I find it strange that these boxes have so many obvious flaws. No ability to stream? How do you release a device in 2010 that can't do that? These aren't just recommended improvements, these are features that should be expected right out the box. It seems like every one of these devices has a handful of these flaws, and none of them seem like something that would have been forgotten about during development.  I dunno.  Just frustrating to see a bunch of solutions that all miss important (but often different) parts of a whole, satisfying experience.

If I didn't already have an Xbox, Wii and computers connected to my television, I would probably look into one.  Heck, maybe I'll get one for my wife when she feels like watching something in the bedroom.

It's a bummer that none of these boxes can get it right.  For my use, the combination of either the Xbox 360 or PS3 with an Apple TV come closet to doing everything I need a set-top box to do. The main thing the Xbox and PS3 need is better video podcast  and YouTube support. Why can't I subscribe to a podcast from the Zune Marketplace on 360? Why aren't there YouTube apps on either consoles? Oh and a Justin.tv or Ustream app on any of these three devices would be icing on the cake.

Feels like some of this shit is getting more complicated rather than simpler? Yeah ability to stream your movies is a huge deal, can't imagine a box like this without it.

That actually seems pretty cool, still don't see the need for one where I live though. Not that they'd sell them over here.

Great review, Will, but what's with the crazy face at the end? Haha, were you doing your John Candy from Planes, Trains and Automobiles impression? :-p

@pixelpushr: 
 
I use PlayOn for my podcasts. It works surprisingly well. For the $20 (a special at the time) I paid was well worth it, and still holds up well now. Granted the Netflix support is extremely slow, but both consoles have native Netflix programs now.

This review (and many of the recent quicklooks with similar-type media boxes) has left me wondering about the differences between Netflix clients; in particular the new versions for both the PS3 and Xbox360. Will and others, commonly compare the implementation of Netflix on devices to that found on the Apple TV and the 360 - I am just curious how the updated (application) version on the PS3 holds up to those?

Alright, let's check the facts: 
 
Roku box- $100 
Apple TV- $100
 
The Roku may not be the end-all be-all, but it beats the similarly-priced competition. 

Three things: 
 
Why does everyone whine that they can't get one box that does it all? I can't get one cell phone that does everything and nobody whines about that. You have to pick the one that is right for you just like you do with a cell phone. Or I can't always buy music in all places. Sometimes I can only get a tune at Apple's store and not at Emusic. It's life.....
 
Second, the Roku DOES do streaming of music much the same way Apple TV does. Using Logitech's Squeezbox server software on the PC with your iTunes and the main squeeze channel on the Roku I can stream all my music and playlists! It was stupid simple to setup, free and doesn't seem to tax the PC it's running on. There are other channels too such as Chaneru that let you stream video and music. Rumor has it that DLNA support will be coming.  
 
The other content is worth it in my opinion. There are some quality shows on Revision3, MHz Networks, Newscaster, etc... Oh, and they are free too and not available on Apple TV. 
 
Bad review in my opinion....sorry but busting on your own channel man? come on....

Get you site on the Whiskey App dammit! 
 
...and while you at it, make a Boxee app too!

I love the idea of these boxes and all of the internet streaming and other things that comes with it. That's until I remember I live in the UK and the features for this, and many other things don't exist over here. It's a huge problem with a lot of "current gen" devices, be it consoles, media streaming boxes, smart phones. Is that outside of America a lot of features are useless.

Wow -- I sure thought this was going to be better than it turned out to be.  In home streaming mkv support is an absolute must!

Cool, Ill stick with my 360 tho, I use it every day anyways and the Netflix app works great.  The new version is especially slick.

what the heck?  i always thought you could do home streaming with the Roku.  that's a huge flaw in my book. 
 
anyway, nice review, Will. 

Mmm no streaming killed this for me. If I can get an Apple TV that can do all the Roku stuff, plus streaming at the same price, I see no reason to go with the Roku, unless you hate apple for whatever your reason. 

So I guess you can say the Roku box gets 3/5 MegaNorms.

Netflix offers 1080p content now...

@eldiablopotato said:

" @willsmith 

• This product was never advertised as anything near Blue-ray quality so why continuously keep comparing it to Blue-Ray quality throughout the review?      
• Both services are pretty equal on TV shows, as you said each are missing something.
• Of course you won't find any Toy Story 3 or any other hugely popular Disney stores on Amazon.  Disney is in Apple's pocket. :P

"

1) Because it's pretty much the gold standard when it comes to full HD images. When he's talking about streaming an HD movie he's going to compare it to Blu Rays...especially when it comes to a home entertainment box where blu ray is an option....  
 
Being close to Blu Ray quality is good, not coming close is bad...but this wasn't a knock on the Roku capabilities, just amazon's ondemand not being too hot.
 
2) He said they're both pretty much equal too... 
 
3) sounds like an advantage the Apple TV has over the Roku which should be brought up when reviewing a box with other boxes just like it begging for your money. 
 
I see this with guys commenting reviews on videogames too, the "comparison" thing freaks you guys the fuck out. That's what reviews are...comparisons so you don't buy everything on the market or just the best one for you..
 
Don't nag reviews for things they put as cons or for reviewing an item, it makes you come off as childish.