What's the Best Device For Streaming Netflix, HBO, Showtime on a TV?

[RainMaker]

I'm looking for a device for the TV in my bedroom (the one in the living room uses the PS4 currently). I have an old Roku but it no longer supports HBO or Showtime apps.

My confusion lies with the "sticks" that are out there. I have a Chromecast I use sparingly, but that doesn't have any of the apps built-in. I'm looking for something that doesn't require my phone, tablet or computer to work. The Amazon Fire stick seemingly fits the criteria, but why is it so much cheaper than the standard Amazon Fire box?

Does anyone have a recommendation? I'd like to avoid spending $100 for a new box if I don't need it. But if the sticks require syncing with another device or don't have good performance, I'll go with a box. This is going to be a wireless signal so the ability to attach an ethernet cable is not important.

[Logan]

I have the Fire stick for our non-smart TV. It works flawlessly, and much better than the Chromecast we tried a couple months earlier for whatever reason. If it has what you want, I wouldn't let the lower cost worry you.

[Antmeister]

When it comes out of the 4 devices listed, I am still partial to the Roku. The ease of the UI to access anything from Netflix to HBO is just done without thought.

The difference between the box and the stick is that the box has a quad core processor and allows you to play games (albeit they are android type games). For the price point they have the box at, I would rather go the Roku.

With that said, I do love the Fire TV stick for traveling and its primary use is for just streaming and it does that well. The device is easy to pack away for trips and it is much easier to connect at hotels/motels if they have protected Wifi with those login screen. What I don't quite like about the stick is that if you are using any other app outside of the Amazon ecosystem, you have to scroll to an apps section to open up a specific app. The entire main menu is mostly linking to the content for Amazon.

Not a huge deal, but it is not as nice as Roku where you find an app, click and you are in. Or where you can do a search and it will find that movie or TV show in your top apps.

[PilotMan]

I'm a Roku user many times over. So I'm not going to give you any other useful information other than stick with the Roku product.

[ISiddiqui]

Roku 3. Fire TV is fine as well, but Roku gets apps quicker.

Also, the sticks are much slower and, IMO, aren't worth it.

[jeff061]

Roku.

Not looking for something fancy, just something that works and works well/quick. Supported extremely well, it's Roku.

[albionmoonlight]

I have a roku. Works great. Haven't ever felt the need to explore other options.

[Butter]

Another vote for the Roku 3.

[TexasT]

Roku

[lungs]

I have a Fire stick. Does the trick for me (Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon's streaming).

I will probably get an Apple TV when they update that. I had one when my house burned down and like it a lot since I'm well invested in the Apple ecosystem.

Otherwise my Fire stick is fine since I'm not worried about games and whatever the Fire TV does over the stick.

[rjolley]

Over our last trip to Atlanta, I picked up a Roku 3 as we weren't going to turn on tv service for the 3 weeks we were staying there. It was great to use, easy to set up, and did well when Comcast wasn't screwing up our access to content. We also have a Chromecast, but my problem with it is the need to always have another device that streams to it. The Roku was great because it had all of the apps.

The other device that interests me is the Google Nexus Player. If I had seen it when I got the Roku, I may have grabbed it instead.

[RainMaker]

Also, the sticks are much slower and, IMO, aren't worth it.

This helps a lot. I couldn't figure out why the sticks were so much cheaper since they seem to do the same stuff.

[bob]

I still have a Roku XD/S device from 2011 that has fewer issues than my Fire TV box. The only thing that keeps me from 100% recommending Roku is that for no real reason (accept to try to force me to buy a newer device) they turned off the HBO Go channel on that device. The channel worked fine, and then one day out of the blue an email saying they were turning it off effective immediately.

But they did offer me a $10 off coupon. Which I won't use. Forced obsolescence of hardware pisses me off even more than planned obsolescence.

Edit: The What to Watch on Netflix thread actually reminded me of one other issue on the Roku I have (odd one too). The Wet Hot American Summer series shows up as Content Unavailable. Just that show on that device, and just that device on my account. Weird.

[stevew]

Chromecast?..why wouldn't you wanna use phone/tablet. The thing works great.