Streaming media devices are on the rise, and in my opinion they will take over traditional cable boxes. With services like Netflix and Hulu out there, streaming service are quite attractive. When I was in college I did not purchase cable, and relied solely on streaming services. While it isn’t the best for live sports, I was able to meet my media needs quite adequately. There are a variety of streaming devices out there that can hook up to your television set, one of them being the Roku Streaming Stick.
The Roku Streaming Stick is a lightweight streaming device that is meant to directly compete with the Chromecast and the Amazon Fire TV Stick. These devices are small HDMI dongles that plug into the back of your TV and then stream media. The Roku Streaming Stick is very capable with over 1,800 channels including Netflix, Hulu, Youtube, Amazon TV, Pandora, Rdio, HBO Go, and a variety of other apps. It also has the capabilities of streaming all of those channels in 1080p HD video format. The little device also comes with a compatible remote allowing you to control it. Additionally there is also a mobile phone application that you can use as a remote. Also the device allows you to push content from your phone or tablet to the television. The Roku Streaming Stick costs $49.99.
So how does it stack up against the others? Well personally I do not have a Roku Streaming Stick, however I do have a Chromecast and a Roku 3 player (their higher performing device). Having used both, the Roku is definitely more streamlined and user friendly. It also has a large app store and having the designated remote is nice, as the Chromecast does not have a remote and you use your phone as a remote. But there are a few things to considered the Roku Streaming Stick is $49.99, the Roku 3 is $99.99, while the Chromecast is only $35 dollars. The Roku Streaming Stick does seem like the best buy here as it is only slightly more, and it should meet all of your streaming needs.
Photo from roku.com
