming, the BBC World Service, The Onion, sports networks, and more! the channel guide will help you pick which ones are best for you. They even have a ratings system so you can see which Roku Channels seem to be most popular.

Here are a few I like -

Fox News Online

The Fox News network has six hours of online programming per day that is different than what they have on their cable network. This is all available live and on demand on the Roku.

Roku Newscaster

Speaking of news, the Roku newscaster channel aggregates shows from lots of the major, and some not as major, television networks, and places them in one easy place for you to find.

The Onion

These guys are hilarious with their fake news, and for me it is more fun to watch on tv on the Roku than to try to watch on the computer. A fun channel for sure. Some of the content is not PG, though, so be careful.

Facebook

You can even check and do things on your Facebook page on the Roku! Take a break from TV or studying and see what your friends are up to!

There are hundreds of others as well. Search the channel guide to find more. There are also private channels.

Private Roku Channels

There are a bunch of channels on the Roku, some might even say the best channels, that are private. You can find them on the web, and all you have to do to get them is to get the access code for them then add it to your lineup. This can really add to your Roku experience.

Games on Roku

Roku games have gotten very popular as well, especially with the Roku 2 coming out with a new controller that can help you to control the games. Angry Birds, the hugely popular phone and tablet app, is available as well. I have not tried any games myself, but I know a lot of folks love to do the games, and they could make for some great family time. The second gernation of the device seems to be the best optimized for gaming. It might not replace your Xbox or Playstation, but it could still make it even more fun to have a Roku!

Other Cool Features

Finally, there are a few cool features about the Roku that we may not have discussed. For example, did you know you can actually use your cell phone as the remote? There are several apps that do this for Android phones. I am not sure about iPhones or other device platforms, but I know I use my phone to control my Roku all the time (especially when I lose the remote)!

Also, it acts as a DVR as well. If you are watching a show live on the Roku, you can rewind and then fast forward if necessary. No need for a Tivo if your Roku if your main device for watching television!

All-in-all, this is a spectacular device. I recommend it to anyone who want some kind of internet television device. It might just entirely replace cable one of these days! Make sure you check out our links around the site, and please Like, retweet, or give us a +1 if think our content is worth it and want others to find it!

Now, go out and buy a Roku and get to watching!