Author Topic: Chromecast? Firestick?  (Read 1776 times)

Dogastrophe

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Chromecast? Firestick?
« on: November 25, 2020, 08:55:17 AM »
We dumped cable 8 or so years ago. Currently stream netflix through a PS3 and have an android box set up for streaming 'borrowing' other shows. Considering adding another streaming service and looking for a solution that doesn't involve hooking my laptop up to the TV. Our current TV works perfect so no intention of getting a smart TV.

I have been looking at chromecast and firestick (and ruku). I watch a lot of youtube and like the idea of sending it to the big screen (the youtube app on my PS3 is no longer supported and I can't get it to work properly on the andriod box).

Anyone have any experience with one or both? Any preference?

tks

 

HPstache

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Re: Chromecast? Firestick?
« Reply #1 on: November 25, 2020, 09:05:28 AM »
We really like our Roku, though all of these devices pretty much work the same way as far as I can tell.  We used the little Roku box for about two years (the newest version is a thumbstick like the Firestick) and when it was time to get a new TV we got a TCL from Costco that has Roku built in as the operating system... one less piece of Tech plugged in, that many less wires and power consumption.  That's the only decent reason for Roku that I can think of that makes it stand out from the rest... down the line when you want to upgrade to a "smart" TV, you can get one that runs Roku and it will be a super smooth transition.  I do not think any TV manufacturers use Firestick or Chromecast as their operating system, so you'll always have an external device for those.

NotJen

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Re: Chromecast? Firestick?
« Reply #2 on: November 25, 2020, 09:09:16 AM »
I have a Roku and Chromecast attached to my dumbTV and both work pretty well.  I prefer the Roku box because I don’t like using my phone to control the TV, and because it has an Ethernet port.  My BF prefers the Chromecast (it’s an old one of his) because it’s what he’s used to.  The Chromecast wireless does have more connection issues (very infrequent), but I don’t know if the problem is his phone, or my wireless.

HPstache

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Re: Chromecast? Firestick?
« Reply #3 on: November 25, 2020, 09:15:14 AM »
I have a Roku and Chromecast attached to my dumbTV and both work pretty well.  I prefer the Roku box because I don’t like using my phone to control the TV, and because it has an Ethernet port.  My BF prefers the Chromecast (it’s an old one of his) because it’s what he’s used to.  The Chromecast wireless does have more connection issues (very infrequent), but I don’t know if the problem is his phone, or my wireless.

Good point on the remote.  Roku does come with a nice little remote (I think Firestick does too), but you can also download the ap to use your phone as a remote for when you can't find the stupid thing haha.  The cell phone ap is also great when you need to type in a really long search or log into an ap with a long e-mail or password.  I like the Roku remote because the volume control and mute buttons are on the side, but the paid advertiser "quick launch" buttons at the bottom feel a little unmustachian for some reason...
« Last Edit: November 25, 2020, 09:18:17 AM by v8rx7guy »

Nola584

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Re: Chromecast? Firestick?
« Reply #4 on: November 25, 2020, 09:22:17 AM »
I have a Roku smart TV and before that had a Chromecast. I still use the Chromecast on occasion as it’s sometimes easier to control via app/phone. The other nice feature of Chromecast is the ability to cast essentially any tab from Chrome on your PC. We use this, for example, to cast webinars or large Zoom lecture style calls when you don’t need to be on video or speak. The Roku is generally more convenient to use for streaming main apps (Netflix, Hulu), but I don’t think it does anything the Chromecast can’t.

I don’t have any experience with the Firestick, but Chromecast gets a thumbs up from me and I would use that as my main platform if I didn’t have a smart TV.

HPstache

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Re: Chromecast? Firestick?
« Reply #5 on: November 25, 2020, 09:33:53 AM »
I have a Roku smart TV and before that had a Chromecast. I still use the Chromecast on occasion as it’s sometimes easier to control via app/phone. The other nice feature of Chromecast is the ability to cast essentially any tab from Chrome on your PC. We use this, for example, to cast webinars or large Zoom lecture style calls when you don’t need to be on video or speak. The Roku is generally more convenient to use for streaming main apps (Netflix, Hulu), but I don’t think it does anything the Chromecast can’t.

I don’t have any experience with the Firestick, but Chromecast gets a thumbs up from me and I would use that as my main platform if I didn’t have a smart TV.

FYI, you can download the Roku Ap and control it with your phone as well.

jamesbond007

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Re: Chromecast? Firestick?
« Reply #6 on: November 25, 2020, 12:39:21 PM »
Get a Google Chromecast with Android TV before the end of the year from Google store. You will get 6 months of Netflix. If you already pay for Netflix, then the device comes to about $12.

kay02

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Re: Chromecast? Firestick?
« Reply #7 on: November 25, 2020, 01:39:20 PM »
We have a Roku in my house and it works really well.  I didn't buy it but I don't think it was expensive.

jeroly

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Re: Chromecast? Firestick?
« Reply #8 on: November 25, 2020, 02:05:53 PM »
Get a Google Chromecast with Android Google TV before the end of the year from Google store. You will get 6 months of Netflix. If you already pay for Netflix, then the device comes to about $12.
FTFY (not that it really matters, it's just a rebranding AFAIK). 
Also worth noting that the Netflix is not free - you can get 6 months of it in a package for I believe $89, or get the Chromecast by itself for $49.

I have had them all - Roku, Firestick, and three generations of Chromecasts.  The current Chromecast with Google TV is the best of the lot IMO for the average user.  It might be slightly less configurable than Roku but it's much easier to configure, at least for the version of Roku I have.  The interface lets you easily combine a view across your streaming services, and the remote control is easy to use for both the device and your tv.


Dogastrophe

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Re: Chromecast? Firestick?
« Reply #9 on: November 25, 2020, 02:22:38 PM »
Thanks all. I may give the Roku a shot. A few years back I recall there were some issues with it in my neck of the world (Canada) but that seems to have been resolved.



katsiki

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Re: Chromecast? Firestick?
« Reply #10 on: November 25, 2020, 02:31:38 PM »
Roku all the way!  We have 3 and have been using it for many, many years.

If you have questions, I will try to answer them..

rab-bit

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Re: Chromecast? Firestick?
« Reply #11 on: November 25, 2020, 04:36:31 PM »
We also have 3 Rokus and love them. We recommended it to our daughter and she loves it as well.

alsoknownasDean

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Re: Chromecast? Firestick?
« Reply #12 on: November 25, 2020, 06:02:50 PM »
I'm an Android TV user and the new Chromecast does look appealing (my Android TV box doesn't support a few apps).

Ultimately it's a matter of content. If you are just using YouTube or Netflix, chances are you're going to be able to access it on almost anything. For smaller streaming services availability may be limited to a smaller number of devices.

katsiki

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Re: Chromecast? Firestick?
« Reply #13 on: November 25, 2020, 06:07:38 PM »
Roku all the way!  We have 3 and have been using it for many, many years.

If you have questions, I will try to answer them..

I was curious when we got our first roku...  Oct 2009!  Wow.  I thought it had been 10 years or so but my sense of time is often wrong.

Yeah,OP, get the Roku :)

Metalcat

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Re: Chromecast? Firestick?
« Reply #14 on: November 25, 2020, 08:09:39 PM »
I had a Fire Stick, I now have a smart TV that acts exactly like the old tv did with the Fire Stick.

I really like it, and far prefer it to Chromecast. I really didn't like needing a device to cast from to the tv. If I was using it for anything other than normal streaming apps like Netflix and Prime, then maybe I would have liked it, but I just found it annoying, and sometimes finicky and didn't like to work.

My parents have Roku, it seems like it's very similar to Fire Stick, just with an uglier remote.

NotJen

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Re: Chromecast? Firestick?
« Reply #15 on: November 25, 2020, 08:18:05 PM »
I like the Roku remote because the volume control and mute buttons are on the side, but the paid advertiser "quick launch" buttons at the bottom feel a little unmustachian for some reason...

That's funny - my brain forgot that those buttons with stickers are even there.  I guess I just ignore them as advertising.

pdxvandal

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Re: Chromecast? Firestick?
« Reply #16 on: November 25, 2020, 09:01:10 PM »
Roku. Good price, consistent performance, easy to use. I prefer its remove over my fancy Smart TV's fancy remote.

Metalcat

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Re: Chromecast? Firestick?
« Reply #17 on: November 25, 2020, 10:24:38 PM »
I like the Roku remote because the volume control and mute buttons are on the side, but the paid advertiser "quick launch" buttons at the bottom feel a little unmustachian for some reason...

That's funny - my brain forgot that those buttons with stickers are even there.  I guess I just ignore them as advertising.

I love those buttons on my Fire Stick, because they're the only apps I use. I love having a shortcut.

 

Wow, a phone plan for fifteen bucks!