Roku SD Player | 
| Brand: Roku
Category: CE
Buy New: $79.99
as of 3/9/2010 17:42 CST details
New (2) from $79.99
Seller: Amazon.com
Rating:  52 reviews
Media: Electronics
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 5 x 5 x 1.8
MPN: N1050
Model: N1050
UPC: 829610847153
EAN: 0829610847153
ASIN: B002U6EWPG
Release Date: December 4, 2009
Shipping: Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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| Features:
| • | Start watching movies on your TV in seconds using your high-speed Internet connection | | • | Instantly plays the entire Netflix Instant Watch library with your Netflix membership - no additional subscription cost required | | • | Plays DVD-quality video on any TV | | • | Built-in wireless (Wi-Fi) as well as wired internet connectivity | | • | Sets up in 5 minutes |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
With built-in Wi-Fi, the Roku SD Player is the easiest way to stream instant movies and shows from Netflix and Amazon Video On Demand directly to your TV. Now at our most affordable price ever, the SD Player comes with everything you need, and sets up instantly. And with the new Roku Channel Store, it also brings you FREE music from Pandora, photo and video sharing, and much more. No wonder Roku is Netflix members' top rated streaming player.
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 52
 Movie lovers rejoice!! December 27, 2009
Jennifer (MN, USA)
49 out of 50 found this review helpful
A few months back when my husband had started talking about the Roku box, I admittedly thought it would be a big waste of money. We aren't TV watchers and thus have lived on basic cable for years, but we do have our dedicated "movie nights" where we routinely enjoy watching movies together. We've had Netflix for about 6 years now and we've never gone back to traditional rentals. I thought our unlimited DVD rentals from Netflix was all we needed. It can't get any easier than picking a movie and having it show up at your door two days later, right?
I was wrong. ;)
Since we have jumped on the Roku bandwagon, I've gotten a lot of questions from others around me who are now considering the purchase. I find there is a lot of confusion about what exactly the Roku does, so here we go. The Roku box streams media (movies, TV series, podcasts, music, etc) to your TV in real time. You don't need a Netflix subscription for it to work, but it hugely enhances the enjoyment of the Roku box as it is undoubtedly the most popular feature of the device. With your basic unlimited Netflix subscription (beginning at $8.99/mo or $7.99/mo if you only want the Starz Play streaming media with no DVD option) you have unlimited access to watching streaming videos on your TV at any time of day or night. All you need is a TV (of any kind, new or old) and an internet connection. Cable or DSL is required for good performance of the streaming media. I wouldn't try this on dial-up. You can set it up via traditional ethernet cables or set it up on your wireless network in minutes.
One thing I've noticed in talking with people is that a lot of people may already have a compatible streaming device in their home and not realize it. If you own a PS3, Xbox 360 or Tivo, you can stream Netflix to your TV and you do not need to buy the Roku. Rumors of it coming to the Wii are on the horizon but are not confirmed, to my knowledge. Also, some select Blu-ray players and internet connected HD TVs are compatible as well. Check with Netflix for more information. Again, you do not need to buy the Roku if you already have one of these devices in your home!
The other main feature of the Roku is the ability to stream Amazon on-demand. If you have ever purchased a movie on Pay-per-view, Amazon on-demand will seem instantly familiar. You can rent movies digitally and stream them to your Roku (or other compatible device) any time for a fraction of the cost of your typical Pay-per-view movie. Amazon's digital rentals range in price from $0.99 to $3.99 for newer releases. Each rental has a specific rental time. Some you can enjoy and watch as many times as you like for a full 7 days and others for 24 hours. You also have the option to purchase media this way which is usually the same price or less than what you would pay for the DVD. This allows you to stream it any time and as many times as you like until the end of time. Without taking up shelf space! Pretty nice. You are also able to download it to your PC and/or portable media device for enjoyment on the go. You can download it as many times as you like. As long as you have your Amazon account, Amazon will remember what titles you have purchased and you will have access to it forever. It works just like Amazon's MP3 downloads.
The lesser known features of the Roku include instant access to 12 additional channels which include (in addition to Netflix and Amazon on-demand), MLB.com, MotionBox, MediaFly, Blip.TV, Twit.TV, Facebook Photos, Revision3, Frame Channel, Flickr, Mobile Tribe, and my absolute favorite, Pandora. If you have an account at Pandora.com, it takes seconds to link it to your Roku and start enjoying your music channels instantly. The Roku also supports different Pandora accounts if you have the need. Being able to listen to Pandora on our beautiful surround sound setup any time of the day or night is blissful. My 4-year-old's favorite feature, aside from the plethora of children's titles available on Netflix instant play, is the MediaFly channel which streams 5,000+ audio and video podcasts. Among them, two of my son's favorite video podcasts, Ultra Kawaii and Sesame Street. You have the ability to add your favorites to a list that you can quickly access at any time. My husband is in love with the Twit.TV channel which streams all of their internet shows, including This Week in Tech. The Flickr channel also has a really neat feature that showcases random artistic photos and is actually quite interesting to watch and is never the same. There is really something for everyone in this growing library of channels and it is far more than I expected from the Roku.
Being the new spokesperson for Roku (I kid ;), I also hear a lot of concerns of TVs not being compatible with the Roku. No one should be concerned with this because the Roku ships with all cables needed to hook up to any TV, new or old. If you don't have an HD TV, you might be purchasing the SD version which will connect to any TV with the standard red, white and yellow cables. If you do own an HD TV, you will receive both an HDMI cable and the standard red, white and yellow, just in case. The same goes for the HD-XR version. As far as compatibility goes, there should be no reason that everyone can't have a Roku box, regardless of their type of TV.
In the same vein as the prior concern, there seems to be worry from the less than tech savvy movie lovers out there, fearing setup will be complicated and frustrating. Not so. Roku is able to hook up to your router via a standard ethernet cable or link seamlessly with your existing wireless network in a matter of minutes. Anyone can set this up and avoid frustration completely. It's very straightforward and simple and the onscreen prompts will guide you the entire time.
Now that we know what the Roku can do, I'm sure you want to know, does it actually DO them? Absolutely, YES! Obviously with the SD version, you will be viewing in SD, but the HD and HD-XR Rokus stream HD beautifully. We read some reviews that recommended using the wired ethernet connection to avoid hiccups during viewing, but we have had none whatsoever with our wireless network running on a cable internet connection. I would suggest trying the wireless first as it takes only minutes to do and requires no additional hardware, and if you have problems (which I tend to doubt) you can go the ethernet route. It should not be necessary as long as the Roku is within reasonable range of your router. Keep this in mind when choosing where to set up your Roku.
Navigation of the Roku menus is extremely simple and intuitive. There are your four directional buttons, select, home, and your standard fast forward, rewind and pause/play. I love the simplicity of this remote as our remote collection contains numerous remotes with countless confusing buttons that I have never even used. Don't be fooled by it's looks, however, because this remote is all you need to quickly and effectively access all of the Roku's features. I also wanted to point out that if you lose your remote and you have an iPhone or iPod touch, you can download an app that acts as a remote for your Roku. Sweet!!
Last but not least, you need to carefully consider which Roku you purchase. As nice as it would be to have an all-in-one box which includes all features at one price, currently you have to choose from three versions: the SD, HD and HD-XR. To put it plainly, they ALL have the same exact features. The only difference being the SD is limited to streaming only SD content, the HD can stream all HD and SD content, and the HD-XR can stream all HD and SD content and also includes an as of yet unused USB port (maybe for an external hard drive in the future?) and the ability to link with your "N" network. Given that the price difference is marginal, I would probably grab the next best up from what you are currently needing. If you have any intention at all at any point in the near or distant future to buy an HD TV, get the HD version. It's $20 more and you will spend much more than that getting a new box if you ever do get a new TV. Also, if you are at all enticed by the possibility of having an external hard drive to play all your own media, get the HD-XR. It's not been said what they intend to do with this USB port, but I think it seems fairly obvious what their plans are for it. You may not want to invest the money in a feature that is not yet supported, however. I do think it's a bit cheap to charge $30 more for a feature that should have been standard on all versions, but it is what it is.
In the end, if you love movies and like to save money, you will not be disappointed with the Roku. You will never have to visit a rental store or buy a pay-per-view rental ever again! And you may even save a nice chunk of change from canceling some channels that will now become obsolete with your new toy. If you are at all on the fence, rest assured that you will get your money's worth from this device. It's worth every penny.
Netflix users, get it, get it!!! It's the best thing since sliced bread! November 15, 2009
J. A. Black (Los Angeles, CA)
73 out of 79 found this review helpful
I previously had Netflix but I canceled it because I was tired of waiting for DVDs in the mail, I didn't think that I was really getting my full money's worth and could probably get a better deal renting from RedBox locations. But, when the folks at Netflix mentioned that there are "Netflix-ready" devices out there that could allow you to play their "instant" movies, I was intrigued. I have an older Mac laptop at home and I wasn't able to play their instant movies on it (only Intel-based Macs can do that). And, I was never really happy with watching TV shows or movies from other networks like ABC or NBC on that computer anyway. The lag-time is too long and the images were choppy and usually inconsistent. It just feels weird to watch stuff on computers. Besides, my legs would get too hot from the laptop sitting on them. So, deciding to give these Netflix-ready devices a try, I re-upped my Netflix subscription for $8.99/month (the cheapest plan for UNLIMITED instant viewing) and ordered this Roku box thing (By the way, Roku is the word for "six" in Japanese--whatever that means. Perhaps because the box has six sides? Who knows?) Anyway, I remember waiting anxiously everyday until it arrived at my doorstep. (You should know that my wife thought I was crazy for spending money on something that I had no idea how worked). But man, oh man! She got quiet and got to smiling really quick! Was it ever worth the wait!!! Please understand, I do not work for Netflix or Roku, so get that out of your head. I teach middle school. I am just a regular Joe that loves to watch movies. This thing is like having a several thousand item DVD collection right inside your living room. The quality of movies is amazing (like DVDs - except there's no subtitle option, which I like reading sometimes) and there is no delay in the image at all (at least on my directly-connected AT&T DSL service). What an amazing new invention! If you wait to get this thing, you will be missing out on a major addition to modern technology that I know will be as common as the remote control in a few short years. I love it!!! And, when you add movies or TV shows to your Netflix instant queue, you don't have to watch them one at a time. You can cycle through your choices, just like spinning a wheel--a poster image of the movie or program appears on-screen. All you have to do is stop on the choice that interests you at any given time. When you pause or stop watching, you can resume viewing at the exact same spot whenever you want. Dude, I am rushing through this review just so that I can get back to watching my movies again. Many other companies and services are being added as time goes by thanks to Roku's new "Channels" feature. Through your TV, you can view Facebook photos, listen to Pandora internet radio, view or listen to your favorite Podcasts, and sooooo many other things. So, don't be left out!!! Roku seriously rocks!
FINAL NOTE: (For those of you who were concerned) As of 12/4/09, Amazon's Video On-Demand is working on this Roku model as well!
Understated...and easy December 16, 2009
Kristi G., mom of Sage (Rome, GA)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
My only complaint is that the ROKU that my husband bought for me (here) came shipped right from ROKU, and they put the name all over the box. That sorta messed up the suprise as it was a Christmas gift, so if you are getting this for a gift or suprise, you might want to have it shipped to work or something.
The box itself comes with a very scary lack of documentation. I was a bit scared it would be hard to set up and I'd be online looking up stuff in forums all night.
It was very, very easy. Straightforward as can be. The MAC addresses you might need for either wireless or not are on the box itself, on the back. So make sure you have that added to your list if you have mac address filtering on your router.
That's all you really have to do network wise that might be a stumbling block.
Next, set up your roku account. The FIRST code you get on your tv screen will be for the ROKU account, and not Netflix or Amazon!!
See, Roku treats Amazon like a channel, and Netflix like a channel. There's even a few free channels that are offered.
After you do get your ROKU account going, THEN you'll get a code for your channel, IE A Netflix code for you to put in ONLINE at Netflix. Do the same for Amazon.
In 20 minutes we have access to a broad range of entertainment, and the Internet TV channel that was free was a HUGE suprise. There's all sorts of video game reviews and tips - my 14 year old is going to love that - I like the Photoshop & Linux lessons I've found. There's also an Internet Radio channel you can get free - and you put the music YOU want on it!
Amazon set up with NO problem at all. The picture is awesome, no lag, no wait. I am on a cable connection. Highly recommend! I'd have got one sooner if I'd known there was so much FREE content out there. :)
Wonderful Device! January 8, 2010
Jennifer Ruggiero (Greensboro, NC)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
I posted this review on the ROKU site, but wanted to post it to Amazon as well...
Pros:
Great value, High quality picture, Easy to use, Easy to set up, Compact, Reliability, Built in Wi-Fi, Video selection
Cons:
Want more video choices
Best Uses:
Dorm Room, Living room, Primary TV, Secondary TV, Bedroom
Describe Yourself:
Technophile, Home entertainment enthusiast, Power User, Netflix fan, Early adopter
Bottom Line:
Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
REVIEW:
I am so very pleased with this device and recommend it to everyone that has broadband internet and would like a la carte as well as specialized programming.
The Roku is very affordable, simple to set up, and tiny enough to have in the smallest of places.
I canceled satellite in our bedrooms and bought two Rokus... one for my master bedroom and the other for my daughter's room. She plans to take it back and forth from her dorm room to her room at home (it is that compact and simple to set up!). She told me it was the best Christmas gift and has been using it nonstop.
My favorite thing about the Roku is being able to watch my favorite video podcasts... such as ANYTHING on the TWIT channel. I also enjoy the Revision 3 channel. These channels make my Roku worthwhile. It reminds me of watching old school TechTV, but better!
WISH LIST:
I would like to see Roku add additional channels such as Hulu. I would also like to see them build in a browser that would enable viewers to surf to sites and stream video off of those websites.
It would be nice if the remote were able to be integrated with a master remote.
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I highly recommend this device. We absolutely love ours!
5 Stars December 5, 2009
James F. Park (Tucson, AZ United States)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I've had the Roku SD player for a week now and I am amazed at how well it performs. The setup was very easy. It connected to my wireless network quickly and without hassle. I haven't tried a hardwire connection yet, and I see no reason to since my Internet Speed is only about 1.35MB (supposed to be 1.5) and I get 3 out of 4 for quality of connection with Netflix--sometimes 2 when the network is running slow. At 3 out of 4 the picture quality is as good as most regular Dish satellite TV programs at standard definition. I have lived all my life without HD, and I see no reason to switch now. However, since the HD model of Ruku is only $20 dollars more, it might be wise to just go for it to start with. It is really incredibly easy to use the Roku. You just go to your Netflix account on your computer and put instant watch videos in your que. As soon as you set your TV to the Roku (I use video input #3) you see your list. Within seconds literally you can be watching your chosen movie. You can stop anywhere and come right back to where you left off. This little box works better than my Dell laptop that cost over $1000. And the little Roku box has no moving parts to fail, and seems to run just barely warm. I will never waste my laptop on watching movies again. Congratulations Roku and Netflix on a great product. Oh, and I should add that having Pandora available means that you can listen to your favorite type of music by connecting the Roku to your sound system. Apparently if you want to rent Amazon videos, you need the HD Roku player. For me, SD and Netflix is fine.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 52
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