What is the preferred streaming device? Fire Stick vs Roku vs something else?

We somehow unexpectedly ended up with a 2nd TV. We're undecided on where to put the old one, but wherever it goes we will need to hook up a streaming device to it as it is now effectively a dumb tv. 

We have an Apple TV for the main tv. We love it. But it is also $150, and I'm not spending that much for a second tv that won't get much use. So that brings us to the Roku vs. Fire Stick vs. other things. So... Any opinions on the roku and fire stick? Anything we're missing that we should be considering?

I've got a Roku-enabled TCL TV. I like it for the most part. I don't use more than a tiny fraction of what's available, but then I don't watch a lot of TV. Seems to play well with things like Amazon Prime and Netflix, and has plenty of free streaming content as well.

Amazon runs deals on the Fire stick for $20 from time to time. I know it's got flaws but it seems hard to beat at that price!

Firestick is pretty awesome.  I'm also somewhat impressed with the free Xfinity Flex 4k box they are offering now (minus the fact it won't due HULU).

I picked up a fire stick and have been happy with it. It's easy to use, there's a phone app to control it, for $20 it's hard to go wrong.

I like the Roku over the Amazon device since it's less likely to have issues with competing streaming products.

for example, the Amazon devices were the last to get Disney+ 

Roku doesn't seem to care and there a lot of "channels" available for it and there is constant development for it.  The youtube app for example is pretty good as are the Hulu and Amazon apps.

I like my Roku. I have an older one though, like 4+ years, and it seems to be slower every year. I've heard the newer ones are much snappier.

I picked a Fire Stick for SWMBO the week before Xmas because the Xbox she’d been using for streaming crashed. Setup was easy with the Fire Stick & when I asked her the other day she had no complaints about it. 

I'm a fan of the roku box . The older roku stick was too slow.  I spent some time with a modified Nvidia shield and that was far more powerful and had access titaniumtv and the like but it was too complicated for the missus to use regularly. 

I honestly think it's a matter of personal preference. I have Roku Boxes on anything that isn't hooked up to an xbox. It does the job. I haven't mastered screen sharing to them, though. I guess you can put me down for a passive vote for Roku.

I have the Amazon and an Apple TV.  I prefer the Apple TV, but the Firestick does ok in my office.  Not quite as clean and snappy as the Apple one, but for a TV that doesn't get used a lot, it does the job.  You could probably find an older generation Apple TV for about $30 if you wanted to go that option.  Plus, I imagine moving from one room to another would be easier if they were both the same.  For example, if you were streaming an HBO show on the Apple TV and stopped it and restarted it in another room on a Firestick, would the HBO app know you're continuing or would it restart?

-Rob

In reply to rob_lewis :

My apps are smart enough to know when I go from my Xbox to tablet to smart tv.

Try to find a jailbroke apple tv.

We use a roku. Before that is was an older roku. works great as long as your 1yo doesn't chew the buttons off.

Roku. It's a 3rd party and has avoided the situation, thus far, where one of your services will goes missing while tech and media giants are having an epeen swordfight.

If I wanted content blackouts I'd subscribe to cable again.

I don't know if it's still the case, but last I knew, the Amazon Fire was the only option for easily connecting to hotel wifi with log-in pages.  Once they got over their spat with Google, and the YouTube app returned, it's pretty solid all-around.

The0retical said:

Roku. It's a 3rd party and has avoided the situation, thus far, where one of your services will goes missing while tech and media giants are having an epeen swordfight.

If I wanted content blackouts I'd subscribe to cable again.

I think it's worth noting that even when the YouTube app disappeared from Fire devices, you could go to Youtube on the device using the web browser.

If you have an AppleTV for your other TV and you love it, I'd go looking for a used older AppleTV. They're under $50 and you'll know what you're getting. 

All I want is a browser that works well enough to run a website properly.  Smart TV is useless, Firestick is okish, but drop down menus don't work well.  

I can stream Aussie Supercars, but This Old House doesn't work well.

Streetwiseguy said:

All I want is a browser that works well enough to run a website properly.  Smart TV is useless, Firestick is okish, but drop down menus don't work well.  

I can stream Aussie Supercars, but This Old House doesn't work well.

This Old House is available via the PBS app on Roku among other shows.

You can run developers apps on a Fire stick. If you don't know the advantages of this do some googling. Basically its a small android computer.

In reply to Stefan :

Its also on Pluto TV

I would go with Roku all the way. For the reasons others have mentioned above, plus they are cheap. My senior parents figured it out within 5 minutes, there is loads of free content, you can make your own roku channel (and it is easy) if you wish. Also if you get a standalone one, you can bring it with you if you go away. There are loads of non sanctioned channels that can be added, if you find one with a usb port and add the appropriate app to it you can use it offline, or use it as a OTA P.V.R.

In reply to Stefan :

The Insider app gives me all the episodes since 1978, plus New Yankee Workshop. Free TOS just gives recent stuff.  I just want the browser to work better.

Had a Fire TV stick for over a year, 4k etc.  Bought a new one for my son and his new 43" 4k TV, ended up swapping the new one and old one.  The new model Fire TV stick is an all in one, controls my TV and sound bar.  Overall I like the service, it puts 100% of the streaming apps I use in one place, and some billed through Amazon itself.