Apple TV vs. Roku: Internet TV Alternatives to Cable
December 16, 2010, By Christopher Ford 0 comments
It's not exactly a bold prediction to state that in a few years much of the stuff you watch on TV will arrive to your TV via the Internet. With services like Netflix, Hulu and iTunes you can already watch most of your favorite shows and movies courtesy of your Internet connection, so what's the best way to start to adopt some of this new technology without spending an arm and a leg? If you want to start bringing your computer and your TV a little closer together but want to keep the costs down, there are really only two options - an Apple TV or a Roku.
[A quick note here about the two other big competitors to these products, Google TV and the Boxee Box. Both seem interesting, but their price-points (around $300 for a Google TV and $200 for a Boxee Box) put them out of the scope of this article. Plus, I own both an Apple TV and a Roku so I feel most qualified to compare them.]
So Which One Should You Buy?
Fortunately for consumers they are both really good choices. The prices are similar and low enough to get started without committing a lot of cash. If you've got an iPhone or iPad and/or have invested any amount of time into organizing your digital life in your computer, then I very much recommend an Apple TV. However, if you don't have an iPad or iPhone, you're not interested in viewing or listening to the stuff you've got on your computer on your TV, but you want to watch Internet content (or just stream Netflix) then the Roku box is clearly your choice.
Either way, this Internet TV stuff is clearly here to stay. And for a hundred bucks it looks like it might be time to get ahead of the curve this holiday season.
