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We are looking at coming out of the Dark Ages, dropping satellite and start streaming. We have a great internet connection, but total confused between Apple TV and the Amazon Firestick.
Is Apple worth 4 times as much as Amazon? I know Apple reliability is worth a lot, but that much difference? I hate to spend $143.00 X 3 instead of $33.00 X 3.
What is the real story?
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
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There are many free services such as Pluto, Tubi and Hulu, even YouTube that can provide much of your TV needs. Apple and Amazon (and Netflix) have much of the same content from other sources but also their own original programming. From what my friends with Apple say, it has much more original programming. You need to go to their websites and browse their lineups to see which has the most interesting content for you. We have Amazon Prime, Netflix, and Max (was HBO Max). Some models of the Fire Stick let you change channels with Alexa.
Most TVs these days have the main streaming services' apps built in to the TV, so you may not even need an external device unless you want to watch something specific to Apple TV's streaming service, in which case you'd need to get an Apple TV device.
I have a Google Chromecast (a competitor to the Firestick/Apple TV) so I can use streaming services on the hotel TV when I'm traveling, but that's the only reason.
We are looking at coming out of the Dark Ages, dropping satellite and start streaming. We have a great internet connection, but total confused between Apple TV and the Amazon Firestick.
Is Apple worth 4 times as much as Amazon? I know Apple reliability is worth a lot, but that much difference? I hate to spend $143.00 X 3 instead of $33.00 X 3.
What is the real story?
All of the major streaming devices work fine. (And they are MUCH cheaper to replace than a smart TV!) Just make sure all the particular streaming apps you want to use are available on the device you choose before you purchase it.
Most TVs these days have the main streaming services' apps built in to the TV, so you may not even need an external device unless you want to watch something specific to Apple TV's streaming service, in which case you'd need to get an Apple TV device.
I have a Google Chromecast (a competitor to the Firestick/Apple TV) so I can use streaming services on the hotel TV when I'm traveling, but that's the only reason.
You can get all of Apple's content through any device.
I would recommend not using the smart tv version of the apps for a few reasons unimportant to this thread
I am a big fan of the Roku devices if for no other reason than I like that they're independent of Amazon and Google. I did use an Apple TV box once which I hated. Awful remote and interface.
I am a big fan of the Roku devices if for no other reason than I like that they're independent of Amazon and Google. I did use an Apple TV box once which I hated. Awful remote and interface.
I too like Roku which has streaming channels and allows one to use various apps for more programming.
An AppleTV streaming device works just as well as. Roku or Firestick for watching the main apps like Netflix, Hulu, Prime, etc. My personal favorite is the Roku - easy to use and set up. We have all Apple products at our house - Mac, iPad, iPhone but see no reason to use an Apple TV device.
Most TVs these days have the main streaming services' apps built in to the TV, so you may not even need an external device unless you want to watch something specific to Apple TV's streaming service, in which case you'd need to get an Apple TV device.
I have a Google Chromecast (a competitor to the Firestick/Apple TV) so I can use streaming services on the hotel TV when I'm traveling, but that's the only reason.
My 1.5 year old Sony has YouTube, Netflix, Disney+, and (Amazon) Prime Video as one button punches. I also have a Roku Ultra that gives me many, many more choices. My primary TV however is Dish satellite. Streaming's OK but accessing something and changing channels isn't very fast, certainly nothing like the old analog channels were.
Don't forget free over-the-air television. If you live any where near a decent sized town or city, you most likely can get several channels and sub-channels with an antenna. One of my local stations has 9 sub-channels in addition to the primary. Supposedly, the picture is better with OTA because of less signal compression but I've never been able to notice it.
I started out with a fire stick, made the switch to Roku about a year ago. Shutting down my last dish account this week. Streaming on all my tvs and iPad/iPhones now. Saving a bundle, we had 3 dish accounts for decades. I love apple, but don’t use any of their tv streaming services. Roku is cheap, buying them at any Walmart, easy to use and support all the streaming apps I want to use.
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