BajaNomad - Anyone using a Boxee or a Roku box?

Anyone using a Boxee or a Roku box?

Hook - 11-23-2010 at 03:04 PM

Or, are you using the software version of Boxee?

Any observations you can share? Happy with it technically? Happy with the offerings?

capt. mike - 11-23-2010 at 03:53 PM

hook i am using an insignia DVD blu ray with wifi buit in for netflix streaming movies real time and it works great. also accesses pandora.
i went that route in lieu of a roku outboard box.

wessongroup - 11-23-2010 at 05:32 PM

Sony PS3 offers their cataloge via streaming, along with Netflix... and a few others.. had a really cool thing for a while.. add another OS to the PS3.. they just changed it... so one can not put another OS and then get to another browser which allows full access to go to Hula and many others online streaming via pc services....... but the PS3 is a game station and a DVD/Blue Ray player and with the lastest upgrade if you have the new 3D TV you can get stream 3D Blue Ray... which is pretty cool ... not sure if I will go for this last up grade... not sure I would see and/or hear the difference... :lol:

But the kids when they visit plant themselves down in front of my TV and go to town playing games.. which I was clued in on from my son ... to get for them when they come over...

Have a 5 quart popcorn popper like those at the movies along with the butter and such and a snow cone machine, what the hell, was worth it just to see them ... your kidding your own snowcone machine .. the kids think they have gone to heaven... I just take naps as usual.. and they fight over who's turn its going to be, and then cry when they have to go to bed and leave the PS3 alone for a while.. Joy, the youngest (5), came down at 3:30 am and woke me up... can I play now?.. three girls... oh, my... but, good.. but, good..

niknas - 11-24-2010 at 01:04 PM

Will either work in Mexico?

we noticed that the computer you are using is not located within the 50 United States or District of Columbia. Due to studio licensing reasons, movies are available to watch instantly only on computers in those locations

Nik

Hook - 11-24-2010 at 06:02 PM

They will work with either a proxy server or a VPN. Easily done.

Sidamone - 11-24-2010 at 06:12 PM

Technically, the Roku is largely trouble-free. The occasional blips can be cured with a disconnect/re-connect. These, however, are rarely necessary. MLB.TV subscriptions, however, are another story. Stay away from that and you'll be happy. Netflix just announced an increased emphasis on streaming in its future, with many more offerings. A welcome bit of news to subscribers like myself.

Hook - 11-24-2010 at 06:17 PM

Asking me to stay away from MLB.TV is asking the impossible. Can you be more specific?

Sidamone - 11-24-2010 at 06:21 PM

It's just buggy as hell, many skips, etc. You just end up saying flock it and watch on your computer.

Hook - 11-24-2010 at 08:07 PM

Have you run a speed test on your connection? How fast is your download speed?

capt. mike - 11-25-2010 at 06:46 AM

Netflix just announced an increased emphasis on streaming in its future, with many more offerings. A welcome bit of news to subscribers like myself

yeah but they just announced a rate hike too..... did you get your notice??

Pompano - 11-25-2010 at 06:50 AM

What the hell IS a Boxee or a Roku?

dtbushpilot - 11-25-2010 at 07:21 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Pompano
What the hell IS a Boxee or a Roku?

I wanted to ask the same thing but didn't want anybody to think I was old and out of touch. I figured someone older and more out of touch than me would ask the question sooner or later....thanks pomp :lol:

.....dt

Pompano - 11-25-2010 at 07:35 AM

I was just getting over the extinction of passenger pidgeons....

Hook - 11-25-2010 at 07:47 AM

It's television content delivered via the internet. Much of it, especially from the networks, is not live. In many cases it is only a few hours old. But you can access paid services, as well. Vudu, Hulu, MOG, MLB TV, Pandora (this is going to spawn more questions than answers!). Some might say it IS a Pandora's box of offerings. It's in its infancy, so programming is limited right now but increasing dramatically each month.

If you have the bandwidth from your ISP, you can get full 1080 HD. Both of these boxes have no monthly fee. You buy hardware. The Roku boxes are 60, 80 or 100 bucks, depending on the features. The Boxee is 200 bucks. I believe there are DVR versions of both.

You will need to use some method to mask your IP address to get much of the content IF you are outside the areas where the content is licensed. Hence, the reference to proxies and VPN (virtual private network).

Or some might be content with the content without the mask? :biggrin:

Oh, Brave New World that has such devices in it. Apologies to Huxley, I believe.

Wessongroup, I have avoided game boxes like I would an in-law. I'm afraid I might like it too much. Internet and XM baseball time is already excessive. But thanks for the info.

[Edited on 11-25-2010 by Hook]

Hook - 11-25-2010 at 07:51 AM

The bandwidth needed for full HD is probably somewhere around 3 mg/sec. No one around here is quite sure, due to the pricing structure from Telmex AND due to the actual speed they deliver (less than promised). Telmex has paquetes that deliver 2mgs OR 5 mgs, nothing in between. 2mgs tends to be too slow without significant buffering that causes use of Bufferin.

You old timers do remember Bufferin, dont you?

[Edited on 11-25-2010 by Hook]

wessongroup - 11-25-2010 at 10:56 AM

Hook, know what ya mean... seems to be another world on this gaming thing... something call on line gaming... where people play 24/7 and there are actually deaths from individuals who die, from lack of food and sleep..

Thankfully I really don't have the dexterity to play... I have a hard enough time typing.... but, I do think it is the future... that being internet delivery... of media ... check out what is happening with Blockbusters et al...

Oh, plus I don't really get off on going to the next and the next and the next "level"... not my things..

But, think it's pretty hard to beat the play station for over all bang for the buck... HDMI, optical audio, CD's, DVD, Blue Ray, and it will now "stream 1080" from Netflix... just got the software upgrade about a week ago... as for cost...

I just found a site yesterday where I was able to pick up a new PS3/160 gig.. for $170 dollars... a real steal... they do require a wire transfer, which might be a problem for some.. but it is a super place if your looking for a DVD, CD, BlueRay player, with digital audio .... and with Gaming for those that may show up at the house ... going into shock from not being connect to the gaming internet

Was using it for the entire year we were down in Baja... some time Telnor was just God awful... lowest I measured was 30.1

and yes I paid for the "service!!!" :lol:

Other than that it worked fine... it's better now with their improved selection of programing... and getting better all the time... it is the way of the future for media delivery to the home... only wish I had listen to my son just 5 years ago he begged me to buy their stock... would have seen a 981% increase in the value... of my investment.. he has a better eye for stock than I do.. but, I'm out of the market... and keeping mine in a coffee can in the back yard...

Here is the link to the place for a really good deal on a Sony PS3 160 gig hd.. new with Sony warranty.. ships from TX.. $159.00 USD

http://www.msrcgroup.com/

[Edited on 11-25-2010 by wessongroup]

[Edited on 11-25-2010 by wessongroup]

dtbushpilot - 11-25-2010 at 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Pompano
I was just getting over the extinction of passenger pidgeons....

They're extinct!!? No wonder I haven't gotten any mail the last few years.......

Sidamone - 11-25-2010 at 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by capt. mike
Netflix just announced an increased emphasis on streaming in its future, with many more offerings. A welcome bit of news to subscribers like myself

yeah but they just announced a rate hike too..... did you get your notice??

The extra $4.41? Yes.

Sidamone - 11-25-2010 at 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Hook
Have you run a speed test on your connection? How fast is your download speed?

5 plus mb/sec. Obviously sufficient, if I have no probs watching movies. As I said, the games are viewable without interruption on the computer, ergo., it's the Roku.

mine went up only a buck i have one DVD

capt. mike - 11-25-2010 at 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sidamone

Quote:

The extra $4.41? Yes.

by mail out at a time but unltd streaming which is the hot ticket. i have so many movies in my Queue i'll never get to them all. i think i pay $12 a month now, dropped blockbuster and XM radio.

mrfatboy - 11-29-2010 at 06:56 PM

I've been using Boxee from the beginning on my PC. The new Boxee Box is very buggy at the momemnt. I'm sticking with the PC version for now. If you have any questions, just PM or post here.