Explain to me like I'm five: What is a Roku Box and what does it do?

[Stoney Mason]

A friend asked me today since I'm normally their tech savy connection to the world, what is a roku box and what does it do. I've always been happy with the current streaming opinions on my PC or console or laptop, or tablet so I've never bothered to really learn about Roku boxes.

I know generally speaking its a streaming device but anybody who has one or is knowledgeable care to explain to me exactly what it does, how it functions, and if you enjoy the one you have and how you use it.

Thx in advance.

[Shadow Mod]

Easy enough my mom can use it. You can get Netflix, Amazon Prime, HBO Go and other streaming apps. The more savvy people can also stream from their computer to their tv with it I'm sure. Just hook it up to the TV and it lists a bunch of apps you can utilize.

[TakingBackSunday]

I have a Roku 3 and it's pretty much my main television and entertainment device.  If you've ever played around with an Apple TV, its pretty much that only cheaper and with more options.  You basically download "channels" that are portals into the various services that you use: Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, HBO Go, etc.  These channels are all immediately accessible on launch and load very quickly.  The Netflix experience on Roku was tremendous.

Honestly its pretty much the poster boy of KISS implementation for streaming and entertainment.  The box is tiny as shit, the UI is generic yet easy to use, and the actual OS is speedy.  I've gotten great quality streams from it as well.  Honestly, outside of a blu-ray player and any game console you have, this is the only other thing you need (or any of the competing boxes like an Apple TV or Amazon Fire TV).  And really, my blu-ray player might just get the axe soon.

[Stoney Mason]

What if you have media on a computer. Can you use the roku box to stream that media to your tv? If so does it need to be in a certain format?

edit: Just noticed Cowbell addressed this aspect. Does anybody do the streaming from a computer and how well does it work for those uses?

[Phoenix Dark]

What if you have media on a computer. Can you use the roku box to stream that media to your tv? If so does it need to be in a certain format?

You can, you just need to download the Plex app. It'll allow you to access your video files from your computer wirelessly. For instance when I download something onto my computer I'll go to the Plex homepage site, click the refresh button, and it'll scan my computer looking for any video; it'll see the new video and upload it onto Plex. Then I open up the Plex app on my Roku and there it is.

[Beezy]

Didn't know about Plex. Looks like it'll work with my cheapo Chromecast too. Thanks PD.

[Phoenix Dark]

now we just need Great Rumbler to share his library with us.

[Great Rumbler]

It's a magic box that delivers movies to your television.

[Great Rumbler]

now we just need Great Rumbler to share his library with us.

Nah, I don't actually have that much new stuff actually. It's mostly just older shows and the random recent show that isn't on CR or Funimation. Joe's the one with the stash.

[Stoney Mason]

Just out of curiosity beezy how does chromecast work?

[Beezy]

Just out of curiosity beezy how does chromecast work?

-It plugs into an hdmi port on the back of your tv and is powered over USB or through an outlet.

-Connect it to your wifi.

-Start up a vid on youtube, netflix, HBO GO, etc. on a device (smartphone, tablet, PC) connected to your wifi.

-There will be an icon for Chromecast in the UI. Click that and the vid will play on your TV instead.

-Your device (smartphone, tablet, PC) basically just acts as a remote during playback.

Not as simple as the roku, but it's cheap as hell and still simple enough imo. Got mine for $35 which included 3 months of netflix.

[Stoney Mason]

Thx for the info beezy.

You said you play it on the original device and then it directs to the TV.

Is there chromecast software on the PC that is handling the playback? How do you tell it what content to push to the TV?

[Beezy]

Thx for the info beezy.

You said you play it on the original device and then it directs to the TV.

Is there chromecast software on the PC that is handling the playback? How do you tell it what content to push to the TV?

Oh yeah I forgot. You have to download the Chromecast web app for the Chrome browser first (Chromecast app if you're using a smartphone or tablet). Then you just visit youtube or netflix like you normally would. Hit the Chromecast button on the site's/app's video player UI and that's it.

[Yeti]

For streaming video files from your computer to your TV, are there benefits Chromecast/Roku have over just doing it with a PS3 or Xbox 360?

[Joe Molotov]

now we just need Great Rumbler to share his library with us.

Nah, I don't actually have that much new stuff actually. It's mostly just older shows and the random recent show that isn't on CR or Funimation. Joe's the one with the stash.

I have 3TB of animu on my Plex. 

[Phoenix Dark]

now we just need Great Rumbler to share his library with us.

Nah, I don't actually have that much new stuff actually. It's mostly just older shows and the random recent show that isn't on CR or Funimation. Joe's the one with the stash.

I have 3TB of animu on my Plex. 

spoiler (click to show/hide)

(not the anime, the other stuff breh)

[close]

[Joe Molotov]

now we just need Great Rumbler to share his library with us.

Nah, I don't actually have that much new stuff actually. It's mostly just older shows and the random recent show that isn't on CR or Funimation. Joe's the one with the stash.

I have 3TB of animu on my Plex. 

(Image removed from quote.)

spoiler (click to show/hide)

(not the anime, the other stuff breh)

[close]

There is no other stuff. 3D is pig disgusting.

[Beezy]

Wait, so you can share your Plex library?