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Gear / Technical Help => Playback Forum => Topic started by: alpine85 on February 21, 2011, 05:16:22 PM

Title: Boxee or Roku?
Post by: alpine85 on February 21, 2011, 05:16:22 PM

Does anyone have any experience with either of these units? 

I'm thinking about getting one so I can watch MLB games without hooking up the laptop, and I've just started to do some research.

It looks like they both do Netflix, Pandora, MLB.tv, and other popular stuff like youtube, hulu, etc.

What I'm wondering is:

Is one better than the other for audio from a network (either wifi or ethernet is fine with me)?  Specifically FLAC, MP3, & WAV files?
How about accessing the same files from a USB external HD? 

I heard something about the Roku being able to stream from archive.org?  Can anyone confirm this?  Is the overall quality of one better than the other, audio and/or video wise?

Title: Re: Boxee or Roku?
Post by: DigiGal on February 22, 2011, 11:02:09 AM

I picked up a Roku unit when they were first introduced a few years back and beta tested new features for them on several occasions.  The Roku unit is awesome but I can't speak for a Boxee though never used one. 

Yes, Roku can stream from LMA, just add the Archive.org channel found at this link --> http://www.thenowhereman.com/roku/

Title: Re: Boxee or Roku?
Post by: alpine85 on February 22, 2011, 03:20:54 PM

Quote from: DigiGal on February 22, 2011, 11:02:09 AM

I picked up a Roku unit when they were first introduced a few years back and beta tested new features for them on several occasions.  The Roku unit is awesome but I can't speak for a Boxee though never used one. 

Yes, Roku can stream from LMA, just add the Archive.org channel found at this link --> http://www.thenowhereman.com/roku/

Cool... thanks!  The LMA streaming is a big deal, of course ; )

The Roku looks great (and it's only $100 for the top of the line one).

The Boxee looks interesting too... I found this page that compares them, along with the apple tv and logitech unit:
http://www.dlink.com/boxee/

The boxee seems more flash-compatible, and I like the fact that it plays DTS files.   $100 more than the Roku, though.

Tough call. 

Title: Re: Boxee or Roku?
Post by: Brian E. on April 14, 2011, 03:59:50 PM

just got a Boxee.  it also streams "a selection" from the archive.

It plays full BD backups, even as ISO files - bitstreams DTSMA and TrueHD audio, and 1080p video off a network server or USB drive.  Also scrapes IMDB for movie/TV show names and coverart.