Get Rid of Cable and Pick Up Roku
Tired of paying for cable? Well consider ditching cable for Roku. Roku is a tiny little box that connects to your internet via wifi (or ethernet cable) and connects to you TV via HDMI and allows you to stream things such as Hulu plus, Netflix, and Pandora. Additionally, if you buy the high end model ($99.99), there is even a USB slot so you can plug your media in directly to it. Now of course you do have to pay for Hulu Plus ($7.99 a month) and Netflix ($7.99), but you are talking roughly $16 a month.
Roku also has the ability to link up with HBOgo, Facebook, and a host of other channels, but sadly does not appear to have an actual internet browser (my one complaint). I personally only plan on subscribing to Hulu Plus to have access to about 80% of any show I would ever want to watch anyhow. I am currently paying roughly $50 a month, so in a given year I should save $504 minus the cost of the unit plus the salvage value of the unit.
One of the things that stands out about Roku versus the iTv is Huluplus. Sadly even the newest iTV does not have the ability to access Huluplus. I will keep you updated on my overall experience with Roku.
Tagged with: iTV no Hulu • Roku internet browser • Roku or Cable • Roku or iTV
Filed under: Phone and Utilties • Saving Money
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I’m just curious what good does HBOgo support due if you have to be a subscriber to HBO and have a supported cable company? You would still be paying for the cable and HBO so I don’t see this as a selling point.
Note: I have HBOgo on my phone and it is the greatest app.
That’s a good point. I am certainly not saying that you should leech someone else’s account for your own personal use though.
Yup, this makes no sense unless you’re already willing to pay for a subscription. I have DISH, and actually got a Sling Adapter for only $30. It’s incredible how much capability I have now, and I saved a ton of money going that route instead of buying al these extra subscriptions and hardware for Roku. DISH gives me amazing variety across a number of different platforms, and I didn’t have to pay an arm and a leg for it. I stream to my phone, my laptop or PC, at home and more, AND I have the Blockbuster @ Home movie pack which gives me access to over 100,000 titles at a lower price than Netflix. My boss at DISH got me interested in Sling, and it was a very cool move. Say what you want about cable or satellite, but DISH definitely gives me more options.
I pay $7.99 a month for huluplus. Roku setup is as low as $40-$50 one time fee and salvage value is probably $20-$30 even a couple of years from now.
If dish ever offers a $10 a month program, I’ll get on board, but locally its just about $38-$40 a month for ROCK bottom programing with DVR after “leasing fees on dvr” and taxes.
To each his own.