looking for advice: shopping a streaming/casting device

[jboydgolfer]

Hello,

I have been looking into devices for streaming netflix to my Dumb TV. My Wife would like to be able to watch Netflix, and thats pretty much it as of now. I understand other devices can be used to this end, but all the other devices like Xbox/PS4 we have, are being used by the Children in my home. So im looking for something that fits the following requisites.

Smallish
Cheap
No Bloatware/Crap pre-installed (if possible)
preferably no accounts needed (other than the obvious Netflix one)
HDMI & USB ports are available on my Dumb TV, I also have component.
under $60usd
MY TV is the ELEFT406 "Elements Ghetto Target TV

If you have any advice in this area ("[insert device name] works well, and setup/accounts & bloat were minimal, i recommend it" ) are welcome. Im totally ignorant on this matter. I watched a couple Roku/FireTV setup, info video's, and i noticed what COULD be bloatware, and content im not interested in, but i am not certain of that.....i just like to get what i want, and as close to that as possible without needing yet Another account, and another whatever else.

thanks in advance.


Edit

I noticed amazon fireTV+echo are on $ale now, and if anyone knows if that would work with my TV please let me know( if it is of any consequence, my TV says its "Roku Ready").i know she would love the ease of that....its like the clapper for a tv

 

[Kursah]

I love my Roku 2, and I'm sure the new Roku Streaming Stick will work great. I only use WiFi on the 2, not the Ethernet connection, and never had an issue.

We constantly stream (daily) Netflix and Plex to my Samsung "dumb TV", and it has been great.

I considered FireTV, but the Roku won me over. That was a year or two ago now, and I'm sure some things may have changed. The nice thing about the Roku is overall, you can prioritize what "channels" or "apps" you want to have, uninstall ones you don't. It does have some shortcut buttons for apps you may never use and you cannot change their assignment as-far-as I'm aware. On my 2, I forget the services but two of them on the buttons on my remote no longer exist. So it is kind of a bummer...but really not a big deal for a device that works so damn well for what we use it for.

The true test is that my wife loves the Roku device, and it is easy and reliable enough to get her access to our Netflix, Amazon Prime and Plex streaming services, we finally retired the PS3 (consumes around 90+ Watts streaming). The Roku2 consumes 7 watts and had better streaming performance.

We were so impressed with how the Roku 2 performed that last year we bought a TCL Roku TV for the living room for the family to use and it has really been a badass TV. Has a Roku 2/3 built-in, has been an overall great experience. The TCL screen isn't as-good-as Samsung, but TCL makes screens for other brands. For the streaming performance, ease of use, and stability of the device versus other Smart TV's options (at the time), I couldn't be happier. Plus the price was pretty good. Now the 10" larger 4K version is pretty affordable too...if I had some more cash.

It is nice having a Roku remote that controls the TV too, and replacement remotes are super cheap (around $15 iirc).

My Samsung TV didn't say it was Roku ready. But I plugged it into an HDMI port, gave it power and off we went and have been good ever since.

 

[flmatter]

For your price point you can not go wrong with the Roku. Check local craiglist ads, you may get into a Roku4 or Roku Black cheap. It is just a great little box. I had one of the first versions and it worked out great. I have since upraded to a Nvidia Shield TV and I am looking to buy a second unit. It is such a beast for what you are getting. But then again the price point is out of your $60 range. It is on sale now for $150 and normally runs about $200. But it comes ready to run out of the box with Plex, youtube, google and Netfix on it. It is essentially an Android for your TV powered by Nvidia. So you can stream from your computer if you have GeForce experience installed and a NVidia card. I am very happy with the ShieldTV. But for your price the Roku is the way to go.

 

[jboydgolfer]

I love my Roku 2, and I'm sure the new Roku Streaming Stick will work great. I only use WiFi on the 2, not the Ethernet connection, and never had an issue.

We constantly stream (daily) Netflix and Plex to my Samsung "dumb TV", and it has been great.

I considered FireTV, but the Roku won me over. That was a year or two ago now, and I'm sure some things may have changed. The nice thing about the Roku is overall, you can prioritize what "channels" or "apps" you want to have, uninstall ones you don't. It does have some shortcut buttons for apps you may never use and you cannot change their assignment as-far-as I'm aware. On my 2, I forget the services but two of them on the buttons on my remote no longer exist. So it is kind of a bummer...but really not a big deal for a device that works so damn well for what we use it for.

The true test is that my wife loves the Roku device, and it is easy and reliable enough to get her access to our Netflix, Amazon Prime and Plex streaming services, we finally retired the PS3 (consumes around 90+ Watts streaming). The Roku2 consumes 7 watts and had better streaming performance.

We were so impressed with how the Roku 2 performed that last year we bought a TCL Roku TV for the living room for the family to use and it has really been a badass TV. Has a Roku 2/3 built-in, has been an overall great experience. The TCL screen isn't as-good-as Samsung, but TCL makes screens for other brands. For the streaming performance, ease of use, and stability of the device versus other Smart TV's options (at the time), I couldn't be happier. Plus the price was pretty good. Now the 10" larger 4K version is pretty affordable too...if I had some more cash.

It is nice having a Roku remote that controls the TV too, and replacement remotes are super cheap (around $15 iirc).

My Samsung TV didn't say it was Roku ready. But I plugged it into an HDMI port, gave it power and off we went and have been good ever since.

For your price point you can not go wrong with the Roku. Check local craiglist ads, you may get into a Roku4 or Roku Black cheap. It is just a great little box. I had one of the first versions and it worked out great. I have since upraded to a Nvidia Shield TV and I am looking to buy a second unit. It is such a beast for what you are getting. But then again the price point is out of your $60 range. It is on sale now for $150 and normally runs about $200. But it comes ready to run out of the box with Plex, youtube, google and Netfix on it. It is essentially an Android for your TV powered by Nvidia. So you can stream from your computer if you have GeForce experience installed and a NVidia card. I am very happy with the ShieldTV. But for your price the Roku is the way to go.

Cool I appreciate the feedback. 2 out of 2 for Rokuuuuu

 

[newtekie1]

I watched a couple Roku/FireTV setup, info video's, and i noticed what COULD be bloatware, and content im not interested in, but i am not certain of that.....i just like to get what i want, and as close to that as possible without needing yet Another account, and another whatever else.

No matter what you buy, they are going to be loaded with tons of extra apps for as many possible streaming platforms as they can. That is really the only Bloatware you'll find on them, but if you don't want to use the other streaming services, you don't have to.

I'm pretty sure Amazon Fire devices require an Amazon account, but I could be wrong. The Roku devices are good.

You can get a refurbished Roku Premiere today on Newegg for $54: https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815328023

Or the Roku Express for $25 if you aren't worried about 4k: https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815328022

 

[jboydgolfer]

Or the Roku Stick for $37 if you aren't worried about 4k:

yea its just a POS 1080 Tv....like a MagnetboX , or a SoЯny,no 4K in my future. but i think the Stick is the way to go for My/her needs.

the only reason i mentioned that Amazon one is it apparently has some type of "voice control" function....it uses the "echo", or "dot" like that Amazon Robowoman device that sits on your counter and tells You what the weather is going to be like (its selling for $59 on sale for FireTV + remote+voice lady)...it just sounded kind of cool, but after reading the reviews on amazon, it seems buyers with my same Crappy TV have reported compatibility issues, So the Roku seems to be the way to go, plus ive gotten good feedback regarding them from others like you guys, and family.


i dont know why, but you were set to ignore in my settings,,,,, after resolving it, i found a bunch of members set to ignore in my settings...WTF?

 

[newtekie1]

yea its just a POS 1080 Tv....like a MagnetboX , or a SoЯny,no 4K in my future. but i think the Stick is the way to go for My/her needs.

I did a quick edit, I think the Express is the better option than the stick and it is cheaper too!

 

[flmatter]

I am pretty sure the roku, fire stick and shield tv all support voice commands. I am positive the shield has it because I use it. But I believe the roku 3 and 4 support it as well.

 

[jboydgolfer]

I do have Amazon prime but I'm thinking of ending it because I generally just get it for the holidays to save on shipping, and I really haven't seen any videos or movies that I care too much for in their prime collections.... so I don't know. it's between the fire and the Roku and I'm leaning towards the Roku because the popular opinion seems to be leaning towards it, and I trust the tpu community.

 

[WhiteNoise]

I have 3 fire sticks and one fire box. LOVE them. Cheap and work perfectly.