Roku uses?

[Pghpooh]

HI
Thinking about getting a Roku unit.
I am still in the "Dark Ages" with a standard definition tv. It's a 14 year old Sony 32 inch studio monitor with composite and svhs inputs.
I am thinking of buying a Roku 2.
My question is,,,,,

When using the roku, can I use it to access the files on my computer?

I have a desktop and laptop on a small network.
My wifi is wireless N band and internet downloads of 25 meg.
I'll probably use it more to access files, pictures, music, on my home network.
Thanks

 

[LoveMachine]

Roku has a channel (downloadable app) for Plex ( www.plexapp.com ). Plex server gets installed on your computer, and the Roku can stream movies, music, and photos to your TV from the computer, and even control it all through a smart phone. Being SD, though, I'm not sure how it would look.

 

[gus6464]

Does Roku come with anything but HDMI nowadays?

 

[Pghpooh]

Does Roku come with anything but HDMI nowadays?

From the Roku site for the Roku 2

Analog stereo (left/right/composite video RCA).

 

[LoveMachine]

Does Roku come with anything but HDMI nowadays?

Roku 3, and you are correct. But the 2's days are numbered.

 

[Raincity]

You could get by with the Roku 1 also. It has composite video out. You can use the Roku media player to access files on your pc if you enable DNLA.

 

[gus6464]

OP I wouldn't bother with the Roku 2. It's pretty old and slow and doesn't support near as much file formats as the Roku 3 with mkv being a biggie. Maybe put that money towards a new TV first? 32in LCDs are dirt cheap nowadays.

 

[Pghpooh]

OP I wouldn't bother with the Roku 2. It's pretty old and slow and doesn't support near as much file formats as the Roku 3 with mkv being a biggie. Maybe put that money towards a new TV first? 32in LCDs are dirt cheap nowadays.

I'd love to get a new 50 inch high def. BUT,,, we are taking the grandkids to Disney World and that kinda blows the yearly budget for this year and next and the year after! LOL

What about other streaming units from WD and others???

 

[boomhower]

For the money the Roku is your vest bet using Plex to access your media files. The WD units are much better at direct network playback but fall short in about everything else.

 

[Kaido]

OP I wouldn't bother with the Roku 2. It's pretty old and slow and doesn't support near as much file formats as the Roku 3 with mkv being a biggie. Maybe put that money towards a new TV first? 32in LCDs are dirt cheap nowadays.

Actually, they just redesigned the Roku 2 - but strangely, they kept the name "Roku 2", so it's kind of confusing. It's a modern unit, but you have AV outputs instead of just HDMI. OP, here is a comparison link:

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

 

[Kaido]

When using the roku, can I use it to access the files on my computer?

I have a desktop and laptop on a small network.
My wifi is wireless N band and internet downloads of 25 meg.
I'll probably use it more to access files, pictures, music, on my home network.
Thanks

So basically, Plex is the spiritual successor to XBMC. It has 2 components:

1. Server
2. Player

You install the server part on the computers & point it to the folders with your media files. Then the clients pick them up. It's pretty simple. On the Roku, you just install the Plex channel. So all of the stuff on your computers magically shows up on your Roku when you're in the Plex channel. Easy peasy.

I believe the Roku direct-streams MKV & MP4 files, then transcodes the rest. Surprisingly, the transcoding quality is pretty dang good. I had a WDTV Live Streaming for a looooong time, which played a lot more formats directly, but lacked a few things (easy, zippy GUI & a few online apps that I wanted). The Roku has Youtube, Netflix, Redbox, etc. as well as Plex, so it pretty much covers the whole gamut of online + local stuff.

Plus the remote is RF, so you don't even have to aim it, and the Roku 2 & 3 have remotes that have headphones jacks, so you can turn any earbuds or headphones into wireless ones simply by plugging them in, which is pretty cool. I have a Roku in front of my elliptical machine & it makes working out 110% more fun.

 

[sdifox]

upgrade tv first

 

[mvbighead]

upgrade tv first

Absolutely this. Honestly, it should not be that hard to replace as you might find people unloading 32" lcds for a couple hundred.

Walmart often has some brands that fit that price point.

And newegg has a cheap option that seems to be scoring fairly good reviews for a larger model:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16889624002

You really should be able to keep an eye out for a month or so and find a deal at your local retailer that won't break the bank, and it'll hardly eat into vacation budget.

 

[Binky]

Media Browser also has a Roku channel. It opens up a lot of possibilities.

 

[Childs]

You can get a refurbished Roku 2 XS, which comes with composite and RCA cables, as well as a HDMI cable.