In my opinion, the Roku box is the best non-gaming streaming device in the market today thanks to the lineup of content available. And in case Santa didn't bring you one for the holidays, I'm giving away another NETGEAR Roku NTV250 player to one lucky reader of my blog. To enter the drawing, all you have to do is leave one comment on this post and make sure you submit the comment with a valid email address. The drawing is open to anyone with a mailing address in the U.S. and I will select one winner at random on January 31st.
Thanks to NETGEAR for the giveaways and congrats to Ron Ramkirpaul and Gina Sepowski who won the previous giveaways.
I need to stream. Love your articles!!
Posted by: Dave | Tuesday, January 25, 2011 at 02:24 PM
Love to win wireless freedom.
Posted by: Allan | Tuesday, January 25, 2011 at 02:39 PM
Great reviews! I'm split on WD TV Live and Rokus XDS.
Posted by: Peter O | Tuesday, January 25, 2011 at 07:37 PM
Oh, would love to have one!
Posted by: Cat | Wednesday, January 26, 2011 at 10:23 AM
Thanks for the great review. Looking forward to the drawing.
Posted by: chester | Wednesday, January 26, 2011 at 07:25 PM
fingers crossed!
Posted by: Ruchi | Thursday, January 27, 2011 at 04:00 PM
I like the Roku for it's content, yet the ability to stream from my computer with the WD TV Live Plus interests me. It's still a toss up. Winning the Roku would definitely end my dilemma. Nice review.
Posted by: Lucio Leon | Friday, January 28, 2011 at 01:49 AM
I have two roku boxes and my daughter has an apple tv. I think that apple has some good points and shows a good picture, but only after converting dvd disks to the apple format. Hopefully roku will get its software people working on a way to support streaming videos from your computer to tv sooner than later
Posted by: Jerry | Friday, January 28, 2011 at 08:46 PM
Love the article you posted. Extremely helpful and well written.
Was thinking of buying a Netgear, would love to win the one you're giving away.
Thanks again :)
Posted by: Joe | Saturday, January 29, 2011 at 03:17 PM
I agree about the Roku. It is the best for me. I can't wait until I can stream from LAN devices like a PC or my NAS.
One suggestion: do a similar shootout with netboxes like these vs. net-aware TV or blue-ray devices. Why buy a $100 Roku and a $100 Blu-ray when I can but a $138 Blu-ray with net apps?
inquiring minds want to know.
Posted by: Paul Podbielski | Monday, January 31, 2011 at 11:49 AM
Thanks for the helpful review. We've been using XBox to stream Netflix, but our renewal of the service is coming due and at $60 for one year, it's time to switch to a hardware solution.
My only problem is that I would personally prefer the Roku, but my family (shared iPad) wife (Mac, iPhone) and two daughters (iPods) would probably really use AirPlay. I guess if I don't win I'll probably but the AppleTV, but feel a lot better informed now.
Thanks!
Posted by: Dan C | Monday, January 31, 2011 at 01:09 PM
Hope it's not too late to enter the drawing! I just found this page when doing some comparison research on Roku XDS and Apple TV.
Posted by: Allison | Monday, January 31, 2011 at 05:58 PM
Seems like you are always giving something away... awesome!
Posted by: Matt Larson | Tuesday, February 01, 2011 at 01:20 PM
I'd love to win one of these and the USB option makes it even better.
Posted by: RickH | Tuesday, February 01, 2011 at 01:49 PM
I've set up every media player, hardware and software, I've ever been able to get my hands on. ROKU is the best by a healthy margin. I'd love to own one! Please?
Posted by: Jason Reep | Tuesday, February 01, 2011 at 01:59 PM
Still trying to decide whether to upgrade streaming video on my TV (from current Wii/Netflix) with a standalone box or an internet connected blu-ray player...this would make the choice just a bit easier!
Great job on the site, btw...has become one of my daily stops for updates, news and reviews...
Posted by: Stefan Goldby | Tuesday, February 01, 2011 at 02:15 PM
Nice review.
Posted by: Steve Lloyd | Tuesday, February 01, 2011 at 08:50 PM
Would love to have a Roku!
Posted by: Kurt K | Wednesday, February 02, 2011 at 12:47 AM
Count me in for the Roku.
Posted by: Michael | Wednesday, February 02, 2011 at 09:51 AM
Rock on, Roku!
Posted by: JTS193 | Wednesday, February 02, 2011 at 07:11 PM
I thank you and my kis thank you. We just killed the cable and this is on our wish list!
Posted by: MonicaL | Tuesday, February 08, 2011 at 02:16 PM
Love the overview of each of the systems and have already been spreading the word about Roku
Posted by: Jim McQue | Monday, February 14, 2011 at 07:35 PM
Since I'm new to the fascinating idea of streaming computer AV to a TV set I was delighted to find your excellent, straight-forward comparison of these competitive products. I'm a satisfied owner of a first generation Apple TV and I recently purchased an IPAD so I naturally wanted the second generation Apple TV to come out on top instead of the ROKU XDS. Now I'm in a dilemma whether to sacrifice the 1080P capability of the ROKU if I choose the Apple. In my analysis I'm leaning toward the Apple due to the unique on-screen interface capability of the IPAD and the common acceptance of 720P as being barely discernible from 1080P. Any comments to influence my decision?
Posted by: Doug Millard | Sunday, February 20, 2011 at 11:36 PM
Do we have a winner?
Posted by: Heywood Jablomy | Wednesday, February 23, 2011 at 08:55 PM
I'm not a techi but would really appreciate winning this device
Posted by: Ed Matzkin | Friday, March 04, 2011 at 11:48 AM