Blu-ray Disc Player

• Ultra-fast 0.5 second startup


• VieraCast enabled including Amazon Video on Demand and Netflix streaming movies


• Wireless ready


• More compact Design


• More efficient energy consumption

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Roku is a little box that allows you to instantly stream tons of entertainment on your TV. Watch over 100000 movies and TV shows from Netflix Amazon Video On Demand and more. Listen to music on Pandora or listen to your own iTunes playlists. Even watch major sports news or original Internet programming. It's all available whenever you want it. The all-new top-of-the-line Roku XDS sets a new standard with 1080p streaming video the latest wireless technology and Instant Replay. All for under $100. No wonder Roku is the best selling streaming player ever.

• Start watching movies on your TV in seconds using your high-speed Internet connection


• Featuring the largest collection of instant streaming movies and TV shows from Netflix Amazon VOD and more


• Built-in wireless (dual-band Wireless-N) and wired Internet connectivity.


• Plays up to 1080p High Definition video. Works with any TV.


• Sets up in 5 minutes. Simply connect to your TV and to your high-speed Internet service. Does not require PC for streaming.

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Roku is a little box that allows you to instantly stream tons of entertainment on your TV. Watch over 100000 movies and TV shows from Netflix Amazon Video On Demand and more. Listen to music on Pandora or listen to your own iTunes playlists. Even watch major sports news or original Internet programming. It's all available whenever you want it. The all-new Roku XD delivers the highest quality HD video in the smallest box at the lowest price. No wonder Roku is the best selling streaming player ever.

• Start watching movies on your TV in seconds using your high-speed Internet connection


• Featuring the largest collection of instant streaming movies and TV shows from Netflix Amazon VOD and more


• Built-in wireless (extended-range Wireless-N) and wired Internet connectivity.


• Plays up to 1080p High Definition video. Works with any TV.


• Sets up in 5 minutes. Simply connect to your TV and to your high-speed Internet service. Does not require PC for streaming.

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Great Picture and Sound but Ergonomically Challenged

There is a lot to like about Panasonic's latest high-end Blu-ray player the DMP-BD85: excellent video and audio performance a rich assortment of streaming media options (Netflix Amazon VOD YouTube and Pandora Internet Radio) and a highly customizable assortment of tweakable parameters for audio and video hobbyists. Also with built in Wi-Fi via the included USB adapter it's easier than it used to be to reap the benefits of an internet-enabled player. However the bland text-based menus and operational idiosyncrasies of the player make it feel a little bit behind the times.



DVD upconversion is very good to excellent with some enhancements to Panasonic's Uniphier video processor that are only available in the BD85 and in the new Blu-ray 3D players the DMP-BDT300 and DMP-BDT350. The entry-level BD45 and BD65 players include a slightly lesser quality version of the Uniphier processor equivalent to Panasonic's 2009 players. Diagonal lines are clean and free from jaggies 2:3 film cadence is easily detected by the player preventing the tell-tale moire distortion that can occur on lesser players and edge detail is smooth and fairly free of aliasing and any combing or tearing artifacts.



Turning to high def Blu-ray Disc playback advances to the player's chroma (color) upconversion processor enable outstanding color reproduction and color detail from 1080p Blu-ray Disc superior to Blu-ray playback on some other more expensive players. To be honest these improvements are only really visible on larger screen sizes (e.g. large screen projection systems) but home theater hobbyists and videophiles will appreciate the exceptional Blu-ray playback quality of the BD85.



Audio quality is also excellent with some innovative enhancements to the way digital audio is handled that can improve the sound quality even over HDMI PCM and bitstream connections (specifically the "Jitter Purifier" and "High Clarity Audio" features). By providing more accurate data for the audio clock the BD85 minimizes jitter that can detract from the sound quality even when your receiver or preamp does the audio decoding. For those who have older non-HDMI receivers the BD85's multi-channel analog outputs and on-board decoding for DTS-HD and Dolby TrueHD can provide outstanding lossless audio from Blu-ray Disc (just be prepared to spend some time tweaking the player's speaker settings and your receiver to get the sound dialed in just right).



In our testing the included 802.11a/b/g/n WiFi adapter worked well. Also with the WiFi adapter is a 3-foot USB extension cable which allows you to place the wireless antenna module outside the audio cabinet where it can get better WiFi reception. We were easily able to stream Netflix in HD using the WiFi adapter one floor away from our 802.11g Linksys wireless router. Access to Netflix Amazon and YouTube was pretty reliable (though we tested YouTube and Netflix much more heavily than Amazon VOD) and BD-Live features worked well on the player (as long as you give it a couple of minutes to fully connect to the network). Also for those with the firmware 1.23 applied as of June 7th Pandora is now available in the VIERA Cast screen on this player.



But Panasonic made some ergonomic choices here that are a bit questionable. They shortened the remote vs. last year's models by about an inch. And while this does make the basic functions like transport and menu navigation a little easier to operate (at least to my thumbs) the smaller size meant removing the "Set-up" button entirely and making the frequently used "Display" button much smaller and easy to miss. And although there is a VIERA Cast button the remote which allows access to all the IPTV streaming goodies the player lacks an integrated splash screen (as seen on recent LG and Samsung players) which would give you the option to select between disc-based USB-based on web-based content in an integrated and logical way.



Also within the "Functions" menu there is an option called "Network" which actually launches the VIERA Cast screen (why not call it "VIERA Cast" to be consistent?). Perhaps most frustrating to those who watch a lot of foreign films (or non-native English speakers) there is no subtitle button on the remote. Instead subtitle controls are buried deep within the "Display" menu where you'll also find the nifty 24p mode switch for DVD playback. This is nothing new in the BD85 but it is a questionable choice for a fairly commonly used function.



In the area of loading speed the BD85 carries on the tradition of earlier Panasonic players being a fairly sluggish disc loader. Sure there is a "fast boot" option (Quick Start) which can take you from powered off to the basic splash screen and "no disc" message in under 2 seconds. But after that initial boot you'll still be waiting a while to view your discs - we clocked the disc loading times at about 20 seconds to load a standard DVD 36 seconds to load a Blu-ray and 39 seconds to load a BD-Java Blu-ray (the first "Pirates of the Caribbean" movie). A BD-Live heavy title ("Inglourious Basterds") can take over two minutes to get to a visible screen though we did find that using an SDHC card instead of a standard SD card did speed up this load time significantly exposing more of the BD-Live content that we did not see when we used the standard 1GB SD card. And that's one more knock - why does Panasonic still require customers to buy and insert an SD card in order to use BD-Live? Why not load the unit with at least 1 GB of on-board memory so that customers are not disappointed to find they need an additional purchase just to use BD-Live?



In terms of disc compatibility and reliable operations we were only able to find a single disc that was problematic on the player - the first disc in the "Alien Quadrilogy" boxed DVD set. The default Dolby Digital track plays fine but the DTS track on the extended cut of the film emits nothing but silence. Apparently this is an improvement over earlier Panasonic players some of which were not able to play this disc at all. We also saw the machine shut itself down a couple of times when playing Xvid-encoded AVI files from a connected USB drive. But thanks to some follow-up testing from Panasonic confirmed by us this turned out to be media-specific: in other words if you use a decent quality name brand USB flash drive (instead of the cheap promo USB drive we initially used) the player plays these AVI files fine.



All told the operational idiosyncrasies of the player are easy enough to get used to and will be more annoying to hobbyists who like to get into the set-up menus to test various options and settings and perhaps less annoying to the average consumer. It's the performance that matters and at the moment this is one of the top performers available for under $300. So if you don't mind a few less-than-sexy menus and operational quirks then the BD85 will make an excellent choice for a high performance affordable Blu-ray Disc player.



Our detailed review is available on Big Picture Big Sound (dot com).More detail ...

It Also Plays Blu-ray Discs

Having reviewed previous LG Blu-ray players including the vaunted BD390 our expectations for the BD570 were pretty high and happily LG does not disappoint. While some of LG's competitors (notably Pioneer and Sharp) think audio/video performance is the only thing that matters LG embraces the idea that convenience and choice of media and distribution format are also important to many consumers. So the BD570 includes one of the richest media playback offerings of any Blu-ray player including internet streaming from Netflix CinemaNow VUDU and Pandora. The player also supports DLNA networking so it can access audio and video files on a home network as well. For those who have a library of videos on their computers the BD570 supports Divx Xvid and MKV files as well as a number of other formats and codecs.



As far as load times are concerned the BD570's are decent but not winning any speed records. It offers a 17 second overall bootup time (while it loads all of the aforementioned content options in the menu) - this makes it 3 seconds faster than the Pioneer BDP-320 which offers no multimedia options. Standard DVDs load in about 12 seconds Blu-rays in 23 seconds and BD-JAVA-heavy Blu-ray Discs like "Pirates of the Caribbean" in 32 seconds. This is pretty close to parity with the fastest models of 2009 (including OPPO's BDP-83) but it seems like they could have improved things a bit with this whole new generation of players.



In terms of performance the BD570 delivers Blu-ray Discs in excellent audio and video clarity (as it should) and performs most of the difficult tasks of DVD upconversion right as well - excellent diagonal filtering and 3:2 cadence detection for example. But it does not handle noisy source material very well (its noise reduction processing could use some work). Overall as a DVD upconverter it's very good but not outstanding.



What is outstanding is the built-in 802.11b/g/n WiFi wireless networking. For us this worked right our of the box connecting to our wireless router and streaming VUDU's 1080p HDX movies like nobody's business. And although the remote looks almost upside down compared to many other BD player remotes the button layout is actually quite comfortable with the most popular buttons in easy reach of your thumb and transport buttons (play/pause/FF/REW) raised and angled for improved ergonomics.



Overall with its built-in WiFi DLNA networking multimedia playback and internet streaming offerings combined with solid Blu-ray playback the BD570 offers a good blend of performance and convenience for a fairly affordable price. Our complete review of the BD570 is available on Big Picture Big Sound (dot com).More detail ...

No Complaints At All!!

My husband and I have several long road trips coming up and purchased this player to keep me and our daughter contented on the long drives. We looked at a bunch of different units and finally settled on this one. We are not disappointed.



Its excellent especially in the price range its in! The picture is awesome and the sound is phenomenal for being so small and inexpensive. The battery has a good life and its just a nice bonus that in addition to the AC adapter it also comes with a car adapter. The construction is solid and the controls are well laid out and easy to use.



We're very happy with the purchase and would definitely recommend this little player to anyone looking for something quality at a decent price.More detail ...

If you don't have N-wireless networking or desire a usb port get the cheaper model

First let me say I own a Roku and LOVE it! NetFlix and Roku are a marriage made in heaven as far as I'm concerned and they are saving me tons of money and treks to the video store. The picture ease of use wireless capabilities quality of video content... everything is great!



But as a consumer it's important to understand the differences between the 3 Roku offerings so you can make an informed decision on your purchase. It does seem odd that Roku has simply not put out one device at one price for everyone with all the bells and whistles but for now you have to choose one... based upon your needs and budget.



THE DIFFERENCES IN ROKU PLAYERS:

Roku HD Player is capable of wired or wireless hook-up but not at the fastest speed available from a 'N' wireless network. HD content streams to this device flawlessly (if the content is available and your home network is sending a proper signal) despite not being 'N' network ready.



That being said Roku came out with Roku HD-XR Player which WILL stream the fastest 'N' network standard provided the rest of your home network is also working with the same standard. That being said this device is not at all necessary if you don't have all the devices on your home network using the 'N' standard because the speed will only go as fast as the device with the slowest connection which is probably the 'B or G' standard.



The third device is available on Roku's website. Roku SD which streams in standard definition will not stream HD content isn't capable of surround sound audio like the other two and does not have a HDMI connection. It only supports the red/yellow/white (composite video and audio) connections but it will connect wirelessly or can be hardwired to the internet working on a 'B or G' network. The Roku SD is about twenty bucks less than the Roku HD and so again consider your needs before buying. **Anyone with a standard def TV and who doesn't plan to upgrade to an HDTV with HDMI ports any time soon would probably want this version.



The Roku HD-XR Player is a jump up from the HD model in wireless capabilities. All the Roku offerings will give you years of enjoyment by boosting your NetFlix subscription streaming Amazon On Demand media and boosting your viewing library. What the HD-XR has that the others don't: 'N' network capabilities and 1 USB port for firmware upgrades and possibly other media hook-ups via USB but at this time Roku doesn't even bring up the USB on their website so I tend to wonder about this being a selling point. Is it worth the extra cost? Only you know the answer to that question.



MY CONCLUSION:

The quality of the streaming video on my 'G' network is perfect; standard and HD content via my Roku HD but since I don't have a 'N' network nor do I expect I will in the near future I saved myself a bit of money and didn't buy this one.



The only reason I give this product 4 versus 5 stars is because of the price bump for the ability to use an 'N' wireless network when frankly I believe it should be considered a standard feature not an extra. The USB port whatever it's used for should also be standard on all models. Again it would be wonderful to have one Roku with all the potential connections and wireless ability and perhaps in the future there will be but for now you need to consider these three: Roku SD Roku HD and Roku HD-XR.



To may your own informed choice evaluate your needs and buy accordingly. While the Roku products are not media storage devices or DVR's they can give you a tremendous boost in your enjoyment of NetFlix and expand your viewing library.





ROKU HD-XR PLAYER SPECIFICATIONS (per the Roku website):

*Note the USB port isn't even listed as a feature.



Networking

Wi-Fi (802.11N/B/G "dual-band") with WEP WPA and WPA2 support

10/100 Ethernet (RJ-45)

Video Outputs

Composite video (480i)

S-Video (480i)

Component video (Y/Pb/Pr - 720p/480p)

HDMI (720p/480p)

Video Modes

16:9 High Definition (HD)

16:9 anamorphic

4:3 standard

Audio Output

Stereo (L/R RCA)

Digital Optical (Toslink - Stereo/Surround)

Digital over HDMI (Stereo/Surround)

Remote Control

NEC protocol supported by various universal remotes

Power Input

5V 2.5A provided by included AC adapter

Power Consumption

6 watts peak 4 watts in standby

Size

5 x 5 x 1.75 inches (130 x 130 x 41 mm)

Weight

11 oz (300 grams)More detail ...

Yes I still have VHS movies to watch

Why would someone want to buy a video player that accepts both the latest Blu-Ray format and the perhaps obsolete VHS formats? Well as someone who has their foot in both the past and the future let me tell you why I love this player.



Yes I can definitely appreciate the crispness and clarity of the high definition Blu-Ray format and I wish to experience that format. But Blu-Ray discs are pricey so I will likely choose to purchase only a few new select and favorite films in that format. I feel no need and don't have the wallet to replace my entire film library in a Blu-Ray format.



I also have a collection of nearly 500 VHS tapes most of them unwatched which I mostly purchased in thrift stores. (current standard price for VHS tape in a thrift - $1) I also have a fair number of films that have not yet been released on DVD yet.



It is nice to have a player that will accept both VHS and Blu-Ray along with standard DVD formats. No switching back and forth of cables etc.



The DMP-BD70V upconversion of the VHS to 1080p is really quite amazing. My current television is a 42" HDTV (one year ago it was a 19 inch color set) When I connected my previous standard VHS player to the HDTV the picture quality as expected was quite poor with much of the image being rather pixelated - it was quite painful and distracting to watch.



Then I hooked up the DMP-BD70V and lone behold the picture quality was much much better - and very watchable. At first I almost thought that the VHS tape had been replaced by a DVD - the improvement was that great. There was no pixelation at all and the colors were quite bright. The overall quality of the picture was much better than the picture obtained with my old 19" color TV and VHS player. The upscaling features of the DMP-BD70V is almost as if a magician had waved his wand over your entire library of VHS tapes and suddenly replaced them Cinderella-like with a much higher quality product.



There are some things you cannot do with a VHS tape. The picture size remains at the older 4:3 format - meaning there is considerable empty space at the left and right sides of the HDTV screen. You also won't get the added commentary tracks that appear on DVD and Blu-Ray discs but sometimes all one really wants to do is simply watch a movie with no other frills involved.



For a few years I will have several options for my home movie viewing. On one end the $1 VHS tapes (upgraded to 1080p) in the middle the standard DVD format and on the high side the Blu-Ray format. This DMP-BD70V allows me to watch all three formats and allows me to choose whether I want to pay $1 $15 or $30 for each movie format. That is what I call flexibility.



I did a comparison price check for the DMP-BD70V model versus a similar model without the VHS tape compatibility - the difference was about $50 more. For me it was well worth it.



Obviously those without VHS tapes do not need this DMP-BD70V model. But those who do have some older VHS tapes and wish to still view them will love this model.



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Great player that works without hassle

I'll start with the bottom line about this player-it just works! If you're looking for a nice fully functional Blu Ray player that's going to just WORK as you'd expect it to on anything you throw at it this is a nice safe buy. You'll have no problems upgrading from a normal DVD player to it.



Like a lot of people my first Blu Ray player was my Playstation 3 which I bought last year. If you don't already have a PS3 that's worth considering instead of a stand alone player because it doesn't cost much more handles Blu Rays (and DVDs) well and of course plays Playstation 3 games.

I even toyed with getting a second one but decided a stand alone player would be a bit cheaper and I didn't really need the second Playstation 3. (I've also since bought a Blu Ray drive for my computer so I can watch Blu Rays on it too.)



Impressions of the s360:

-Audio and video are excellent. I can't notice any difference from my PS3.



-The unit is physically SMALL. It's actually smaller than my two stand alone DVD players (though is the same width as normal stereo components so fits in fine)



-The unit is very quiet in operation-quieter than my two stand alone DVD players in fact. I don't think I can hear it at all except when it's first starting up loading up a disc (and that only if the room is dead silent). Interestingly the disc drive's seek sounds sound IDENTICAL to the drive in my Playstation 3! I'd be shocked if it's not basically the same drive.



-Remote is decent-I mean no remotes aside from Tivo's are particularly good but this works as well as any other (the oft-noted omission of an eject button is a bit surprising but not really missed since you have to get up anyway and the eject button on the unit is pretty large). (And thankfully unlike the PS3 remote it's normal infrared not Bluetooth.)



-Performance is very good. I think it takes SLIGHTLY longer than my PS3/PC to load the fancy interfaces some discs use (some discs replace the normal fast forward/rewind interfaces with their own themed interfaces and loading that interface adds a few more seconds before the disc's ready-so far I've only run across this on two discs and it's kind of pointless but this player DOES seem to handle them just fine). Rewinding/fast forwarding on this isn't quite as smooth as my Playstation 3 but it works as you'd expect a normal DVD player to.



-Power usage is very low-the unit says it draws a *MAX* of 22 watts in operation



-Boot time takes...well I haven't timed it but I'd guess maybe 15 seconds. To me that's plenty fast but that can actually be cut by setting the player to use more power when it's "off" (essentially it presumably actually stays on so it appears to boot faster). Players that claim they have faster boot times are probably just doing that same thing without giving you the option of actually shutting the unit off.



-It has all the features and ports you'd expect from a unit like this and has an excellent menu system that's ripped straight off of the Playstation 3 and Portable (of course once you've set it up with the settings you want you'll probably never really use the menu again but it's easier than any DVD player's menus I've ever used).



-Unlike some players it doesn't have internal memory to store "BD Live" internet features but it does have a USB port where you can connect a USB memory device to enable those features. I have a spare one lying around but haven't bothered hooking it up because I never use those features. I mean Blu Ray has some great additions over DVD like the pop up menus that can adjust settings without going back to the main menu-but the internet features are pretty gimicky to me and I've never used them. Still this player does support all of that if you care.

(Also unlike many of this year's players it lacks support for online services like Netflix's streaming service etc. I don't use those (I just use Netflix's disc service) and if I did use them I already have other devices that connect to them but if you check reviews the s360 is a better BLU RAY PLAYER than those other devices-and I'm buying this to be a good Blu Ray player.



I'm probably forgetting something I'd like to mention but honestly I could have quit after the first paragraph. If you're like me and just want something that WORKS without hassle this is a great choice.More detail ...

Great on the go Portable DVD/CD/JPEG/MPEG Player

I had been looking at the previous Sony model that had over 300 reviews and CNET had it as their choice in the portable DVD products in the 7"-10" screen sizes.



I am very please with the latest Sony model what has changed is they made the screen an inch larger and placed touch buttons on the newer model. This FX 930 looks more modern sleek although it is a little larger.



I am very pleased as I have played various DVD's using full and normal settings that you can select for wide or standard screen formats. I have played many CD's from the actual artists to my own made CD's at home and played music files from my PC and taken along photos like a photo album when I want to share or have those close to me with me so to speak when traveling.



Sound is fine for the little speakers but 99% of the time I use really good headphones and you get two jacks so you can share when sitting with someone on a plane train or in the car as long as you are not driving. Had to toss that in! ;)



It is not too heavy compared to many certainly much less than a laptop and still small enough screen size to know you are not luggin around a laptop. Battery life is standard I have it run out yet but have not been on pure battery for 6 hours yet either. I try to have it plugged in most of the time during use and for the car you get a car charger included in the box.



Being it is smaller it makes it more mobile for your travels whether local or abroad.



I have been using this item non-stop almost without any issues. Could it be improved yes almost any product can be and as with any electronics they seem to improve with almost each iteration.



With this said you can save $30-$40 by buying the previous model. It is an inch smaller but the screen resolution is the same and many of the features are almost identical.



Take it for a test drive and remember you've got 30 days to test it and if it is not what you like or expect return it and try another but choices on these products are quite limited since many use their PSP iPhone or iPods to watch movies/videos etc.More detail ...

Very poor Netflix performance; overall disappointment so far.

I've had this player for several days now. Blu-Ray playback appears to be good although I don't really have anything to compare it to. But so far its other attributes leave a great deal to be desired.



Netflix playback is especially poor. I waited to buy this unit for its Netflix capability to kick in and was using the Roku HD player in the meantime. Even with a wired connection the Sony's Netflix HD content playback is noticeably sluggish and jerky almost to the point of being unwatchable compared to the Roku player connected wirelessly to the same router. I watched parts of the same video on each player and the difference is not subtle; it is pronounced.



Also the upscaled DVD picture on this player is very VERY soft almost to the point of looking out of focus even with the TV's Sharpness setting turned up to maximum. This is in comparison to the Sony DVP-NS700H upscaling DVD player I had been using previously which appears to have a sharper crisper image; again the difference is noticeable.



I'm going to try a few more DVDs and see if Sony and/or Netflix tech support can address the streaming problem before I give up and return the unit. I had hoped this player would be a nice addition to my BRAVIA setup (46" Z4100 LCD TV) but so far it's let me down.



UPDATE: I called Sony and went through three levels of support. They agreed with my description and assessment of the Netflix HD picture quality and told me there was nothing that could be done about it. I also called Netflix and they couldn't help either; none of their suggestions worked. If I can't resolve this myself I'm going to have to return the player.



UPDATE 2: Amazon on Demand HD video looks fine; very good actually. Looks like this is a Netflix issue (probably the onboard software not the stream since Netflix still looks fine on the Roku) that will have to be fixed with a firmware update sometime in the future.



UPDATE 3: CNET has now reviewed this product. From their review of the player's Netflix performance: "We also noticed that the overall streaming video quality seemed to be slightly worse than we're used to seeing. We saw more "jerky" playback than we're used to seeing on other players".



UPDATE 4: The Sony firmware update issued on December 22 has had no effect on the Netflix HD streaming quality. It looks the same as it did before.



UPDATE 5: For reasons unrelated to this issue I upgraded my cable internet service to Cablevision's "Optimum Boost" which among other things is supposed to more than double Internet speed. Indeed I'm now seeing over 20 Mbps on [...]. Nevertheless the problem remains; the Netflix HD video is still "jerky". Apparently the problem is not the network. I think it may be that the Sony does a poor job handling the Netflix stream compared to the Amazon stream such as e.g. upconverting from 720p to 1080p.



UPDATE 6: I did some more experimenting with the player this time removing the HDMI connection and using component instead setting the player's component output to 720p. This did not correct the jerky motion problem; it looked essentially the same.More detail ...

AWESOME LITTLE TV...

This little TV is great for a kitchen or as a small tv for a guest room or childs room. The remote is simple and concise. Setup is a breeze. Wall mounts easily. The picture is excellent. The viewing angle is excellent. I researched alot of 19" LCD TV's and decided on this one. Many other 19" tv's have a poor viewing angle...this one does not. The picture is clear. You will not go wrong with this TV. I have mine connected to a small radio shack Hi-DEF off-air antenna for the kitchen. I was amazed that I gets over 20 HD channels on it. The antenna is small and mounted outside. I would really compare this TV to Sony Samsung. Its just as good. Not to mention the price..wow..it was about the same price as the bargain off-brand TV"s. You wont go wrong with this little beauty! Youll see every pimple on American Idol! Whew hooh!!!!More detail ...

Amazing product and brilliant bang-for-your-buck

I purchased this in January 2009 to add some additional value to my Netflix subscription. It has far surpassed my expectations and has proven to be one of the best $100 I have spent in a long time. This is true especially in a down economy.



Here are the pluses and the minuses I have seen in the product after 2 months of daily use



Pluses:

1) Huge money saver: Having this box has allowed me to drop from 3 disks unlimited to 1 disk unlimited as well as drop cable entirely. The addition of Amazon on Demand is an even bigger value in that newly released movies will also be in abundant supply.

2) Ease of Set-up and use: I am a die hard apple fan because of their ease of use and the set-up process was the easiest I have ever experienced. In less than 4 minutes I was watching a Netflix stream on my Sony HD TV. Also the user interface is as straightforward as possible. A lot of thought went into it and it shows. Bravo for one of the simplest interfaces I have ever utilized.

3) Clarity of picture: Unsrupassed and almost full HD. Often forget we are streaming over the internet.

4) It just works as advertised!

5) Customer Service: Video was skipping and contacted the customer service. You would never believe that a real live person answered the phone within 5 minutes on a Sunday night. Turns out it was a nework problem (see below). Amazing customer service!



Minuses:

1) The quality of your picture is tied to your internet speed. This has only been an issue once. My Charter Cable modem service averages above 4 meg downstream but every once in a while the network performance drops. A call to charter fixed it. This is in no way an issue with the device just something to be aware of. Check with your service provider on your speed before buying.

2) Direct Ethernet connection recommended for best picture: This is a limitation of my wireless network but you may also have a similar set-up. My laptop has a G wireless card and when it gets online the whole network slows down and wireless video quality suffered. Solved it by using a direct ethernet connection and recommend for everyone who is able to. Much more stable and very limited intereference.



That is my review to date. If you have Netflix and want to get Amazon on Demand there are few things that will be a pleasure to use and that will provide as much bang for your limited dollars. Thank you Roku Netflix and Amazon for such a wonderful product.More detail ...