Which Steaming Video-Amazon Fire Stick, or Roku Stick? (movies, the office, direct tv)

[i_love_autumn]

Hi, I plan to cut the cable cord, but not sure which of streaming "Devices" to get? I am not an Amazon Prime member, yet ,but when I have the extra $100 to spend would like to get it.

[craig11152]

I have a Roku personally. My "box" allows me access to both my Netflix and Amazon Prime accounts. If I had a Hulu account it would get me that too. In my case I choose to hard wire my Roku to my Xfinity box rather than use WiFi.

[No2Monsanto]

I too, am struggling with this decision. I'm really not really that tech savvy, so I don't know the differences.

[i_love_autumn]

Originally Posted by craig11152

I have a Roku personally. My "box" allows me access to both my Netflix and Amazon Prime accounts. If I had a Hulu account it would get me that too. In my case I choose to hard wire my Roku to my Xfinity box rather than use WiFi.

Speaking of Wi-Fi, will I need to keep it along with my internet, when I drop the tv part of cable ,to use a streaming device? Don't know what an Xfinity box is!

[i_love_autumn]

Originally Posted by No2Monsanto

I too, am struggling with this decision. I'm really not really that tech savvy, so I don't know the differences.

Me either!

[biscuitmom]

Either a Roku or a Fire Stick will probably serve you fine. I have both but only use Fire Sticks because they stream more smoothly, with less buffering than my Roku. My Roku is an earlier generation, the latest model may stream better. I've never once had a buffering problem with the Fire Sticks.

Here's an article that might be helpful:
The Best Streaming Media Device: Roku, Chromecast, or Amazon Fire.

Originally Posted by i_love_autumn

Speaking of Wi-Fi, will I need to keep it along with my internet, when I drop the tv part of cable ,to use a streaming device?

Yes, you'll need internet to stream.

[tasmtairy]

I have a roku stick after reading reviews, still have direct tv though.
The reviews are what did it for me, hooked it up all by myself. Have to register it, then I have to pay for Netflix, never had it and Showtime. There are free channels too, of course, so I'm slowly creeping towards no cable.
My wifi is in the office, pretty far away from tv, I have no buffering problems, everything is totally easy.

[snapdragon12]

I've had Rokus and Fire Sticks. Ended up returning each Fire Stick I had. I definitely prefer Roku. I currently have 4 - one for each TV. I don't have issues with buffering. I find the Roku interface to be a lot cleaner and simpler. With the Fire Stick, it was very "in your face" with Amazon stuff and was a lot more cluttered than Roku.

[craig11152]

Originally Posted by i_love_autumn

Speaking of Wi-Fi, will I need to keep it along with my internet, when I drop the tv part of cable ,to use a streaming device? Don't know what an Xfinity box is!

My provider is Comcast of which Xfinity is now some sort of subsidiary.

You need the Internet at a reasonable speed to stream data (movies, music, TV etc) but I suppose you don't need "wifi". You can direct wire to your modem that provides your Internet. In my limited experience a provider who gives you Internet will usually give you a modem/router combo box that sends the WiFi signal included in your price.

[i_love_autumn]

Originally Posted by biscuitmom

Either a Roku or a Fire Stick will probably serve you fine. I have both but only use Fire Sticks because they stream more smoothly, with less buffering than my Roku. My Roku is an earlier generation, the latest model may stream better. I've never once had a buffering problem with the Fire Sticks.

Here's an article that might be helpful:
The Best Streaming Media Device: Roku, Chromecast, or Amazon Fire.

Yes, you'll need internet to stream.

Thank you for the info, and the link.
The Roku stick I'm considering is the Express. Don't know how good/smooth it is. Roku seems to have more channels than the Amazon Firestick, but I believe I can get Kodi for either. I won't be giving up my internet.