Set-top Box Recommendations

[NonAbsolut]

I'm looking to cut the cable with Comcast and switch to purely internet-based TV. Products that I'm considering include the Roku Player, Google TV, and Apple TV. Does anybody have suggestions as to the best one--ease of use/set-up, availability of many different media sources, etc. Also, if there is a different product that I should consider, please let me know.

Thanks for any suggestions.

[stonefly]

Here is an article I read a few weeks ago that might help you. I must admit that I know nothing about the topic. I am hoping you get some good responses. Good luck.

Cutting the cord: You too can be cable free | | Chestnut Hill Local Philadelphia PAChestnut Hill Local Philadelphia PA

[NonAbsolut]

Thank you stonefly!

[phrequency]

We cut the cable about 6 years ago way before there was anything to watch online easily. I recommend two possible avenues you could take to effectively cut the cable:

1. This option assumes you are good with operating a computer. Get yourself a little computer, not a tower and depending on your feelings, I recommend a mac mini. You can pick up a used one for like $400 $500. Connect it to your TV via HDMI for the best possible picture. To control it, you can do one of two things: 1. get a wireless keyboard with a trackpad built in. This makes it easier to use the mouse. 2. if you have a smartphone, get an app that lets you control your computer via your wifi network. This essentially turns your phone into your remote. If you have an iphone there are tons of 'remote control' apps out there. I use one called iTeleport which is awesome. Using the ipad I can see the screen on the ipad and the tv as I control it. Works well in case you are far away.

The one drawback to doing the computer -> tv hookup is until you get used to it, navigating the interface from such a distance, and reading text can be a pain but you can always trick out the font sizes and resolution to make things as legible as possible. There are some pluses though: using a computer you can try different software that emulates set top boxes, you can download and view any video file as you would normally, some set top boxes limit the file formats and server connection options you have.

2. The other options are set top boxes and/or game consoles. I recently started watching netflix via xbox360 and it's pretty sweet. xbox also has the hulu and espn packages as well as amazon so there are lots of choices for content. A friend of mine let me try out roku and I found the quality just 'ok' but the interface was horrible. Trying to find a title on netflix or just browse netflix was painful but that might be because I am used to using the computer or xbox now.

Personally, I think set top boxes are limiting in many ways. You are stuck with whatever interface they provide which may or may not be usable, you are stuck with whatever content they choose to provide and if you can't play video files from your network or computer then it is a PITA.

Using a computer lets you view any video you can normally download or view in your browser. You can test out various tv interface programs, you can also pop in a dvd and play it normally, so to me the computer is the set top box, home networked media center and dvd player all in one. The xbox/console is a close second as it also plays dvds and the quality is outstanding if you are connected via HDMI.

For local sports we got lucky and bought a $12 set of digital bunny ears and the picture is great. We are in powelton village area. So with the bunny ears and the computer, we don't miss cable at all.

Good luck.

[BarryG]

phrequency, can you recommend specific set-top style apps? I messed around with XBMC and Boxee a couple years ago and when they worked they were great, but overall were too buggy and cumbersome for everyday use. This was on a hacked 1st gen Apple TV though.

Also, does anyone know if the new Apple TV lets you connect to file shares and play Divx files? The lack of those two things in the first gen made it basically unusable unless you wanted to spend a fortune on iTunes.

[phrequency]

phrequency, can you recommend specific set-top style apps? I messed around with XBMC and Boxee a couple years ago and when they worked they were great, but overall were too buggy and cumbersome for everyday use. This was on a hacked 1st gen Apple TV though.

Also, does anyone know if the new Apple TV lets you connect to file shares and play Divx files? The lack of those two things in the first gen made it basically unusable unless you wanted to spend a fortune on iTunes.

Plex looks promising: Plex - A Complete Media Solution
Boxee: http://www.boxee.tv/ I tried them years ago and they weren't so good but that was a while ago.

That's about all I could find doing a quick search but to be honest there is nothing like a good browser and some top sites like hulu, netflix, etc. I am not terribly interested in seeing first run movies so this method suites me just fine, I can see if you want the latest and greatest it may pose a challenge although I've heard good things about Amazon Unboxed. I recently rented a movie from itunes and the fact that I had to download 4gigs was pretty annoying, just stream it already I only want to see it once.

[Sailaway]

I have a Western Digital Live Plus and it works pretty nicely. It supposedly supports shares, etc. but I only have it running on a dedicated USB drive at the moment. It does support Divx, etc. and it supports Hulu Plus with the newest firmware, as well as Netflix and about ten other services. TBH, I bought it more to be a media player than for streaming, though I may give the Hulu a look at some point. It's a good player aside from the lengthy boot-up.

[phrequency]

I have a Western Digital Live Plus and it works pretty nicely. It supposedly supports shares, etc. but I only have it running on a dedicated USB drive at the moment. It does support Divx, etc. and it supports Hulu Plus with the newest firmware, as well as Netflix and about ten other services. TBH, I bought it more to be a media player than for streaming, though I may give the Hulu a look at some point. It's a good player aside from the lengthy boot-up.

Hulu killed it for me when they charge you for certain content and yet you STILL see commercials. Annoying for sure since netflix has no commercials at all.

[NonAbsolut]

1. This option assumes you are good with operating a computer. Get yourself a little computer, not a tower and depending on your feelings, I recommend a mac mini. You can pick up a used one for like $400 $500. Connect it to your TV via HDMI for the best possible picture. To control it, you can do one of two things: 1. get a wireless keyboard with a trackpad built in. This makes it easier to use the mouse. 2. if you have a smartphone, get an app that lets you control your computer via your wifi network. This essentially turns your phone into your remote. If you have an iphone there are tons of 'remote control' apps out there. I use one called iTeleport which is awesome. Using the ipad I can see the screen on the ipad and the tv as I control it. Works well in case you are far away.

The one drawback to doing the computer -> tv hookup is until you get used to it, navigating the interface from such a distance, and reading text can be a pain but you can always trick out the font sizes and resolution to make things as legible as possible. There are some pluses though: using a computer you can try different software that emulates set top boxes, you can download and view any video file as you would normally, some set top boxes limit the file formats and server connection options you have.

Thanks for these suggestions. I'm intrigued by option one as I had only been considering various box configurations. I have an old Windows XP laptop and also a Linux netbook, so if I could make either of those work, it would be worth it to me to try and set this up. I probably wouldn't want to purchase a separate machine just for this purpose when a box can be had for under $100. Also, I wonder if a current generation iPod touch would work for streaming? I'm not sure if one can be set up to work with an Apple remote, but having to get up to change the channel isn't the end of the world to me. I have some homework to do.

[phrequency]

Thanks for these suggestions. I'm intrigued by option one as I had only been considering various box configurations. I have an old Windows XP laptop and also a Linux netbook, so if I could make either of those work, it would be worth it to me to try and set this up. I probably wouldn't want to purchase a separate machine just for this purpose when a box can be had for under $100. Also, I wonder if a current generation iPod touch would work for streaming? I'm not sure if one can be set up to work with an Apple remote, but having to get up to change the channel isn't the end of the world to me. I have some homework to do.

A reliable old computer should work nicely. I mentioned the mac mini simply because it is small and the newer ones have HDMI out but any old computer will do. The only thing to consider when using an old computer is the video connection options, meaning an old laptop might only have a VGA out which means the quality is not going to be as good as an HDMI out from a more recent machine.

[Hal]

I'm intrigued by option one as I had only been considering various box configurations.
I have an old Windows XP laptop and also a Linux netbook, so if I could make either of those work, it would be worth it to me to try and set this up.

FYI, a laptop with firewire port may also work, as it supports digital video in/out, finicky in Windows, native support in Apple.

Other suggestions

1) instead of a full tv consider picking up a HD compatible 1080 flat screen computer monitor and a USB HD tuner.

I switched to a full HD capable monitor back in February, find that VGA works nicely with Netflix streaming in HD as well as USB tuner for broadcast HD TV (eagles / phillies / flyers).
That's an older laptop with VGA & S-Video, newer laptops may have DVI or HDMI outputs as well.

(I found a 3 input monitor, VGA for laptop, HDMI for Fios, and DVI for DVD player


2) Find a DVD player that takes a USB reader so you can still watch recorded shows.
I found a DVD with USB reader that takes mpg, avi, divx, xvid etc.
Good thing is that the USB not only reads flash drives but also reads external hard drive, altough the drive needs to be FAT32 format, so max is 32 Gig drive, max file size is 4G.


Two drawbacks- is the sound through Klipsch surround/computer speakers must be manually switched

Also, computer monitor does have "auto" mode to switch to what ever is on, but that doesn't work all the time, requires manually switching between inputs.


Hal

[phrequency]

FYI, a laptop with firewire port may also work, as it supports digital video in/out, finicky in Windows, native support in Apple.

Other suggestions

1) instead of a full tv consider picking up a HD compatible 1080 flat screen computer monitor and a USB HD tuner.

I switched to a full HD capable monitor back in February, find that VGA works nicely with Netflix streaming in HD as well as USB tuner for broadcast HD TV (eagles / phillies / flyers).
That's an older laptop with VGA & S-Video, newer laptops may have DVI or HDMI outputs as well.

(I found a 3 input monitor, VGA for laptop, HDMI for Fios, and DVI for DVD player


2) Find a DVD player that takes a USB reader so you can still watch recorded shows.
I found a DVD with USB reader that takes mpg, avi, divx, xvid etc.
Good thing is that the USB not only reads flash drives but also reads external hard drive, altough the drive needs to be FAT32 format, so max is 32 Gig drive, max file size is 4G.


Two drawbacks- is the sound through Klipsch surround/computer speakers must be manually switched

Also, computer monitor does have "auto" mode to switch to what ever is on, but that doesn't work all the time, requires manually switching between inputs.


Hal

I'm surprised you got the monitor to work out. I tried that, albeit a non hd monitor and could not for the life of me hook up an xbox to the thing so we bit the bullet and threw down for a TV. Happy as a clam with it so far. So many ports such good quality. Samsung LED/LCD 1080. Very crisp.

[Sailaway]

FYI, a laptop with firewire port may also work, as it supports digital video in/out, finicky in Windows, native support in Apple.

Other suggestions

1) instead of a full tv consider picking up a HD compatible 1080 flat screen computer monitor and a USB HD tuner.

I switched to a full HD capable monitor back in February, find that VGA works nicely with Netflix streaming in HD as well as USB tuner for broadcast HD TV (eagles / phillies / flyers).
That's an older laptop with VGA & S-Video, newer laptops may have DVI or HDMI outputs as well.

(I found a 3 input monitor, VGA for laptop, HDMI for Fios, and DVI for DVD player


2) Find a DVD player that takes a USB reader so you can still watch recorded shows.
I found a DVD with USB reader that takes mpg, avi, divx, xvid etc.
Good thing is that the USB not only reads flash drives but also reads external hard drive, altough the drive needs to be FAT32 format, so max is 32 Gig drive, max file size is 4G.


Two drawbacks- is the sound through Klipsch surround/computer speakers must be manually switched

Also, computer monitor does have "auto" mode to switch to what ever is on, but that doesn't work all the time, requires manually switching between inputs.


Hal

I tried the thing with the DVD player, which led me to the Philips DVP-5990/37 upconverting DVD player. Philips makes excellent players, but it was spotty as far as the MPEG-4 was concerned. It won't handle the FLV container, apparently. Since Flash is everywhere, that's partly what led me towards the WDTV box.

[Hal]

I'm surprised you got the monitor to work out. I tried that, albeit a non hd monitor and could not for the life of me hook up an xbox to the thing so we bit the bullet and threw down for a TV. Happy as a clam with it so far. So many ports such good quality. Samsung LED/LCD 1080. Very crisp.

Yep, I've found the video media can be finicky when connecting to computer equipment.

My flat screen Toshiba has dual VGA/DVI inputs but it won't send accept a signal from my DVD player. (via HDMI to DVI adapter cord).
My Dell flat screen VGA/DVI/HDMI works fine... Go figure.

One other project that worked well- remove a standard def tv by adding a TV tuner card into an existing computer.

Had an standard def TV upstairs connected to cable/RF out from downstairs cable box-
but TV was a bit big for the room, too crowded with TV AND computer monitor.
So, the computer in the upstairs office/rec room now doubles as a TV -

Took the 11 year old computer, dropped in an ATI TV card ($14 on ebay) from an even older computer,
and after substantial bit of tweaking, standard def TV now plays on the computer monitor.
Nice plus- it now records like a DVR.
Nicer plus - the recording is on a shared network drive, watch anywhere.


Hal

[Hal]

I tried the thing with the DVD player, which led me to the Philips DVP-5990/37 upconverting DVD player. Philips makes excellent players, but it was spotty as far as the MPEG-4 was concerned. It won't handle the FLV container, apparently. Since Flash is everywhere, that's partly what led me towards the WDTV box.

Yep, flash based is more common but not well supported, well, affordably supported in DVD/DVR.
But, I'm not sure about sinking more money into DVD/Blueray.

As for MPG through a DVD player's USB connection, I've got a upconverting Pioneer DVD, which does DIVX, thus AVI and XVID,
also does mpg, but not reliably,
e.g. it won't play them if you press PLAY, but will if you back skip to the file.

It also won't play MPEG if there is another file type in the directory.
So, good reason for an 8 gig USB flash drive, holds one movie nicely.


I'm actually glad I skipped over buying a blueray player, now that more and more HD movies and TV is available via streaming or as a download.
That's one reason I like using an external USB HD for movies - plunk all the vidoeo files into one drive, .avi .flv .mpg .divx .flv
if the DVD player won't recognize the file type, I just plug the USB into the laptop and watch it through the laptop.



But, back on the topic --
Given the limited upgradability of specific use players - ROKU, Google TV, Apple Tv, WebTv (remember Windows 98...)
and even DVD players (e.g. the DVD player maker says they have, but I can't get, a firmware upgrade to go from CRT/interlaced to LCD/progressive)

I'd say a current computer and HD monitor combination is a better choice than any proprietary "media box" for entertainment.




Hal

[Sailaway]

Yep, flash based is more common but not well supported, well, affordably supported in DVD/DVR.
But, I'm not sure about sinking more money into DVD/Blueray.

As for MPG through a DVD player's USB connection, I've got a upconverting Pioneer DVD, which does DIVX, thus AVI and XVID,
also does mpg, but not reliably,
e.g. it won't play them if you press PLAY, but will if you back skip to the file.

It also won't play MPEG if there is another file type in the directory.
So, good reason for an 8 gig USB flash drive, holds one movie nicely.


I'm actually glad I skipped over buying a blueray player, now that more and more HD movies and TV is available via streaming or as a download.
That's one reason I like using an external USB HD for movies - plunk all the vidoeo files into one drive, .avi .flv .mpg .divx .flv
if the DVD player won't recognize the file type, I just plug the USB into the laptop and watch it through the laptop.

Given the limited upgradability of DVD players (e.g. the DVD player maker says they have, but I can't get, a firmware upgrade to go from CRT/interlaced to LCD/progressive)
compared to computers which have upgrades every couple of months,
I'd say the computer/monitor is now far more important than the DVD/TV for entertainment.


Hal

Ah, Blu-Ray, agreed. What a waste - it was obsolete the day it was introduced. Plus, there's no way I'm going to even begin repurchasing my movie collection, even though it's a small one. I don't think DVD is obsolete yet though due to the limitations of streamed content at this time.

[Bob_Head]

While there are a lot of good boxes out there, none comes without a serious set of limitations and compromises. Buy something cheap that supports the services you like. I got the AppleTV, since the Broadcast-generated content that's only on Hulu really doesn't interest me at all.

Do yourself a favor and buy cheap. At $99, to me the AppleTV is disposable....if next year I decided it sucks, I'll go with something else.

[Sailaway]

While there are a lot of good boxes out there, none comes without a serious set of limitations and compromises. Buy something cheap that supports the services you like. I got the AppleTV, since the Broadcast-generated content that's only on Hulu really doesn't interest me at all.

Do yourself a favor and buy cheap. At $99, to me the AppleTV is disposable....if next year I decided it sucks, I'll go with something else.

Agreed. That was also part of the logic behind buying the WDTVLive. I had looked at the Boxee but at $199 it didn't fit my idea of "disposable."

[Hal]

Ah, Blu-Ray, agreed. What a waste - it was obsolete the day it was introduced.

Yep, glad I skipped over the shakeout phase of HD but now I do wish that I'd gotten 1920 x 1080 LCD monitors...


Now, I've spent a fair bit of last weekend consolidating music and movies into a new "media room"...

Way too many data formats, not to mention physical formats

MP3-DVDs, MP3-CDs, normal CDs, cassette, lp records

then add in inherited/antique formats
8 track, reel to reel, 78s, 45s, 8mm home movies and kodachrome slides.

At least the main consumer goods, records, tapes, CDs, had a fairly quick betamax period when things settled down.

That's the real problem with internet based TVs- it's still a bit early in the beta-testing period to make a good choice.

I don't think DVD is obsolete yet though due to the limitations of streamed content at this time.

Not at all, DVD/CD even, is a good storage format, so so as archival, if not easily accessible.

But, that's the trick in current times, making things easily accessible, or at least intuitive as to streaming.

What is intereting is that logical storage as data IS erasing the limits of physical storage
e.g. LP and cassette that have to be turned over,
CD's that stop at 78 minutes due to Beethoven's 9th.

Seems that media is now more about bandwith/flowthrough rather than buffering/time.


Hal

[Moonraker]

Attention, All Cord-Cutters!
www.channelmasterstore.com

September 15th, 2011 | Author: phputman
At the September 14 Pepcom table-top show (dubbed the ‘Parisian Holiday Spectacular’ show, as so many gadgets were being pushed for gift-wrapping under the tree), Channel Master showed something that ought to bring a smile to every cord-cutter’s face: A dual DVR for digital terrestrial television.

Not only that, this same product also supports Vudu streaming and Vudu apps, in case you’re jonesing for a movie and don’t want to mess with DVDs or Blu-ray discs. It’s called Channel Master TV, and it will start shipping in mid-October. (Yes, I’ve already asked for a review unit. C’est si bon!)

You can find out all of the details about this new product by clicking here (the dedicated Channel Master TV Web site still was not up and running at the time I wrote this), or you can read on.